We present a timeline of Canada’s secular and humanist heritage.
2021
The New Enlightenment Project was incorporated by a group of Canadian humanists who had identified, “the need for a platform where all subjects of concern to Humanists could be discussed freely and where civilized debate could be held without fear.” Founding members included Robert Hamilton, Michel Pion, Michel Virard, George Hewson, Scott Jacobsen, Carey Linde and Lloyd Hawkeye Robertson.
2021
Canadian author, Ray Argyle, published Inventing Secularism: The Radical Life of George Jacob Holyoake.
Jailed for atheism and disowned by his family, Holyoake came out of an English prison at the age of 25 determined to bring an end to religion’s control over daily life. He became a radical editor and in 1851 invented the word secularism to represent a system of government free of religious domination. Inventing Secularism reveals details of Holyoake’s conflict-filled life in which he campaigned for public education, freedom of the press, women’s rights, universal suffrage, and the cooperative movement. He was hailed on his death in 1906 for having won “the freedoms we take for granted today.”
2022
Many Canadian humanist organizations adopted the 70th anniversary update of Humanists International’s Amsterdam Declaration.
2022
On May 18, 2022, Captain Marie-Claire Khadij became the Canadian Armed Force’s first-ever humanist chaplain.
2023
Quebec’s Bill 11, An Act to amend the Act respecting end-of-life care and other legislative
provisions, was assented on June 7, 2023.2023
Working in co-operation with Humanists International, Humanist Ottawa called for action by the Canadian government to address religious discrimination in Canada via submission to 44th Session of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review. The initiative is led by HAO’s Robert Hamilton.
2023
Statistics Canada released data showing that 34.6% of Canadians reported “No religion and secular perspectives” in the 2021 census.
2023
The Peace School, a self-described humanist school, was founded in Brampton by Dr. Nasser Yousefi and accredited by the Ontario Ministry of Education.
2023
Alumni to Amend Section 93 Ontario was founded with a mission to end the public funding of Catholic education in Ontario.
2023
Elliot Hanowski’s Towards a Godless Dominion: Unbelief in Interwar Canada was published by McGill-Queen’s University Press.
2025
Canadian humanist, author and philosopher, Christopher Di-Carlo published Building A God: The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and the Race to Control It
2025
The City of Cobourg (Ontario), reconsiders its official recognition of “Christian Heritage Month” on January 29, 2025 when asked by local resident, Bob LeDrew, to also recognize “Atheist Awareness Day”. LeDrew said, “I’m in strong agreement with that policy {i.e. proclamations involving “religious organizations or the celebration of religious events”… “will not be approved.”} . I think government is best done as a secular organization….They are now going to feel that they have a right … if one has the right, then we all have the right.”
2025
Captain Marie-Claire Khadij was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal on June 20, 2025,
The timeline is currently under construction. Think we’re missing something? Let us know!
By continuing to access, link to, or use this website and/or podcast, you accept the HumanistFreedoms.com and HumanistHeritageCanada.ca Terms of Service in full. If you disagree with the terms of service in whole or in part, you must not use the website, podcast or other material.
Humanist Heritage Canada 