Learn about humanism in the context of the natural world.
On 12th February, 2003, the anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth, the City of Ottawa proclaimed this day as “Darwin Day” for that year, at the request of the HO. Other Humanist groups across Canada emulated HAO’s initiative.
Humanist Ottawa proudly marches in Ottawa’s annual Pride Parade in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.
We believe everyone deserves dignity, equality, and the freedom to live authentically without discrimination.
Supporting human rights means standing with our fellow humans and not only during Pride Month, but throughout the year.
The Ottawa Declaration presents humanism not only as something we believe, but something we do. For Humanist Ottawa, that raises a practical question: what would Humanism as Resistance actually look like in Ottawa?
The Ottawa Declaration on Humanism as Resistance, adopted at the World Humanist Congress in August 2026, officially pivots humanism away from passive inspirational philosophy and launches it into a practical blueprint for democratic self-defense.
Dr. Henry Morgentaler is widely remembered for transforming reproductive rights in Canada, but his lifelong commitment to secular humanism is less well known. This article by Richard Thain explores how Morgentaler’s humanist values—reason, compassion, equality, and justice—inspired his extraordinary courage in challenging unjust laws and advocating for human dignity. It is a powerful reminder of the profound impact that humanist principles can have on society.
