User:PMosier/Skeptics Canada

Skeptics Canada is a nonprofit, member-supported organization devoted to promoting scientific skepticism and resisting the spread of pseudoscience, superstition, and irrational beliefs. The group was originally founded in 1984 as Ontario Skeptics, a Toronto-area skeptical group.

History
Formed in 1984 as Ontario Skeptics, the group gradually widened its reach, and changed it's name. Significant current or past members include magician and skeptic Henry Gordon, Psychologist James Alcock, and Skeptic Magazine contributor Daniel Loxton (NOTE: just guessing, these names must be verified / fact-checked PMosier (talk))

Purpose
According to the Skeptics Canada web page, the purpose is to:


 * ''"...promote critical thinking and the scientific method to address all beliefs or practices. We ask: What is the evidence? We examine extraordinary claims with open minds, but we expose claims for which evidence and reason are poor."

Like other groups which promote scientific skepticism, when investigating extraordinary claims, Skeptics Canada adopts the view of the 17th Century Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza:


 * “I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them.”

With regard to the procedure by which such claims are investigated, the Society uses the scientific method developed in the 16th and 17th Century, which the Society believes adheres to Albert Einstein’s philosophy:


 * ''“All our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike—and yet it is the most precious thing we have.”

Activities
Skeptics Canada activities include:


 * Investigating and researching controversial claims, using the scientific method for gathering and analyzing empirical evidence
 * Sponsoring lectures, typically held at OISE or CFI Toronto
 * Organizing public awareness campaigns, such as a 2008 public investigation into the claims of CAM. As part of this campaign one member of the group publicly consumed a large overdose of homeopathic medicine. Promoted by the group as "homeopathic suicide", the overdose had no obvious effect on the subject.
 * Production of a members' newsletter, Openly Skeptical
 * Maintaining an office and library at the Toronto headquarters
 * Organizing an annual event, "Psychic Unfair", which promotes science and skepticism to the public
 * Organizing monthly public dinners to enable social interaction of skeptics and skeptic-friendly people
 * Maintaining a web site with news of interest to the skeptical community
 * Insert Name Here is the group's official podcast