Humanist Ottawa

05/14/2026

On paper, Canada looks more religious than it actually is. While the 2021 Census reported that over 53% of Canadians identify as Christian, the number of people actually in the pews is often in the single digits for many groups. If you check a religious box out of habit, you become part of a "phantom constituency".

Religious organizations use these inflated numbers to claim they speak for you in policy discussions regarding education, healthcare, and tax law. If they don’t have your heart or your time, don’t give them your head-count.

05/02/2026

Is your yoga mat your sacred space? If your spiritual care isn't in a formally religious place, recognize that on your census form. Statistics Canada isn't interested in your family's religion, it's all about you -- today. Be honest, and mark "No Religion" on your 2026 census form.

04/14/2026

Religious Neutrality Day Proclaimed in Ottawa (April 15, 2026)

The City of Ottawa has officially proclaimed April 15, 2026, as Religious Neutrality Day, marking an important moment to recognize the role of secularism in fostering an inclusive and respectful civic space.

This date commemorates the landmark Mouvement laïque québécois v. Saguenay (City) decision, in which the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed that public institutions must remain religiously neutral. The ruling underscored a foundational principle of Canadian democracy: that government spaces must be inclusive of all—regardless of belief, non-belief, or worldview.

Religious Neutrality Day offers an opportunity to reflect on what this principle means in practice. A religiously neutral public sphere is not one that excludes individuals—it is one that ensures equal respect and fair treatment for everyone, whether religious or non-religious. It creates the conditions for genuine pluralism, where diverse perspectives can coexist without privileging any single belief system.

In proclaiming this day, the City of Ottawa reaffirms its commitment to:

* Equality — treating all residents fairly, without bias toward any belief system
* Diversity — recognizing and valuing a wide range of perspectives and identities
* Respect — promoting a civic culture grounded in mutual understanding

Religious Neutrality Day is more than a symbolic gesture. It is a call to ongoing awareness, dialogue, and civic responsibility. It invites residents, organizations, and public institutions to consider how neutrality can be upheld in policy, practice, and everyday interactions.

As Ottawa continues to grow as a diverse and dynamic city, this proclamation highlights a shared commitment: to build a community where freedom of conscience is protected, and where everyone belongs equally in the public square.

Humanist Ottawa welcomes this proclamation as a meaningful step toward strengthening inclusive, secular governance. We encourage residents to mark April 15 by reflecting on the importance of religious neutrality and by supporting efforts that promote fairness, reason, and shared civic values.

03/23/2026

For people who have good reason to believe they need good reasons to believe anything.

03/05/2026

Excited to hear Greg Epstein speak at this unique time in international affairs.

Speaker announcement 🎉🌍

We are excited to welcome Greg Epstein, Humanist Chaplain at Harvard and MIT and author of the New York Times bestselling book Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe, as a speaker at the World Humanist Congress 2026.

Greg is a professionally trained member of the clergy who supports the ethical and communal lives of nonreligious people.

From 7 to 9 August 2026, humanists from around the world will gather in Ottawa for three days of ideas, connection and action at the World Humanist Congress.

👉 Register now: https://hmnts.in/WHC2026-Register

03/03/2026

The Ontario Humanist Society warmly invites you to join us for the Fill Your Life Conference 2026 — a dynamic gathering of thoughtful voices tackling some of today’s most important issues. From the future of nuclear energy to confronting systemic racism and building a truly accessible world, our speakers bring insight, compassion, and evidence-based thinking to conversations that matter. Grounded in humanist values of dignity, reason, and shared responsibility, this conference goes beyond rhetoric to inspire meaningful action. Alongside engaging discussions, you’ll reconnect with friends, meet new people, enjoy great food, and share plenty of laughs. We hope you’ll be part of it!

02/26/2026

Meet Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme in August!

Speaker announcement 🥳

We are pleased to announce Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo, as a speaker at the World Humanist Congress 2026.

Her research explores religion and social change, using social statistics to examine immigration, race and ethnicity, political sociology, and the evolving place of religion in society.

From 7 to 9 August 2026, humanists from around the world will gather in Ottawa for three days of connection and action at the World Humanist Congress.

It is the largest and most influential international gathering of the global humanist movement, bringing people together to shape a freer and more compassionate future.

Early Bird registration closes 28 February.

👉 Secure your place now: https://hmnts.in/WHC2026-Register

02/25/2026

In a new report, Humanists International explores how governments increasingly use religion to justify repression and undermine human rights.

This year’s report explores how religion is used to assert control and legitimize the erosion of human rights. While some countries have become more accepting of the non-religious and have adopted progressive policies, an increasing number of governments are undertaking authoritarian practices at the expense of the non-religious and religious minorities.

The United States also features in the Freedom of Thought Report, and historically received a relatively good rating as a consequence of strong constitutional protections in favor of freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression. However, under the current administration, the country has experienced an unprecedented backsliding of democratic rights and fundamental freedoms. Those that criticize the government’s policies – and the conservative Christian ideology which underpin them – are frequently labelled as “anti-American.” Those expressing their right to freedom of expression are increasingly targeted and met with legal action or violence.

Humanists International’s Freedom of Thought Report seeks to bring attention to the discrimination and injustices that the non-religious and religious minorities encounter around the world. Our humanist principles and unwavering belief in dignity and human rights remain as strong as they have ever been.

Freedom of Thought Website
https://fot.humanists.international

Download FOTR 2025 Here:
https://hmnts.in/FOTR-2025

02/24/2026

“Doubt” is a doorway out of the thought cage of your own making. Freedom from your own indoctrination awaits. Doubt more.

02/18/2026

World Humanist Congress 2026
WHC2026.ORG
August 7-9. Ottawa Canada