Secular and Humanist Funerals in Canada — Celebrations of Life Without Religion
Canadian funeral practice has shifted substantially over the past several decades. Religious affiliation has decreased; cremation has overtaken burial; and intentional secular or humanist services have become a major category. For Canadians without strong religious identity (or with deliberate secular identity), services that fit their values are now well-established.
Why secular or humanist
Common reasons Canadians choose secular or humanist funerals:
- The deceased had no religious affiliation
- The deceased had specifically secular or humanist values
- The family is religiously diverse and wants a service that doesn't privilege one tradition
- The deceased explicitly wanted a non-religious service
- The deceased wanted celebration rather than mourning
- The family wants flexibility and personalization beyond what religious traditions allow
Typical structure
A secular or humanist service often includes:
- Gathering and prelude music — often the deceased's favourite recorded music
- Welcome and opening reflection — the officiant introduces the gathering, sets a thoughtful tone
- Eulogy and tributes — family and friends share remembrances
- Readings — secular poetry, philosophical passages, the deceased's own writing
- Reflection or silence — time for personal thoughts, often with music
- Closing reflection — the officiant offers a final thought
- Reception — typically a shared meal or gathering after the service
Service length and tone vary widely — from solemn 45-minute reflective services to all-day celebrations of life with food, music, and storytelling.
Officiant options
Humanist celebrants. Humanist Canada has trained and registered celebrants who can lead non-religious ceremonies including funerals.[1]
Funeral celebrants. Trained professional celebrants, certified through dedicated celebrant-training organizations, who specialize in personalized non-religious ceremonies.
Family member or friend. Any family member or close friend who can speak thoughtfully and structure the service. Most Canadian funeral homes can guide a family-led service.[2]
Self-led service. Some families structure the service themselves without a designated officiant, with multiple family members sharing duties.
Reading and music choices
For secular services, choices include:
Secular readings. Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry, Henry Scott Holland's "Death is Nothing at All," Mary Frye's "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep," philosophical passages from Marcus Aurelius, Lucretius, or modern thinkers, the deceased's own writing, passages from books they loved.
Music. The deceased's favourite music, often eclectic and personal. Live music if a musician among family or friends is appropriate. Recorded music for songs that matter.
Visual elements. Photo slideshow of the deceased's life, displays of personal items, art the deceased created or loved.
Venue flexibility
Secular services can be held anywhere:
- Funeral home chapels (designed for any tradition)
- Community halls
- Family homes
- Outdoor venues (parks, gardens, beaches)
- Restaurants or banquet halls
- Venues meaningful to the deceased (their favourite restaurant, golf course, art gallery)
Disposition decisions
Burial, cremation, body donation, or other disposition are separate decisions from service style. A secular service can be followed by any disposition choice.
What we focus on at It's Simple Will
The Funeral Pre-Planner captures secular and humanist preferences with the same structure as religious tradition preferences — service style, venue, music, readings, officiant, food and reception preferences.
Related guides
Citations & sources
- [1]Humanist Canada — Humanist Canada
- [2]Funeral Service Association of Canada — Funeral Service Association of Canada
Frequently asked questions
What is a humanist funeral?
A funeral that doesn't include religious content but does include intentional structure, meaning, and ceremony. Humanist funerals focus on the deceased's life, their relationships, their values, and the meaning their life had — without invoking deity, afterlife, or specifically religious concepts. Humanist celebrants (registered through Humanist Canada) lead many such services.
How is this different from a religious funeral?
Religious funerals typically include scripture, prayers, hymns, and theological frame (resurrection, afterlife, divine judgement). Secular and humanist funerals replace these with reflective readings, secular music, personal tributes, and naturalistic frame (the value of the life lived, the impact on others, the natural cycle of life). The overall structure (gathering, reflection, farewell) can be similar; the content differs.
What is a 'celebration of life'?
A term often used for informal secular services, frequently emphasizing celebration of the deceased's positive impact rather than mourning. May be held at a non-traditional venue (home, park, restaurant, golf course, brewery), include the deceased's favourite music, food, and activities, and feel more like a positive remembrance gathering than a traditional funeral. Some celebrations of life still involve viewing, eulogy, and traditional elements; others are more party-like.
Who can officiate?
Anyone the family chooses. Humanist celebrants (Humanist Canada has registered celebrants), funeral celebrants (trained but not necessarily religious or humanist), family members, close friends, even self-led services. No specific qualification is required to lead a secular funeral in Canada.
Where can secular funerals be held?
Anywhere appropriate. Funeral home chapels (most accommodate secular services), community halls, family homes, outdoor venues (parks, gardens, beaches — with appropriate permits if needed), restaurants or banquet halls, even unconventional venues that mattered to the deceased.
How do disposition choices fit in?
Disposition (burial, cremation, body donation) is separate from service style. A secular service can precede burial just as easily as it can precede cremation. The two decisions are independent.