Impact of the Ontario Colleges Full-time Support Staff Strike on the Humber Arboretum

As of 12:01 a.m. on Thursday September 11, full-time support staff at all 24 Ontario polytechnics and colleges, including Humber Polytechnic, are on strike.

The Humber Arboretum exists as a unique tri-partnership between Humber Polytechnic, the City of Toronto, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Our day-to-day, onsite staff are all employees of Humber Polytechnic, and many are members of the Full-time Support Staff union.

Please note the information on this page will be updated as the situation develops.

Last updated: Monday October 29, 4:00 PM   

Visiting the Gardens and Trails 

• The gardens and trails of the Humber Arboretum remain open and, as always, free to visit.

• Anyone wishing to enter the campus to visit the Humber Arboretum on weekdays may be delayed by picket lines. Please be patient and respectful (see Humber Polytechnic's Picket Line Guidelines).

• Pedestrian and cyclist entrances along the West Humber Trail are not impacted.

• Transit routes to campus may be altered. Check with individual transit provider websites for the most up-to-date information:
  • TTC Service Alerts  
  • Miway Service Updates
  • Brampton Transit Bus Stop Impacts and Detours
  • YRT Service Advisories
  • GO Transit Service Updates

Centre for Urban Ecology (CUE)    

• While we will do our best to have the CUE open during regular business hours (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays), periodic closures are likely.

• If the building is closed, please proceed to the campus buildings across Parking Lot 1 for washrooms and water bottle refill stations.

Events and Programs

The status of events and programs will vary. Please check back here or on our event calendar listings for updates. 

• Etobicoke Master Gardener weekend workshops are continuing as scheduled.

• The Learning by Leading info sessions/tours for students interested in the Humber Arboretum Ambassadors-in-Training program will continue as scheduled. 
  • The start date of the Humber Arboretum Ambassadors-in-Training volunteer experience will be delayed until the strike is over. Applications are still being accepted.    

School Field Trips

• Please note that new inquiries for school field trips have resumed.

• Educators who have already booked a trip will receive any relevant updates directly.

  • Please leave extra time to get through the picket lines. It is recommended that busses enter through Entrance B (you will be emailed a map before your visit)  

Contacting the Arboretum

• For the time being, please send all inquiries to our main email address: arboretum@humber.ca

• Please note that our ability to respond to messages will be limited, and there will likely be delays.  

Photography Permits

• The issuing of new photography permits for commercial and wedding photography has resumed. 

• There is no impact to the free permit process for Humber Polytechnic and University of Guelph-Humber student projects. 

All Other Humber Polytechnic Updates

• For updates on the rest of campus operations, please visit: Humber.ca/updates