It’s that time of the year when things slow down a little bit, when we can look back at all the things we’ve experienced together, and when we all can take a moment to appreciate those who make our lives special every day.

We have so much to be proud of this year, with many projects completed, initiatives undertaken, milestones achieved, and awards received. Everything we accomplished demonstrates why Humber remains a leader in polytechnic education in this country and it’s important to recognize that this does not happen in a vacuum. To be a leader and to prepare the next generation of sector leaders to thrive in their fields requires a full team effort. That’s what I see every day at our campuses and locations ­– a community committed to ensuring that our students and employees have the best educational experience possible.
 
I can’t tell you how proud I am to be President and CEO of Humber knowing we were once again named one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers of 2024. That is a direct result of the hard work of the entire Humber community and our collective commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace. A sincere thank you to all our employees – you all have worked diligently to help provide the best student experience possible and it shows. Thank you for all that you do in making our Humber community a place of which we can all be proud.

At Humber, we are doing our part in the global fight against climate change. This year, we announced the launch of Project SWITCH. This initiative will play a significant role as Humber works towards our goal of becoming net zero by 2050. Once operational, the project will result in a 70 per cent reduction in natural gas use at North Campus and a 40 per cent reduction in carbon emissions.

Thanks to our partnership with Siemens Canada, we launched our Sustainable Microgrid and Renewable Technology Lab (SMART Lab) at North Campus this year. The SMART Lab is an educational and experimental environment designed to train both our learners and professionals in the use of a microgrid system and to conduct research with industry and community partners.

I am also feeling inspired this holiday season – Humber Inspired, if you pardon the pun. Together, we are creating a vision for Humber’s future, and I am excited to see so many within the Humber community contributing their big, bold ideas about our future and the role they want Humber to play in it. To date we have had more than 1,000 people engaged in this conversation.

What does a successful Humber look, act and think like in 2030? What core values will support the vision to 2030 and beyond? How can Humber flex its greatest strengths to make meaningful impacts? These are just some of the questions we as an institution are asking ourselves and the wider community as we move forward with Humber Inspired.

It is impossible not to leave these sessions feeling optimistic and energized. The creativity and passion of our community has been on full display and the ideas we are receiving are awesome - not that I expected anything less from the remarkable people within the Humber community.

We have received well over 3000 ideas so far and the engagement in this visioning exercise has been superb. So far, a group of emerging themes have been identified covering everything from teaching and learning to global thought leadership, health and well-being and many others. Humber is well-positioned for the future, and I am excited for what is yet to come.

These are just a few of the many things that we have accomplished together this year. We all win when our students succeed and based on everything I have witnessed this past year, we are seeing exactly that

It has been a year of resilience and strength for our Humber community. Many of our students, employees, and neighbours have been through a lot this year, and for many this holiday season will not be easy. Through it all, I am reminded just how caring and compassionate the Humber community is. That is part of what makes Humber so special. We find ways to show up for each other, and when times get tough, we reach out to one another, listen to each other, and come together. As conflict continues in many parts of our world, the ripple effects are felt by many in our community. We are so fortunate to live in a country of peace, and I truly hope for all of us – in our lives and in the world - that we hold on to the things that unite us.

I hope you find moments of calm during this holiday season for what I am sure for many of you will be a very busy winter break. I know I am looking forward to spending quality time with my family. These moments are precious, and my hope is for all of you to enjoy many of them with your loved ones.

Enjoy a well-deserved break and I look forward to seeing everyone in the new year. Best wishes and happy holidays to the entire Humber community. I am signing off, full of gratitude for all that you do every day, and hopeful for the year ahead.

AMV