If You’re Not Religious, Say So - Census 2026 | Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists

Campaign warns census wording could blur the true picture of belief and culture in Canada

The Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists Association (KASHA), alongside humanist organizations across Canada, is launching a national campaign urging Canadians to accurately report “no religion” in the 2026 Long Form Census.

The campaign, If You’re Not Religious, Say So, encourages people who no longer identify with a religion to reflect their current beliefs, not their upbringing, when answering Question 30.

Advocates say the wording of the census question risks muddying the waters by emphasizing childhood religious and cultural background, potentially overstating how many Canadians are actually following religious doctrine today.

“People participate in cultural traditions for all kinds of reasons like community, family, or just to eat good food,” says Nina George of KASHA and the Racialized Humanists Association. “That doesn’t necessarily mean they follow religious doctrine and rituals. Attending a wedding and having fun decorating henna on your hand does not make one religious. Going to cultural events does not make one religious. You can show up, celebrate, and still not believe in a divine being, or follow those strict religious rules.”

George adds that the concern is not trivial. “When a question leans toward how you were raised instead of the real you now, the data can miss the mark. Many Canadians were raised religious, but no longer identify that way.”

In Kelowna, the shift is already clear. According to the 2021 Census, 54% of residents reported no religious affiliation, a number which KASHA says is probably higher than the actual number reported on the census due to the ambiguity of the question.

Why does it matter? Because census data doesn’t just sit on a shelf, it shapes decisions.

“In Kelowna, taxpayers subsidize millions of dollars of religious property owned by high control religious organizations,” George notes. “At the same time, critical community needs like day care properties pay full property taxes, remain underfunded and in short supply. Accurate data helps ensure public policy reflects today’s reality, not yesterday’s assumptions.”

The campaign is simple: read the question carefully, and answer based on your current identity. If you’re not religious, say so. Check the box that is the real you – No Religion!