Personalized weddings, funerals, child naming and welcomings and other rites of passage in Toronto and the GTA
Protecting the Sacred — Respecting the Secular
Welcome!
My name is Cortney Pasternak and I am a certified Wedding Officiant licensed by the Province of Ontario and the Ontario Humanist Society.
As a Humanist Officiant, I provide personalized, non-denominational marriage ceremonies in Ontario which are legally equivalent to a civil ceremony that might be provided by a clerk at City Hall or a Justice of the Peace.
Personalized, Humanist Weddings: The Difference
The Humanist weddings that I provide differ from many other types of weddings in that they are personalized ceremonies. This is your ceremony – to be done your way. As someone who was married by a Humanist Officiant, I can tell you from personal experience, that it had great meaning for both me and my husband. In fact, it was the inspiration for choosing to become a Humanist Officiant myself.
A personalized ceremony — be it for a wedding, a funeral, a baby naming/welcoming, a coming of age ceremony or another life cycle event — is prepared together with couples or families and may include specific cultural or spiritual rituals, symbols, traditions, readings, blessings, etc. in any number of languages. It is designed to reflect the values and belief system of the couple and may include personal stories, history and specific acknowledgements — thus making the ceremony more meaningful to them. No two ceremonies are the same.
As a Humanist Officiant, I am more of a facilitator as opposed to a spiritual authority figure.
Is a Humanist wedding or ceremony right for you and your family?
Humanism, generally speaking, is a non-religious or secular belief system or philosophy that values human rights, social justice, equality, compassion and respect for all. It also espouses the belief that it is up to us as human beings to work toward making this world better for all of its inhabitants. Its inclusive nature is attracting a growing number of people who feel that humanist ceremonies adhere more closely to their personal beliefs and philosophies than either a purely religious or purely civil ceremony.
As a Humanist Officiant, covering much of the Toronto area, I welcome interfaith and intercultural couples and families. I also welcome same-sex couples and families.
I will perform many kinds of rite of passage ceremonies and weddings that range from traditional, modern, large or small to surprise weddings and elopements. I will also conduct renewal of vows and commitment ceremonies.
Please contact me so we can set up a time to talk more about your wedding, my services as well as my availability and rates. I look forward to working with you.
All the best!
Cortney
Cortney Pasternak, Humanist Officiant, MA
