It has been another extraordinary week on campus, and I couldn’t help but reflect on the incredible enthusiasm, passion, and sense of community that continues to define Humber Polytechnic. Whether it was through our Black Heritage Month celebrations, engaging conversations with colleagues at our North Campus Town Hall, or attending one of the many exciting events on campus, this week served as another reminder of what sets Humber apart.  

February is a special time for our Humber community, and I was pleased to join our students and colleagues this week as we officially kicked off this year’s Black Heritage Month celebrations. This month is a reminder for us to reflect, honour and celebrate the incredible contributions, boundless creativity, and unshakable strength of the Black community here at Humber and across the country. We remain focused on fostering a sense of belonging, amplifying Black voices and celebrating Black excellence – not just in February, but every single day. While I am proud of the progress we have made in integrating Inclusion and Belonging into the fabric of our institution, I recognize there is still more work to do. Meaningful change happens when we commit to listen, learn, take action, and advocate for a more just and equitable society.

Earlier this week, we also celebrated this year’s exceptional student-athletes at the annual Humber Hawks Honour Roll Breakfast. This year, 74 student-athletes who embody the very best of Humber Polytechnic and University of Guelph-Humber, achieved Honour Roll status. Every single varsity team, every academic credential, and every faculty at Humber was represented, underscoring the breadth of academic ambition within our athletic community. I am incredibly proud of these students who continue to push the boundaries of what is possible both in academics and athletics.

Humber Spirit Night was another highlight of the week, as we watched the Humber Hawks – both women’s and men’s teams – dominate the Sheridan Bruins. I am also thrilled to share that the men’s team finished the season undefeated with an 18-0 record. It is to no surprise that Humber Athletics was recognized as the top collegiate program in the OCAA over the past half-century. As part of Humber’s Black Heritage Month celebrations, the Humber Hawks men’s basketball team also debuted new jerseys, which were designed by the team and provided by OneTeam sports. The jerseys, created to honour Black excellence and heritage, are now being auctioned off to raise funds for student scholarships.

In academics, Humber Polytechnic’s mooting team made history this week by winning the Capital Cup National Undergraduate Mooting Competition hosted by Carleton University in Ottawa. Students from the Bachelor of Paralegal Studies degree program became the first Humber team to win a national mooting competition, competing against six universities – Humber being the only polytechnic to enter. The team’s success has also earned them an invitation to compete in the University of Toronto Mooting Cup and will participate in the prestigious Osgoode cup, Canada’s largest and longest-running undergraduate mooting competition.

Finally, we continued our important dialogue this week with our second Budget Townhall at North campus. I want to thank all our employees and staff who attended – it was encouraging to see so many people engaged in these conversations. Open discussions like these are essential as we navigate challenges and work toward solutions together. There will be more opportunities to continue these conversations in the future, and I will be sharing more information on where to submit your revenue generating ideas in an upcoming President’s communique.  

Once again, I am deeply grateful to all of you for your unwavering commitment to our Humber community. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

AMV