Ashley Rattée comments on the World Humanist Congress 2026

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Ashley Rattée, a recent addition to KASHA’s Penticton group and the current host of KASHA’s Penticton Skeptics in the Pub, has just returned from attending the World Humanist Congress 2026.  The Congress was held in Ottawa from August 7 to August 9, 2026.   Below is Ashley’s summary of his experience at the Congress.

My trip to Ottawa for the 2026 Humanist International Congress was an incredible experience, bringing together over 500 delegates from 41 countries. The overarching theme, “Humanism as Resistance,” felt fittingly timely given today’s global landscape, yet a curious secondary theme of balance continually surfaced throughout our discussions.

I couldn’t help but think of Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. It’s a perfect metaphor for our work. As we push back against authoritarianism, disinformation, anti-science rhetoric, and oppression, we must stand firm against injustice while actively preparing for the inevitable pushback—a reality echoed in almost every plenary and breakout session.

While the inertia can feel daunting, standing together gives us a collective voice strong enough to spark real change. We heard from a stellar lineup of speakers who brought both sharp analysis and inspiration:

  • Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme: The Canadian sociologist detailed the sharp decline of organized religion in Canada, a trend that took off in 2017 and rapidly accelerated throughout the 2020s.
  • Rebecca Goldstein: The American philosopher issued a compelling warning against rising neo-fascism and urged us to resist the anti-science divides fracturing society.
  • A.C. Grayling: Closing out the keynotes, the British philosopher delivered a deeply resonant message of hope amid the rise of Christian nationalism and eroding civil liberties. He reminded us that ethical Humanism holds immense potential to guide dialogue toward solving existential threats—from climate change and rapid AI advancement to political polarization.

The bookends of the trip were equally memorable. I kicked off the event by chatting with Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK, and we wrapped up with the presentation of the Ottawa Declaration. The declaration calls on Humanists worldwide to resist authoritarianism, reject dehumanization, ensure emerging technologies remain accountable to humanity, and boldly step into the public square to defend universal rights, pluralism, and democracy.

It was an energizing gathering—a powerful reminder that none of us are doing this work alone, but are part of a vibrant global community standing up for human dignity.

~Ashley Rattée

Penticton, BC