Welcome
We offer a community for the nonreligious,
and a forum for discussing and advancing
a secular worldview based on our common humanity.
About the Victoria Secular Humanist Association (VSHA)
Our Site is currently undergoing some upgrades. Please be patient
We engage in a variety of regular activities which are free and open to the public.
We welcome guests, so if you're curious come to one of our events!
We are on Facebook
A VSHA Presentation:
Wednesday, September 6, 2023 – 7:00-8:30 pm
Cook Street Village Activity Center
380 Cook St. Victoria, B.C.
Michael Doherty
“Ten Rules for Being a Good Person in the 21st Century”:Are you being a good person?Are you really?“
Presentation followed by Q&A.
Free Parking
This is a free event. Donations gratefully accepted
Important note: We are obliged to lock the outside door at 7:05 pm for security purposes. Please don’t be late!!
For more information: communications@vsha.ca
More event info
Overview: Good and evil, right and wrong, are these concepts that still mean something in the modern age? The answer is an emphatic “yes”, more than ever! In an age in which humanity has gained the ability to destroy all life on Earth, actions that threaten the existence and quality of life itself are evil, and those that seek to protect life or make it better are good. And each one of us, every day, in every decision we make as a citizen and a consumer, is making the choice between good and evil.
The book is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/TEN-
Anyone who might be interested can read the first chapter online at that page.
THE HUMANIST LIFE STANCE
Being good: Humanists are concerned about the ‘good life’ – a life of integrity, using the concepts ethics and compassion. They seek personal happiness and fulfillment as well as the welfare of humankind, and the protection of the natural environment including biodiversity and ecosystems.
Without God: Humanists typically describe themselves as skeptics, agnostics, or non-theists . To find answers to problems, they look to reason and science rather than religious creeds or sacred texts.
“Humanists are guided by reason and scientific inquiry, inspired by music and art, and motivated by ethics, compassion, and fairness.” ~ Greg M. Epstein in Good without God (2005)
The VSHA is proud to announce a new activity
The Eco-Humanist (EH!) Environmental Action Committee (EAC
Are you interested in DOING something for the environment? Why not
join and become a member of the EH! EAC.
More information: EH! Committee
Rally And March
On Friday September 15, 2023 at 4.00 pm VSHA members are invited to gather under our banner on the Legislature lawn. We will take part in the rally and march to support the Global Mobilization to Fight Fossil Fuels. The march begins at 4:30 and the event ends at 6.00 pm.
GLOBAL MOBILIZATION TO FIGHT FOSSIL FUELS – Victoria Rally | Legislative Buildings-Victoria B.C. | September 15, 2023 (happeningnext.com)
VSHA Donates to STAND.earth
The VSHA Board recently donated $200 to the environmental activist organization, STAND.earth
For more information: Stand.earth – For the people and places you love
VSHA Endorses FFNP Treaty
In July the VSHA Board decided to publicly endorse the Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty.
With this endorsement, VSHA joins thousands of progressive civil society organizations and governments around the world and in Canada, including the City of Victoria and other BC municipalities.
Here’s the FFNP Treaty website: fossilfueltreaty.org
Events
The Victoria Secular Humanist Association is pleased to present events for the education of our members and guests. We have two featured events:
- Our Humanist Talks are held from September through to May. Guest speakers provide their insights into a number of different topics of interest to secular humanists followed by a question and answers session.
- Our Humanist Cafés are held on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Specific topics of current interest are introduced by a guest speaker followed by a moderated discussion.
In addition we have the following locations for members to gather to socialize and discuss topics of interest, as well as field trips and special occasions:
- Sunday morning breakfast 8:00 at Frankie’s Modern Diner at the corner of Government and Courtney streets
- Summer and Winter Solstice parties plus a late summer party
- Organized field trips and tours with experts on a number of subject areas in Greater Victoria and nearby areas
All these events are listed on the VSHA website, and specific email notices are sent to all persons on our contacts list. Also look for notices via the Victoria Meetups app and Facebook.
Recent posts
Humanist Cafe – September 6, 2023 – Ten Rules for Being a Good Person in the 21st Century
Where: Cook Street Activity Centre, 380 Cook St. (Cook St. Village), Victoria, BC "Ten Rules for Being a Good Person in the 21st Century: Are you being a good person? Are you really?" -Author and Presenter, Michael Doherty A Presentation followed by Q&A Good and...
The Humanist Cafe – 4 March 2020 – Pipeline Protests – Will the Hereditary Chiefs Get What They Want?
The Humanist Cafe Wednesday, March 4, 2020 - 7:00-8:30 pmJames Bay New Horizons 234 Menzies Street, Victoria Discussion Topic: Pipeline Protests - Will the Hereditary Chiefs Get What They Want? Moderator: John Pope On Sunday, a tentative agreement was reached...
The Humanist Cafe – 19 February 2020 – Addressing Systemic Constraints Within The UN System And How They Are Overcome
The Humanist Cafe Wednesday, February 19, 2020 - 7:00-8:30 pmJames Bay New Horizons 234 Menzies Street, Victoria Discussion Topic: 1. Addressing Systemic Constraints Within The UN System And How They Are Overcome, and 2. Using International Law Locally As An...
Sunday Talks & Reports
The VSHA Sunday Talks are held every two weeks from September through the end of May.
Currently talks at 10:00 AM, at the Gordon Head Recreation Centre east of Shelbourne Street off Feltham.
See full Sunday Talks Schedule
Sunday Talk – February 23 – REVOLUTION IN THE CLASSROOM!
VSHA Sunday Talk February 23, 10:00 am Cedar Hill Rec. Center - 3220 Cedar Hill Rd. REVOLUTION IN THE CLASSROOM! The brilliant Dr. Marty Wall expounds on a new way of teaching that is student-centered and uses clear achievable goals. www.vsha.ca
VSHA Sunday Talk – DARWIN DAY CELEBRATION – 9 February 2020
This Sunday is the 211th birthday of Charles Darwin. Let's celebrate! Barrie Webster and Robert Light will be co-hosting a talk and slide show on good old Charlie Darwin. And there's going to be cake! This talk is based on the third part of a Darwin documentary...
Sunday Talk – 1st December – VSHA Sunday Talk
VSHA Sunday Talk December 1, 10:00am Cedar Hill Rec. Center - 3220 Cedar Hill Rd. ABRAHAM LINCOLN: THE AMERICAN HUMANIST HERO Our President, Robert Light, will give a dramatic reading from his one man show called FOREVER...
Humanist Cafe
The Humanist Café is a moderated discussion held every first and third Wednesday of the month 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
The 1st Wednesday is currently via Zoom so contact Communications@VSHA.ca for information and Zoom link.
The 3rd Wednesday Cafe is a live event currently held at The Cook Street Activity Center 380 Cook St. (Cook St. Village), Victoria
We welcome guests, so if you’re curious come to one of our events!
The Humanist Cafe – 4 March 2020 – Pipeline Protests – Will the Hereditary Chiefs Get What They Want?
The Humanist Cafe Wednesday, March 4, 2020 - 7:00-8:30 pmJames Bay New Horizons 234 Menzies Street, Victoria Discussion Topic: Pipeline Protests - Will the Hereditary Chiefs Get What They Want? Moderator: John Pope On Sunday, a tentative agreement was reached...
The Humanist Cafe – 19 February 2020 – Addressing Systemic Constraints Within The UN System And How They Are Overcome
The Humanist Cafe Wednesday, February 19, 2020 - 7:00-8:30 pmJames Bay New Horizons 234 Menzies Street, Victoria Discussion Topic: 1. Addressing Systemic Constraints Within The UN System And How They Are Overcome, and 2. Using International Law Locally As An...
The Humanist Cafe – Discussion Topic: NATO: IN OR OUT? – February 5, 2020, 7:00-8:30 pm
The Humanist Cafe Wednesday, February 5, 2020, 7:00-8:30 pmJames Bay New Horizons 234 Menzies Street, Victoria Discussion Topic: NATO: IN OR OUT? Presenter: VSHA President Robert Light Moderator: John Pope You may have noticed last week that the world was almost...
CONTACT US
Contact Us at Communications VSHA for any general inquiries about the VSHA or if you would like to receive email notifications of upcoming events. Please provide your name and email adress to receive these notifications.
If you want to become a member, please go to our membership page for information.
Media inquiries, please contact our President at President VSHA
For website inquiries or problems contact the Webmaster at Webmaster VSHA
VSHA MEMBERSHIP
Become a VSHA Contact (free): If we have your contact information (email address and phone number), we will put you on our Contacts list and you will be advised of our activities and events including notifications of events such as our Sunday Talks, Humanist Cafe, special VSHA events and announcements of special interest to Humanists ( ie concerts, community lectures etc.)
VSHA membership functions are open, but after three visits, we would appreciate your taking out a paid membership. Your membership $ allow the VSHA to continue its role as a reason based Educational association.
Membership is annual and payable by cheque or money order for the appropriate amount.
Victoria Secular Humanist Association (VSHA)
PO Box 23105 Cook St PO, Victoria, BC V8V 4Z8
Or you can pay your membership to a member of the Executive at any of our VSHA Events.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP COSTS
Single $30 Family $45
Student/Low Income $15
DONATIONS
Donations to the VSHA allow the organization to expand its reach and fund specail projects that are of importance to VSHA members and Secular Humanism in general. Donations are greatfully accepted and eligible for charity tax receipts for amounts greater than $10.