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Introduction
The Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park is an outdoor park with a walking trail throughout a nine-acre Cumberland forest area and a two-acre field in Ottawa, Ontario. The park contains 65 sculptures along the trail from around the world that display various themes of human conditions, philosophical concepts and messages of essential values that we all share. It is an initiative of the Humanics Institute, which is a registered non-profit organization emphasizing human development, justice and peace across the globe. The vision of the institute and the sanctuary includes celebrating Canada’s cultural, national, spiritual and religious diversity.

Founded by Acharya Ranjit Perera PhD, the Humanics Sanctuary held its grand opening and became officially open to the public on July 2nd, 2017. Dr. Perera is also the curator of the park, travelling to various countries to select the sculptures for the Humanics Sanctuary. The park is located at 3468 Old Montreal Road, where events and activities, such as meditation and yoga sessions, lectures, dialogues, and musical sound healing, are often held. The sanctuary invites their visitors to practice reflection, meditation, spirituality and prayer.

The Humanics Sanctuary embraces elements of Canadian diversity by promoting three essential values: (1) Oneness of Reality, (2) That all Human Beings are responsible beings, born equal in dignity and rights, and (3) The Interconnectedness between human beings and the natural and cosmic environment. It also believes that these essential values are inherent in all world religions, ultimately working to unite us all.

The Humanics Institute
The Humanics Institute is a non-profit organization based in Ottawa, Ontario and founded by Dr. Ranjit Perera. It works to develop and maintain the Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park, as well as provide related education programs including courses, seminars, workshops, conferences, and meditation sessions. It also works to create and provide scholarships, bursaries and other forms of financial assistance to underprivileged children, irrespective of their cultural, racial, ethnic, spiritual, religious, or national affiliations.

Three Essential Values
The Humanics Institute promotes the following three essential values:

1: Oneness of Reality
The existence of an “Absolute, Infinite, Spiritual, Supernatural Realm, Entity and/or Being” beyond, but including, all “Relative Natural Realms” of time and space, and beyond that which is capable of being totally perceived by or through our senses - but which human beings may have been able to somewhat perceive or envision, through revelations, meditation and prayer. It also involves comparative study and appreciation of how human beings have, through various religious and cultural endeavours and experiences, envisioned, perceived and understood: “The Oneness of Reality” (as Braha, or Yahweh, or Buddha the Enlightened One, or God, or Allah, or the Great Spirit, or as an Absolute Infinite Entity) and the place and role of human beings in relation to and within the “Oneness of Reality.”

2: Equality
The second essential values emphasizes that all humans are responsible beings, born free and equal in dignity and rights. It believes that "no human being has power over another, but may have inherent, assumed or bestowed responsibilities, and associated authority related to the responsibilities they bear. Consequently, they are inherently accountable for any authority they exercise. All human beings have a right to a fair share of the resources of the world to achieve their potential, subject to the effort they themselves make towards achieving their own potential."

3: Interconnection
The third essential value states that there is an intrinsic relationship between human beings individually and collectively, and the natural and cosmic environment around them. "Everything that exists in the relative realms of the universe is interrelated. All that happens is partly the consequence of past actions and events, and whatever is done or happens at any moment has consequences stretching away into the future. This also means that the subject areas into which we have categorized our knowledge and perceptions are ultimately interrelated, and are not separate and independent of one another unless we have consciously assumed and defined them to be so."

Sculptures at the Humanics Sanctuary
Each sculpture featured at the Humanics Sanctuary aims to represent one or more of the essential values as mentioned above.

A. Oneness of Reality


 * 1) Trinity of Essential Values
 * 2) Unity and Diversity
 * 3) Oneness and Complexity
 * 4) Infinity
 * 5) Transcendence

B. Human Dignity, Equality & Respect


 * 1) Childhood Wonder & Old Age Wisdom
 * 2) Thinking
 * 3) Dreaming
 * 4) Integrity
 * 5) Suffering
 * 6) Consequences/Karma
 * 7) Friends
 * 8) Heroes
 * 9) Illusion
 * 10) Communication
 * 11) Patience
 * 12) Music
 * 13) Closed Mind
 * 14) Open Mind
 * 15) Conscious Mind
 * 16) Inspiration
 * 17) Dialogue
 * 18) Labour
 * 19) Games
 * 20) Transitions in Life
 * 21) Visioning

C. Interconnectedness


 * 1) Motherly Love
 * 2) Interdependence
 * 3) Evolution and the Giraffe’s Neck
 * 4) Law of the Jungle
 * 5) Wild Boar
 * 6) Peacock
 * 7) Fish

D. Buddhism


 * 1) Rebirth
 * 2) Bodhasattva Kwan Yin
 * 3) Standing Buddha
 * 4) Samadhi Buddha
 * 5) Parinabbana Buddha
 * 6) Meditation
 * 7) Meditation Area

E. Hinduism


 * 1) Matsya the Fish
 * 2) Vahara the Boar
 * 3) Narashingha the Lion
 * 4) Shiva and Paravathi
 * 5) Ganesh
 * 6) Vishnu and Lakshmi
 * 7) Brahman and Saraswathi

F. Christianity


 * 1) Garden of Eden
 * 2) Flight to Egypt
 * 3) Holy Family
 * 4) Black Madonna
 * 5) St. Francis of Assisi
 * 6) Let us Pray
 * 7) Prodigal Son
 * 8) Sermon on the Mount
 * 9) Miracle of Five Loaves of Bread and the Three Fish

G. Human Responsibility


 * 1) Conception
 * 2) Pregnancy
 * 3) Birth
 * 4) Delivery
 * 5) Mother and Child
 * 6) Family
 * 7) Single Mother
 * 8) Love and Marriage
 * 9) Custodian
 * 10) Gandhi

H. Confucianism: Under development

I. Judaism: Under development


 * 1) Ten Commandments

J. Indigenous Spirituality: Under development


 * 1) Inuksuk
 * 2) The Tribe
 * 3) The Circle of Life/Ten Indian Commandments
 * 4) Amnita

K. Zoroastrianism: Under development

L. Taoism: Under development

M. Jainism: Under development

N. Sikhism: Under development

O. Baha’i Faith: Under development

P. Islam: Under development

Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau
“I believe Canada’s prosperity and strength is a direct result of our diversity. We are a nation that has steadily grown over the past 150 years, each new Canadian adding a unique set of beliefs and experiences that, in its sum, has resulted in an open and welcoming society. Our Values, rooted firmly in our multicultural identity, are exactly what the Humanics Institute aims to promote. Through their inclusive nature, this organization has brought together a wide range of Canadians united by a common dedication to peace and a shared commitment to celebrate our diversity. It is in this spirit that we open this new sanctuary and park, which promises to be a peaceful place of reflection and meditation.”

Premier, Kathleen Wynne
"On behalf of the Government of Ontario, I am delighted to extend warm greetings to everyone celebrating the grand opening of the Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park, designed as an inclusive space for reflection, meditation, spirituality and prayer. I offer my congratulations to the Humanics Institute on this new chapter in its history, and applaud everyone whose dedication has made this achievement possible. I also want to recognize the institute's commitment to fostering a culture of peace, mutual understanding, and respect for all religions and spiritual beliefs. This year, as we mark the 150th anniversary of Canada and Ontario, it is the ideal occasion to express pride in our country and our province, to foster a greater understanding of our collective history, and to unite around a shared vision for the future. We have accomplished so much together, and I am sure we will achieve even greater things in the next 150 years."

Mayor of Ottawa, Jim Watson
“On behalf of Members of Ottawa City Council, it is my distinct pleasure to extend congratulations to the President and Staff of the Humanics Institute on the auspicious occasion of the Grand Opening of the Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park in Cumberland, and to welcome its visitors. The Sanctuary and Sculpture Park is an innovative celebration of diversity, while also manifesting common values pertaining to faith, spirituality and cultural beliefs, which serve as unifying forces. The thematic areas of the Sanctuary and Sculpture Park also attest to the rich multicultural, multifaith, and multigenerational fabric of Canadian society. As Head of Council, I want also to acknowledge the collaborative efforts of the participating artists and Humanics Institute, which have contributed to the successful creation of this unique Sanctuary and Sculpture Park. Allow me to offer my best wishes to the visitors for a most enriching experience.”

MPP Ottawa-Orleans, Marie-France Lalonde
"As member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and on behalf of the constituents of Ottawa-Orleans, it is my pleasure to extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Ranjit Perera and staff on the Grand Opening of the Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park in Cumberland! The Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park is a true representation of our Canadian society, as it beautifully displays sculptures that reflect multi-faith, multi-generational, and multi-cultural concepts and values. The park will undoubtedly be a place for all to visit, enjoy, and learn, as they walk through nature, while being surrounded with imagery representative of Canada and the world. I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of all those involved in building this unique sanctuary. Through your dedication and will, you have created an invaluable addition to our community; not only for the present time, but for many years to come."

President of Humanics Institute, Dr. Ranjit Perera
“As the greeting conveyed by the Inuksuk one of the first sculptures you see as you enter the Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park, welcome to this place dedicated to promoting the principles of non-violence, justice, and peace in the world. We at the Humanics Institute will be working in promoting this vision through programs and projects aimed at understanding and appreciating the following essential values inherent in all cultures and religions in the world: The Oneness of reality; all human beings are responsible beings born equal in respect and dignity, and the intrinsic relationship between human beings and the natural and cosmic environment around us.

As you may know, the Inuksuk is a welcoming sign shaped by the Inuit in the form of a human being, to welcome visitors to their communities. We at the Humanics Institute acknowledge that the land that the Humanics Sanctuary is on is unceded Algonquin lands, and would welcome all Indigenous people of Canada and all other Canadians to work with us to acknowledge and respect the fact that we are all members of one family.

At the Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park, while acknowledging that differences exist we believe that the commonalities in our religious beliefs, spirituality, race, ethnicity, culture and nationality ultimately unite us. As a Canadian organization, while celebrating diversity we strive to advance the awareness that we are not fundamentally different from one another. We fully respect the right to freedom of conscience and religion and provide an opportunity for people who identify with different religious and/or secular traditions to show their commitment to the essential values we all share. At the same time, we urge everyone to be open-minded, mutually respectful and compassionate by trying to understand, appreciate and learn from one another, and help us in promoting the principles of non-violence, justice and peace in the world."

Board of Directors
President: Dr. Ranjit Perera

Secretary: Sriyani Perera

Treasurer: Hiran Sandanayake

Sriyanjit Perera

Jocelyne Smallian-Khan

Dr. Zohra Mellick

Patrick Langston