Humanist Congress brings 500 delegates to Ottawa in August
International human rights forum relocates from Washington, D.C., citing concerns about accessibility and U.S. political climate.
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Five hundred humanist delegates from more than 40 countries are coming to Ottawa in August for the World Humanist Congress, one of the largest international gatherings for secularism, human rights and democratic values.
The congress was relocated from Washington, D.C., after organizers cited concerns about accessibility, religious nationalism and human rights issues in the United States. They selected Ottawa for its "inclusive and rights-affirming environment," according to the announcement.
The event runs August 7-9 at The Westin Ottawa and will feature keynote speakers Rebecca Goldstein, a MacArthur Fellow and National Medal of Humanities recipient, and philosopher A.C. Grayling, vice-president of Humanists UK.
Representatives from 48 countries will explore how humanist principles — grounded in compassion, critical thinking and human rights — can address global challenges like authoritarianism and scientific disinformation.
Humanist Canada, which has seen membership surge in recent years, will use the congress to showcase its expanding programs: the humanist officiant program, which trains people to perform non-religious weddings, naming ceremonies and end-of-life services; and the humanist chaplaincy program, providing non-religious pastoral care in military, healthcare, educational and correctional settings.
The congress will host the first international gathering of humanist military chaplains, reflecting growing recognition of non-religious spiritual care in institutional settings.
For a capital city often overshadowed by larger North American cultural events, hosting this congress signals Ottawa's growing role as a destination for substantive international dialogue on human rights and secular values.