We have a lot to celebrate!  This month’s FAST Times is a very special issue that commemorates the Class of 2023, features award-winning students, and pays tribute to seven retiring faculty members including Associate Dean, Dr. Jonathan Kim who penned our opening message.

Retiring is not the end. It’s the beginning of a new chapter. I encourage you to read these heartfelt tributes that honour our colleagues: Kerry Johnston; Leon King; Pamela Mayhew; Richard “Rick” Snowdon; Yuri Sura; and Bill Wright.

Whether you are retiring, starting your summer vacation, continuing to deliver curriculum for our students this academic term or starting a new career, I encourage you to take a moment, look back at how far we’ve come and the exciting journey ahead.

May this summer award all of us warm sunny days, quality time with our loved ones and exciting new chapters that we look forward to showcasing in our September FAST Times Issue.

After 32 years at Humber, Christine Colosimo has made the decision to retire as of Friday, June 30. 

If you didn’t know, Christine has been supporting learners at Humber since 1991. When Christine first started at Humber, she worked in the Registrar’s Office, moving afterwards to the School of Information Technology & Accounting. After that, Christine worked in Applied Technology, and then eventually landed (yay) in Career Services within Student Services (now called Student Success & Engagement). Christine also recently completed a secondment within the Faculty of Applied Science & Technology, before returning once again to Advising & Career Services where she has been ever since. 

On behalf of all of SSE, a big congratulations Christine to you on completing an amazing career here at Humber, and for always keeping student success and learning at the heart and forefront of your work. You have made a difference in so many students' lives and experiences and we really want to recognize this and celebrate you for all of your achievements. Enjoy the next steps in your journey. We are excited for you and for all of your plans.  

If you haven't had a chance to do so, please feel free to connect directly with Christine (christine.colosimo@humber.ca) before next Friday if you haven't had a chance to wish her well. We know that she would welcome hearing from you. 

Congrats again and all the best on behalf of the SSE Team.

Embarking on the college journey can be both exciting and overwhelming for first-year students. At Student Life, we are committed to providing a helping hand to these students as they navigate this new chapter in their lives.

Five things why you should be a volunteer:

1. Networking Opportunities: Interacting with mentors, faculty, and professionals provides valuable networking opportunities, which can benefit you in your future careers.
2. Mentorship Opportunities: As a volunteer, you have the chance to become a mentor and guide for first-year students, sharing your wisdom, experiences, and insights to help them navigate challenges and make informed decisions.
3. Personal Growth: Volunteering provides an opportunity for personal growth, as you enhance your communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills while working with diverse groups of students and professionals.
4. Skill Development: By volunteering, you can enhance various skills such as mentoring, public speaking, teamwork, problem-solving, and organization, which are transferable to many other areas of your life.
5. Resume and Career Development: Volunteering for the first-year experience demonstrates your commitment to community involvement, leadership, and the development of individuals, which can boost your resume and impress potential employers.

Our dedicated team of volunteers understands the challenges that come with transitioning to college and is eager to offer support, guidance, and resources to ensure a smooth and successful journey. From assisting with academic planning and time management to offering mentorship and organizing orientation events, we strive to empower first-year students to thrive academically, socially, and personally.

Together, let's make the college experience a positive and transformative one for every first-year student as they begin their exciting educational adventure.

Sign up now

To the Humber community, 

On behalf of the LGBTQ+ Resource Centre and the 2SLGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group (ERG), we want to say thank you to everyone who celebrated in Pride Month with us thus far! 

We are happy to have witnessed enormous support and engagement in Pride events and activities throughout the whole college. We truly appreciate everyone who has put together a Pride themed event, helped get the word out on social media and decorated their spaces with Pride symbols. 

We were also very honoured to have so many people join in our Pride and Trans Flag Raising and Pride Opening Ceremonies event at both the North and Lakeshore campuses. 

Here is some information about the flags that are flying high this month: 

The rainbow flag was created as a symbol of LGBT rights in 1978 by Gilbert Baker. This flag was modified by Daniel Quasar in 2018. The new Progress Pride flag signifies broader inclusivity within queer communities. It includes colours that represent trans and non-binary folk, racialized people and people living with HIV/AIDS. 

The trans flag was created by Monica Helms, a trans woman who is both a U.S. Navy veteran and trans activist. Helms first designed the flag in 1999 and introduced it at a Phoenix Pride parade in 2000. The flag is a symbol of trans pride and diversity and has since become a trans and non-binary community badge of joy and acceptance. 

Historically trans, non-Binary and other gender diverse communities have been underrepresented under the broader 2SLGBTQ+ umbrella. At Humber, we raise the progress pride Flag and trans Flag together to show our support for the spectrum of gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations of our students and staff. 

There are still several events to participate in and we encourage the Humber community to continue to display your Pride for the remainder of the month. More information on Pride events happening can be found on the events calendar.  

Happy Pride!