Secular Remembrance - BCHA Newsletter - British Columbia Humanist Association

November 11 is a chance for us to reflect on the cost of global conflicts. As British Historian Dan Snow wrote in 2014:

There is no greater sacrifice than giving one’s life for one’s fellow citizens, and, correspondingly, there is no greater responsibility we have as voters than to send our armed forces into harm’s way on our behalf.

The importance of remembering those sacrifices is tainted when some organizers choose to put religion front and centre in official Remembrance Day ceremonies. Snow pushes back against that infringement of secularism in his op-ed, and we've done the same over the past two years.

We'll continue to work to support secular and inclusive Remembrance ceremonies, as well as raising awareness of other civilian casualties and the importance of peace through our partnership with the Peace Poppies memorial.

PS A few volunteers have stepped up to help with the event we're co-hosting on Saturday. If you're able to help, please let me know by replying to this email.

Study on MAiD

Researcher Carmen Grillo is looking for people who support the right to die to take part in confidential interviews about their experiences with illness, loss and bereavement, especially as these have informed their views on medically assisted death. The interviews are part of his doctoral research project at York University. In the project, Carmen, who is himself supportive of the right to die, investigates how the increased support for medically assisted death has been shaped by people’s experiences and concerns around death and bereavement in the Canadian context.

The interviews can be conducted over Skype, telephone, or, if you are in the Greater Toronto Area, in person.

For more information, please contact the Carmen at [email protected] or 416- 736-2100, extension 60307, to leave a voicemail. Please leave your name, your phone number, and a time that is convenient for you to take a return call. Carmen will contact you to respond to any questions you have and/or to schedule an interview.