April 4, 2016 Newsletter

Last week, we made headlines for challenging the distribution of religious materials in Abbotsford schools. We will continue to push for secular schools and against religious privilege in our government institutions.

But another part of our mission, and the broader Humanist worldview, is to provide a positive alternative to religion.

That's why, I'm excited to announce our first Humanist Officiant Training seminar, coming up on May 7. This seminar is a step toward fulfilling our mission of providing meaningful ceremonies at significant times of life, such as marriages and deaths.

If you're interested in becoming one of our first officiants, please get in touch with me.

Secular Schools Update

Since news of our challenge to the distribution of Gideon Bibles and other religious materials in Abbotsford schools made the front-page of The Province on Thursday, we've had good coverage from CBC and Yahoo News and have appeared in interviews with PulseFM, CKNW and Left at the Valley.

You can find links to all of the coverage that's available online on our website.

Our next steps will be dictated by the School District's response and our financial resources. Click here if you'd like to donate to our Secular Schools campaign.

May Blood Drive

Our next group blood donation is scheduled for Saturday, May 14 at 11am. If you're eligible to donate and would like to book one of our reserved spots, email [email protected].

Latest on our website

News

• Announcing the first BCHA Humanist Officiant Training seminar
• Humanists to Abbotsford superintendent: End bible distribution or permit atheist comics

Podcast

• Benjamin Purzycki - Religion and the evolution of social life

Upcoming Events


Book club - Jared Diamond: The World Until Yesterday Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 7 PM Goldis' Home, Vancouver The bestselling author of Collapse and Guns, Germs and Steel surveys the history of human societies to answer the question:What can we learn from traditional societies that can make the world a better place for all of us?	Paul Ingraham - Science Based Medicine Sun, Apr 10, 2016 at 10 AM Oakridge Seniors' Centre, Vancouver Paul Ingraham is a writer and former Registered Massage Therapist in Vancouver, Canada. He is a rare alternative medicine apostate: frustrated by pseudoscientific baggage in the massage profession, he quit to write full-time. He writes for PainScience.com and is assistant editor at Science-Based Medicine.

Raheel Raza Reforming Islam - Video Sun, Apr 17, 2016 at 10 AM Oakridge Seniors' Centre, Vancouver We will be viewing an episode of TVO's The Agenda. The topic of reforming Islam will be explored in a moderated panel discussion with prominent moderate Muslim, Raheel Raza, and several Muslim scholars.	Annual General Meeting Sun, May 1, 2016 at 10 AM Oakridge Seniors' Centre, Vancouver Hear reports from our current board and Executive Director. BCHA members have the chance to run & elect a new Board of Directors.Details can be found online.