Speakers for 40th Anniversary Convention

DR HENRY MORGENTALER

Born into a Jewish family in Poland in the 1920s, Henry's family, like millions of other Jews at the time of World War II, was subjected to heinous treatment at the hands of the Nazis. This resulted in the death of his parents and some of his siblings. Henry survived and eventually came to Canada, settling in Montreal. In 1968, he co-founded the Humanist Fellowship in Montreal, which later developed into the Humanist Association of Canada, and became its first president. A family physician by practice, Dr Morgentaler began advocating for Canadian women to have the right to safe and legal abortions, after seeing countless women die or be mutilated from dangerous and illegal procedures. He went to jail for defying Canadian law and helping desperate women and girls who had nowhere else to go. Finally, in 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada handed down a landmark ruling: abortion would be considered a legal procedure and would be available on demand. In June 2005, to honour this tireless activist for women's reproductive rights, the University of Western bestowed an honorary Doctor-of-Laws degree on Dr Henry Morgentaler. Before then, few students at the University knew who he was. Yet at the 2005 convocation, the graduates jump to their feet - twice - to give the doctor a standing ovation. In August 2005, Dr Morgentaler received the Couchiching Award for Public Policy Leadership for his activism for women's rights and reproductive health issues. On July 1, 2008, Dr Henry Morgentaler becamse a Member of the Order of Canada, the nation’s highest civilian honour, for his philanthropy and exemplary work in improving Canadian healthcare. This award comes on the 20th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision to allow women to have abortions on demand. On August 3, 2008, Dr Morgentaler was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Humanist Association of Canada.

DR ROBERT BUCKMAN A internationally renowned expert on interpersonal communications, Dr Buckman is also one of the funniest speakers in the world. He combines a mischievous sense of humor with world-class communication training that set the standard for personal and professional development programs. Dr Buckman's skills have been honed in some of the most challenging settings imaginable. A medical oncologist, his techniques are taught at hospitals and medical schools around the world. Communicating difficult messages has always been one of Dr. Buckman's critical skills, and laughter some of his best medicine. In recent years he has parlayed his remarkable abilities into a series of successful television and video projects, including a medical training series with friend John Cleese of Monty Python fame, and the award-winning Discovery program Human Wildlife. His books, on everything from Humanism (Can We Be Good Without God?), to how to provide support to terminally ill patients, as well as his own hilarious memoirs (Not Dead Yet), are a hit with readers everywhere. Dr Buckman is President Emeritus of the Humanist Association of Canada.

CHRISTOPHER diCARLO

ProfessordiCarlo is past Visiting Research Scholar at Harvard University and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Here, he conducted research for two books he is currently writing titled: The Comparative Brain: The Evolution of Human Reasoning and The Evolution of Religion: Why Many Need to Believe in Deities, Demons, and the Unseen. He has been invited to speak at numerous national and international conferences and has written many scholarly papers ranging from bioethics to cognitive evolution. His latest book titled: How to Become a Really Good Pain in the Ass: A Practical Guide to Thinking Critically was recently released by McGraw-Hill Ryerson. As an outspoken activist for freethought, humanism, and secularism, Dr diCarlo promotes the efforts of the Humanist Association of Canada, is an annual workshop presenter at Camp Quest Ontario, and has given many enlightening talks at numerous humanist events across the country. He was also the first Atheist invited to speak at the annual World Religions Conference in Kitchener, Ontario. His lecture tour We are all African has been presented across North America. and has helped raised awareness of evolutionary theory and funding for the Masai for Africa, an HIV awareness program in Lesotho, Africa. Dr diCarlo was recognized by TV Ontario as 2008's Professor of the Year Award and will also receive our Humanist of the Year award at ourbanquet on August 3.

BRIAN ALTERS

Professor Brian Alters is the Tomlinson Chair in Science Education, is named Sir William Dawson Scholar, and holds appointments internationally at McGill and Harvard. He recently won McGill University’s highest teaching award, the Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Along with producing 5 books in the last 5 years on biology, evolution, religion and education, Dr. Alters is founder and director of the Evolution Education Research Centre, a joint project between researchers in science and education at McGill and Harvard. He sits on the Board of the U.S. National Center for Science Education, and various editorial boards. A couple years ago Dr. Alters was recruited as the only Expert Witness from Canada, in the largest and highest profile federal trial on science education in the last 25 years. It was the landmark U.S. Federal case on the teaching of “intelligent design” versus evolution in public schools (a.k.a: The Dover Pennsylvania Case, Scopes II, and Kitzmiller). The judge cited Professor Alters’ testimony 20 times in his written verdict. His work has been reported worldwide in thousands of articles and media outlets, including Nature, ABC, CNN, CBC, MSNBC, Associated Press, The New York Times, Scientific American, MTV, and a cover story on Rolling Stone. This year, CBC recruited Dr. Alters to host a series of prime-time television shows titled Project X. The series is a science magazine show whose mandate is to educate the public about science. It airs on CBC, BBC, and PBS stations.

ELLEN JOHNSON

Ellenis a leading voice on Atheist civil rights and activism. She waspresident of American Atheists from 1995 to 2008. She organized the historic Godless Americans March on Washington (GAMOW) in November, 2002 which attracted thousands of Atheists, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and other nonbelievers to Washington, DC for that first-ever demonstration of solidarity. Johnson has also testified before the National Commission on Civil Rights concerning the problem of religious proselytizing in the public schools.. In 2002 she organized the Godless Americans March On Washington and she was the organizer of the November 11, 2005 “Atheists In Foxholes” March On Washington. In 2003 she established the Godless Americans Political Action Committee and she serves as its Executive Director. Ms. Johnson has co-hosted the cable television program, “The Atheist Viewpoint” since 1994. In 1998, she met with the Office of Public Liaison for the Clinton White House to discuss the subject of giving Atheists a “place at the table” in the discussion of issues of concern to our nation’s Atheists. She is also a frequent guest on national radio and TV shows including “Heartland” with John Kasich, “The O’Reilly Factor,” “Tucker Carlson,” “Larry King Live,” “CNN’s Paula Zahn Now, ” The CBS Early Show, CBS Sunday Morning, Barbara Walters and C-SPAN’s prestigious public affairs program “Washington Journal.” Ellen is an Honorary Associate of the Rationalist International, and an Honorary Board Member of “Scouting for All,” a nationwide group that seeks to end discrimination against Atheists and gays within the Boy Scouts of America. Ellen has a Master’s Degree in Political Science from The New School for Social Research in New York City.

DAN BARKER

Dan received a degree in Religion from Azusa Pacific University and was ordained to the ministry by the Standard Community Church, California, in 1975. During 19 years of preaching, he slowly drifted away from the ministry and finally came out publicly to his family and friends as an atheist in 1984. A successful musician, Dan has composed and published over 200 songs. He is currently co-president with his wife, Annie Laurie Gaylor, of the Freedom From Religion Foundation , a U.S. Freethought organization that promotes the separation of church and state. A published author, Dan’s first book was called Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist , and his second book is called Godless . He has appeared on dozens of national radio and television programs including Phil Donahue , Oprah Winfrey , and Good Morning America and is the co-host of Freethought Radio , a Wisconsin-based radio program for atheists, agnostics, and humanists that has included interviews with Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Steven Pinker, and Julia Sweeney. On October 6, 2007, Freethought Radio ’s weekly broadcast was picked up nationally by Air America. This became the first ever national atheist radio broadcast: Freethought Radio, on Air America. Dan is a member of the Lenni Lenape (Delaware Indian) Tribe of Native Americans, and in 1991 edited and published Paradise Remembered, a collection of his grandfather's stories as a Lenape boy in Indian Territory. Dan's father, Norman Barker, was also a musician. He performed a musical duet with Judy Garland in the 1948 film Easter Parade.

HENRY BEISSEL

Henry Beissel is an award-winning poet, playwright, translator and editor.He has published sixteen volumes of poetry, six books of plays, a non-fiction book on Canada, two anthologies of plays for high schools, and numerous essays and pieces of short fiction. He first came to national attention with the controversial literary/political journal Edge (1963-1969). Henry's international phenomenon Inuk and the Sun ("a mythic masterpiece", Sherrill Grace) premiered at the Stratford Festival of Canada in 1973. His work has been translated into many languages, including French, German, Hebrew, Japanese,Polish, and Turkish. For over 30 years, He taught English literature and Creative Writing at universities in Germany, the West Indies, and Canada. In 1966, he joined the English faculty at Sir George Williams, now Concordia University, in Montreal. He was promoted to Distinguished Emeritus Professor upon his retirement in 1996. He has been invited to speak on his work all across Canada, the USA, South America, Europe, Africa, and China. In November 1994, Henry was awarded the first Walter-Bauer Literaturpreis in Germany for his translations of Bauer's poetry and for his own literary oeuvre . In October 2006, he received First Prize in Poetry for “The Jade Canoe” in an international competition adjudicated by the Surrey International Writers’ Conference.

ELKA ENOLA

Born into an impoverished Jewish household in Montreal, Elka grew to be a successful entrepreneur, artist, photographer, elementary school teacher, member of Mensa, and award-winning poet and social activist. While working for the North York Board of Education, she was Vice President of the Women’s Teachers Association and Treasurer of the North York Elementary Teachers Federation. Seeing the abysmal level of illiteracy of students whose report cards showed otherwise, inspired Elka to challenge the educational system to intervene to help these children. In 1986, when “extra billing” of medical services already covered by OHIP became a commonplace, but illegal, practice among specialist doctors in Ontario, many patients were afraid to complain or to name their doctor publicly. Elka took action. Her willingness to speak out against this practice led to media exposure, including being featured on CBC National news, and having her name included in Ontario legislature. Her efforts led to the end of extra billing in Ontario. When Elka realized that there were many groups serving people of faith in her community but nothing for Humanists, she founded the Halton-Peel Humanist Community. One of the group’s achievements was the development of the “Compassionate Care” card for people who prefer secular emotional support to religious support in times of grief or other emotional need. This initiative has been accepted by the Oakville General Hospital.

DOUG THOMAS

Graduating from the University of Western Ontario with two degrees in the late 1960s (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education), Doug is a popular English teacher in Elmira, Ontario, where he was successful in lobbying to remove Christian prayer from graduation ceremonies. An accomplished author, Doug writes historical fiction (The Bloody Boy, 2001), is a respected weekly columnist for Humanist Network News and contributor and managing editor of Canadian Freethinker magazine. Doug has been a passionate environmentalist since working as a marine technician with Great Lakes Institute in the University of Toronto in the 1970s. He is an avid long-distance cyclist and advocate for bicycle lanes in the Waterloo Region. A lifelong Agnostic, he is an executive member of the Society of Ontario Freethinkers, a committee member of the Humanist Association of Canada, and is active with the Green Party of Canada.

ERIC McMILLAN

Eric is Chair of Skeptics Canada - a national organization that promotes science and critical inquiry for evaluating beliefs and practices in all human affairs. Skeptics Canada investigates unusual or extraordinary claims, and tackles a variety of issues such as "alternative medicine", chiropractic, cults, psychics, ESP, faith-healing, "recovered memory", therapeutic touch, and UFOs.He is an accomplished journalist and concurrently Editor-in-Chief of Toronto's Town Crier community newspapers and of the weekly Vaughan Today. He also teaches journalism at the University of Toronto and at Centennial College. Ericholds a Masters Degree in philosophy and is working on his doctorate in Philosophy of Science at York University.

HANK DAVIS

Originally from New York, Dr Hank Davis is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Guelph. After many years of studying Animal Cognition, Hank focused on Evolutionary Psychology for the past 12 years. He has received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Guelph and is the author of five books and over 100 scientific papers. Hank is also an accomplished musician and producer of critically acclaimed re-issue albums and boxed sets for European record companies. His latest book, Caveman Logic, is being published by Prometheus Books and will be available inearly 2009.

DR KHALID SOHAIL

Dr. Sohail is a practising psychiatrist, poet, and writer, with a wide range of interests and passions. He received his degree in medicine from Khyber Medical College in Pakistan in 1974. He completed his residency in Psychiatry at Memorial University in Newfoundland in 1982. From 1983 to 1995, he worked in psychiatric hospitals in Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Ontario. In 1995 he left the hospital environment to open the Creative Psychotherapy Clinic in Whitby, Ontario. He has spoken at many professional conferences in various countries, including the International Conference on Divorce, Israel (1993), the Psychiatric Conference, Rio de Janeiro (1994), and the Canadian Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, Vancouver (2000). He has written books on various aspects of psychiatric therapy and has published a collection of poems and short stories, such as Pages of My Heart (Poetry), Breaking the Chains (Short Stories), A Broken Man (Novella). Other books by Dr. Sohail include From Islam to Secular Humanism (2001), Prophets of Violence, Prophets of Peace (2006). His film company, Darvesh Films Canada, has made several documentaries on social and mental health issues. Through the written word or the moving image, Dr. Sohail is always interested in sharing his Humanist philosophy with other professionals, family members and the community at large. He believes that learning is a life-long process, and that working together is better than working alone.

HOMA ARJOMAND

Homa was born in Iran in the 1950s and studied medical physics in England. Since 1970, she has devoted her life to fighting for women’s rights. After some of her friends and colleagues were murdered for heresy during the Islamic Regime, Homa fled with her husband and two young children through the harsh Iranian mountains during the winter of 1989. Since arriving in Canada she has organized many meetings, conferences, and panel discussions, to address issues related to human rights, focusing on women, children, and the gay community. She is a Humanist and advocate of keeping religion and state separate. Homa is the founder of two acclaimed campaigns: “Children First Now” and the “International Campaign against Sharia Court in Canada”. She speaks out on the restrictions and civil rights violations that political Islam is imposing on women and children, both in Iran and in Canada. In 2005, she was voted “Woman of the Year” by the “Gazette Des Femmes” and in 2006, she received two Humanist of the Year awards: one from the Humanist Association of Toronto and the other from the Humanist Association of Canada.

CHRIS DARLING

As a ROM curator, Dr Darling is actively involved in the growth and curation of the ROM's insect collection and the museum public programs and exhibitions. He is the coordinator of the Gallery of Evolution, part of the Renaissance ROM project. Dr Darling is a strong advocate of the importance of natural history and conducts research on insect-plant interactions in the tropics. he is enthusiastic about promoting the fascinating world of insects - and their importance in human affairs - to a variety of audiences. Dr Darling received his BSc from Queens University, his MSc from the University of Utah in ecology and evolutionary biology, and his PhD in entomology from Cornell University. In addition to this curator role at the ROM, Dr Darlingis a professorin the Department of Zoology at the University of Toronto and teaches undergraduate courses in entomology and conservational biology.