Kerry Johnston, Program Coordinator of Sustainable Energy and Building Technology, will be retiring at the end of August. In honour of Kerry's retirement, we'll be holding a gathering on Friday, June 23, in NX111 (Community Room) at North Campus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Please stop by to wish Kerry a wonderful retirement!
Please RSVP by Friday, June 16.
Today, I have some exciting news to share with the Humber community. We have two leaders moving into new senior roles key to our efforts to make Humber an inclusive and fantastic place to learn and work.
Beginning May 8, Jennifer O'Brien will be joining Humber as Vice President, People(s) & Culture. In this role, Jennifer (she/her) will lead the Human Resources and Operational Effectiveness department and work with myself and the executive team to ensure the college is well positioned to recruit and retain top talent, respond to the changing nature of work and ensure equity in our human resources policies and processes. Jennifer will also transform these functions towards a people(s) and culture focus in keeping with Humber’s values.
Jennifer comes to Humber with more than 30 years’ human resources experience. In the healthcare sector, she has held vice presidential roles with responsibility for: organizational development; talent acquisition; employee engagement and wellness; equity, diversity and inclusion; truth & reconciliation initiatives; employee relations; and occupational health & safety. Most recently, Jennifer was Vice President of People, Communications, and Engagement at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener where she provided strategic direction for all core people functions at the hospital.
Jennifer holds a Master of Business Administration and a Graduate Diploma in Management from Athabasca University. Among her studies, she has also completed the University of Toronto’s Advanced Health Leadership Program, an Organizational Development Certificate from Queen’s University, and many other courses on leadership and negotiations.
Jennifer has dedicated her entire career to developing innovative programs that support employees and is a strategic leader who has successfully led multiple initiatives to build cultures of continuous improvement, quality and innovation through people. Jennifer has a compassionate spirit and believes deeply in the importance of creating diverse and inclusive workplaces through effective relationships.
Fostering inclusion and belonging requires constant and intentional efforts and is a Humber value that must underpin all that we do. The work that has been completed on the Indigenous Education Plan along with the EDI Task Force’s activities provided a fundamental basis for the college, and this work must continue to be purposeful. As we work to foster a vibrant learning community, I am delighted to announce that Jason Seright, Dean of Indigenous Education & Engagement has been appointed Humber’s inaugural Vice-President of Inclusion and Belonging. In this role, Jason (he/him) will focus on the continued implementation of Humber’s EDI framework and the braiding of Indigenous ways of being, knowing, and doing into curricula, teaching practices, and operational and decision-making approaches.
Jason is Métis of Cree and Dene ancestry and holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Calgary. Bringing more than more than 29 years of experience in Indigenous education in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, he joined Humber in March 2020. Under his leadership, the college has expanded and enhanced Indigenous programming and created new supports and opportunities for Indigenous learners. Jason led the creation of the 2021-23 Indigenous Education Plan and was part of team that received the 2021 Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) Gold Award for Excellence in Indigenous Education.
Working with Jason, the Indigenous Education & Engagement team’s implementation of the Four Seasons of Reconciliation training and land acknowledgment education has provided critical learning opportunities for hundreds of Humber community members. His focus on building mino nawendiwin (good relationships) with our diverse communities on and off-campus is well-known and respected. Jason is an exceptional leader and I am very excited that he has agreed to take on this important role at Humber.
Beginning this week, Jason will join the executive team. We plan to recruit both a new Dean of Indigenous Education & Engagement and a Dean of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to fill leadership roles in the new Inclusion and Belonging portfolio. Over the next year, we will build the team with Jason to ensure his success and our institutional success as we move forward to strengthen inclusion and belonging. Jason and his team will work with Faculties and departments as we innovate and create holistic and inclusive approaches that support all learners.
Please join me in welcoming Jennifer and Jason into their new roles.
Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan
President, CEO, Humber I.T.A.L.
The Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training Program had cause to celebrate.
Program Co-Manager Dave Sadler retired from his position of District Chief for Toronto Fire Services, allowing him more time to devote to his other passion-supporting the learning and development of future firefighters!
The graduating class of pre-service firefighter students surprised Dave with a handmade gift celebrating his achievements. An engraved plaque on the gift recognizes Dave's 35.5 years of service to the communities of Toronto. Dave, who completes his full-time career as a District Chief in Fire Operations was "speechless and humbled".
Congratulations to Dave, and a hearty 'well done' to the class of 2023!
Our highly qualified research analyst graduate students are available full-time, for 12 weeks from September to November (flexible end and start dates) to assist you with your project.
Do you have a research project that needs to be completed in the Fall? Are you looking for someone who can assist you with:
Connect with students early. The students are waiting to hear from you.
*Project hours are used for Work-Integrated Learning (placement course).
For more information, please contact Bhavi Gandhi at bhavi.gandhi@humber.ca.
Dear Humber,
On Thursday, June 8, we came together to celebrate the incredible journey of teaching and learning innovations at this year’s Showcase: authentic event. It was a day filled with inspiration, emotions, and learning. As we reflect on the memories created, we are overwhelmed with gratitude and joy for everyone who brought their authentic selves to this year’s event.
The day kicked off with the much-anticipated Innovation of the Year Awards, where we recognized the exceptional achievements and ground-breaking ideas which continue to advance the teaching and learning experience. Following the awards, we were reminded of the power of resilience, determination, and authenticity from Samra Zafar's inspirational and moving keynote address.
At lunch, we embraced the spirit of Authentic by offering a diverse selection of food stemming from five distinct cultures. The flavourful cuisines united on our plate, making the luncheon a remarkable experience for everyone present. At the same time, the Exhibit Centre displayed an array of thought-provoking topics, and incredible ideas shared by our exhibitors.
The sessions throughout the day were a treasure trove of knowledge, insights, and practical strategies that challenged our thinking and helped us explore unique perspectives.
We ended the day in celebration with ice cream, popsicles, along with a raffle for those who attended the Exhibit Centre. What a wonderful way to conclude our time together, reminding us of the simple joys and pleasures that bring us together.
To the attendees, exhibitors, and presenters, we want to express our deepest gratitude for your presence and contributions. Your willingness to share, connect, and learn from one another created an atmosphere of unity and inspiration that will continue to resonate long after the event.
As we bid farewell to Authentic Showcase 2023, we find ourselves already in anticipation for next year’s celebration. Let us carry the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and authenticity in our hearts as we continue to transform education and empower future generations. Thank you once more!
Warmest regards,
Showcase 2023 Organizing Committee
I am announcing that, after a commitment to the Humber community for almost 39 years, Reva Harknett has decided to retire at the end of August of this year.
Reva has worked in several areas of the college including Food Services, Woodbine Centre Campus, Purchasing Services, and Computing and Network Services (now Information Technology Services). Reva has been a supporter of the Humber community and has contributed as a part-time fitness instructor, a member of the President’s Breakfast Planning Committee, and acting as the Chief Returning Officer (CRO) for Board of Governors elections. For her many successes and contributions, Reva was awarded the Administrative Distinguished Service Award in 2015.
For the last 25 years, Reva has been a part of the Information Technology Services division taking on various administrative roles. For the last 13 years, she has managed the Office of the Chief Information Officer first as Business Manager and now as Executive Assistant to the Vice President, Digital Innovation and CIO. In these roles, she has supported various institutional committees including the Digital Campus Committee.
Please join me in congratulating Reva, thanking her for all she has done to make Humber a better place for all, and wishing her all the very best in retirement.
The Executive Assistant, Office of the Vice President, Digital Innovation and CIO position will be posted in the coming days.
Scott R. Briggs
Vice President, Digital Innovation and CIO
At Humber, we have more than 200 full-time programs between our six unique Faculties. We continually work toward better aligning our programs within the academic division to support an optimal student experience. In so doing, the following programs will shift from the Design and Built Environment cluster in the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology to the Faculty of Media and Creative Arts:
The transition will begin in the Spring 2023 semester and will continue into the Fall 2023 semester. All faculty and staff members currently assigned to the programs will join the Faculty of Media and Creative Arts. The Graphic Design Advanced Diploma, already in the Faculty of Media and Creative Arts, will join the programs and a new portfolio will be created. In the coming months, the Faculty of Media and Creative Arts will be renamed to reflect the addition of the Design programs.
This change will enable faculty, staff and students to engage with complementary programs and create synergies within and beyond the classroom. I would like to thank all faculty and staff who are impacted by the changes as we work to ensure that this is a smooth transition for our students.
Gina Antonacci
Senior Vice President, Academic
Your on-campus student-run restaurant lab, The Humber Room, is open for lunch!
Join us next week for our à la carte service style and a different menu each day.
Select the dish of your choice, each individually priced.
The Humber Room is a live learning lab for our students and a culinary and service experience for guests. Our menu selection and service style change every week based on our curriculum. Enjoy your culinary experience led by our Culinary Management and Baking and Pastry Arts students and service provided by Event and Hospitality Management students.
Hours of Operation
Tuesday & Wednesday
Doors open at 12 p.m.
Seating guests between 12 p.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Service ends by 1:30 p.m.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir will be utilizing a large portion of the Parking Garage at North Campus for overflow event parking between June 12 and July 3, 2023.
There will be two time periods where there will be increased activity around campus due to guest arrivals/departures:
There will be two volunteers stationed at the Parking Garage to assist with wayfinding and shuttle van coordination. Public Safety and Parking have been notified.
For more information on the event, please visit the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir website.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact sonia.rodrigues@humber.ca.
Thank you,
Central Events Office
As many of you know, our colleague Bill Wright will be retiring at the end of June. We are having a gathering to wish him well on Friday, June 16 between 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Barrett CTI room 108.
Please come by and share your best wishes with Bill.
Please RSVP by Wednesday, June 14.
