Centre for Inquiry Canada is Canada’s only national charity for secularism, science and critical thinking. For the past three weeks, we have brought you information about why science, secularism and critical thinking are essential for prosperity, health and good governance.While it is tempting to believe that Canada is a progressive nation that embraces these core values, a quick look at some recent headlines shows we have a long way to go. Some of the events taking place south of our border are chilling, and possibly contagious.
CFIC depends upon membership fees and donations to provide education about science, secularism and critical thinking. This month, we have focused on how CFIC is working to effect change in these crucial areas. CFIC receives no government nor corporate support. We depend on our donors and members to operate.
This month Richard Thain and Réjeanne Sylvain made their significant yearly donation in support of CFIC. Richard and Réjeanne have provided financial support since our inception, and Richard is a founding board member. For the past 6 years, they have also donated the CFIC office space in Embrun Ontario; a value of almost $16,000 annually.
In 2019, Richard turned 65 and became eligible for the Canada Pension Plan. Richard and Réjeanne realized that they did not require Richard’s “new CPP money” for their living expenses, so they decided to add this to their annual donation to CFIC.
We are very pleased to announce Richard and Réjeanne’s ’ total gift of $31,518.84 as part of our CFIC matters campaign. Here’s what Richard had to say about their gift:
“Réjeanne and I contribute to CFIC, knowing that its leadership and volunteers will continue to put our donation to good use, promoting secularism, skepticism, ethical humanism, and enlarging our CFIC community.”
Find out more about Richard’s commitment to humanism here.
CFIC President Seanna Watson is shown here receiving Richard’s gift. Seanna, a long-time member, volunteer, and monthly donor, also believes strongly in the need for a national charity that supports science, critical thinking and secularism. “In a world that is increasingly confused and polarized, CFIC promotes rationalism, supports science, and defends a secular life stance.”
Critical thinking is central to good governance, good decision making and a good democratic process. Understanding how to evaluate information is critical to making informed decisions that affect us individually and collectively. And while many of us endeavor to think critically, even the most analytic are at risk of believing and sharing misinformation. CFIC helps people to identify potential misinformation and to use available resources to check that information.
Science is the best tool we have to understand our world and help us to live better. Yet the scientific process itself is poorly understood. The competing values of disseminating information as soon as possible and disseminating information that is as accurate as possible are confusing. Early pre-prints of scientific theories that are later demonstrated to be incorrect can cause some to call science into question. Instead they should allow us to be confident that the scientific process works. CFIC helps people to understand the scientific process, to identify legitimate sources of information and to quickly evaluate whether what they are reviewing is real science.
Secularism, defined as government neutrality in matters of religion, ensures that governments act based on fact, not superstition. It ensures that non-believers are not subject to the rules and restrictions of any religion, as well as preventing persecution of members of minority religions. Secularism leads to a better quality of life for all. CFIC calls out issues in which secularism is not respected.
We know that to change the headlines, we must help people to understand the harms of non-secular governance, of pseudo-science and of illogical thinking. CFIC is part of the solution! CFIC helps to create a healthier, happier and more prosperous Canada. But we can’t do it without you. Your donation will help us to do more.
Please give generously.