The Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDIB) invites students, faculty, and staff to share their stories for our upcoming EDIB campaign.

Have you or a colleague helped create a more inclusive, equitable, or welcoming environment at Humber?

Have you worked to break down systemic barriers or foster a greater sense of belonging in your classroom, workplace, or community?

Whether you're nominating yourself or someone else, we want to hear how you're making a difference.

Submit a testimonial and help us highlight the meaningful impact being made across Humber. 

Let’s celebrate and amplify the work that drives equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging—together.

Winter 2026 Orientation 

The Orientation Team within Student Success and Engagement (SSE) is excited to begin collaborating with Academic Faculties and campus partners in preparation for Winter 2026 Orientation. We look forward to working with you all to support new students in their transition to Humber Polytechnic.  

Orientation will comprise of virtual pre-arrival events, online guides and resources, program-focused Meet Your Faculty sessions, and on-campus events and activities.     

Outline for Winter 2026 Orientation  

December 2 to 19: The First Year Experience (FYE) and Orientation Team will be offering virtual sessions called Ready, Set, Humber! These sessions will welcome and guide students in their transition into Humber over 3 weeks, providing information on what to expect in post-secondary education, engagement, and support. Ready, Set, Humber! Sessions are designed to provide students with an opportunity to have all their orientation questions answered and connect with the FYE Team and their peers before they begin their classes.  

Wednesday, January 7: In partnership with the Academic Faculties, we will host Academic Orientation with Meet Your Faculty sessions at North Campus. These sessions will be in-person, on-campus.     

Thursday, January 8: In partnership with the Academic Faculties, we will host Academic Orientation with Meet Your Faculty sessions at the Downtown Campus (IGS). These sessions will be delivered hybrid and on-campus.    

We will also be hosting Virtual Meet Your Faculty sessions for Faculties who have chosen to facilitate them online for North and Lakeshore programs only.  

Friday, January 9: In partnership with the Academic Faculties, we will host Academic Orientation with Meet Your Faculty sessions at Lakeshore Campus. These sessions will be in-person, on-campus.   

January 12 to 23: Orientation will host Welcome Stations on campus each day to further support and orient our students to Humber Polytechnic.     

January 12 to 30: Orientation, with the support of our campus partners, will host Welcome Events for students. This programming will focus on well-being and social connection, and we will continue to promote services and resources available to students throughout their time at Humber. We will reach out to campus partners with further information on how to get involved.     

We welcome feedback from all our partners and appreciate the continued support from the Humber community.     

If you have not previously been involved with Orientation but would like to partner with us in welcoming students in Winter 2026, please reach out to: Mitch Mercado, Student Life Manager at mitchelle.mercado@humber.ca.   

As of October 1, there are changes to two key services provided through People(s) & Culture.  

Short-term Disability and Accommodation Process 

As of October 1, Cowan Group’s Return to Health services will start to provide third-party adjudication for all short-term disability and accommodation claims. This change enhances the privacy and confidentiality of employee medical information by ensuring that sensitive documentation is handled by disability claims professionals outside of Humber.   

Key Benefits of Third-Party Adjudication: 

• Enhanced Privacy: Medical documentation will no longer be shared with Humber’s Sr. Abilities and Accommodation Specialist. Instead, it will be securely reviewed by Cowan Group’s clinical team. 

• Professional Oversight: Claims will be assessed by experienced case managers who specialize in disability and accommodation adjudication. 

• Streamlined Communication: Employees will receive direct follow-up from Cowan Group, ensuring timely and consistent support. 

The new process will be:  

1. Initiate the claim by emailing both your manager and occhealth@humber.ca. For short-term disability claims, this process starts after 5 days of absence. 

2. Send medical documentation directly to Cowan via secure email at rthclient.service@cowangroup.ca 

3. A Cowan case manager will follow up with you to guide you through the next steps 

Anyone currently in the short-term disability or accommodation process will be contacted directly with next steps or information.  

Exciting News: Enhanced Health & Wellness Support as of October 1! 

We’re also pleased to announce that our new Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is Homewood Health. As of October 1, all full-time and regular part-time employees, along with their immediate family members, will have access to a comprehensive suite of health and wellness services through Homewood Health. These services were provided by Telus. Cases managed by Telus will move over to Homewood Health. 

Homewood Health is a Canadian owned, nationally recognized leader in mental health and wellness, offering confidential, professional support designed to help you and your loved ones thrive, both at work and at home. 

What’s Included? 

Homewood Health’s EFAP services go far beyond traditional counselling. You’ll have access to: 

• Counselling Services: Confidential support for personal, family, or work-related concerns. Services are available in person, by phone, video or via online e-counselling (message exchanges or real-time chat). 

• Life Smart Coaching Services: Practical coaching for everyday challenges like parenting, eldercare, nutrition, and more. For the most part, these services are delivered by phone or online, and often include an assessment, a personalized package of information, and useful tools with your best interests in mind. 

• Work-Life Services: Expert advice and resources to help you manage life’s demands with confidence.  

• Online Resources: The program also offers access to a new innovative online experience called Pathfinder. Pathfinder is integrated into your experience on the online mental health platform Homeweb.ca. Pathfinder tailors personalized care plans and service recommendations based on your unique presenting issue, assessment of the severity of that issue and your unique preferences as well.  

Need Support? 

Contact Homewood Health at:  

Phone:
1-800-663-1142 (English) 
1-866-398-9505 (French) 
1-888-384-1152 (TTY)  

Web: www.homewoodhealth.com.  

Additional details can be found on the People(s) & Culture – Homewood Health webpage.  

This transition marks a significant step forward in supporting the well-being of our Humber community. We’re excited to partner with Homewood Health to provide you with trusted, confidential, and accessible care, whenever you need it. 

Full-time and regular part-time employees, and their immediate family, may call Homewood Health at 1-800-663-1142, anytime day or night, 365 days of the year. In an emergency, immediate support is also available. Please be assured that when you use the program, it is completely confidential. 

If you have questions about EFAP please contact us at oe@humber.ca.  

The Longo Centre for Entrepreneurship is thrilled to share an exciting opportunity for domestic students: the chance to take on 80-hour projects with local businesses and receive an $825 honorarium upon completion!

Offered in partnership with Experience Ventures and funded by the Government of Canada, these projects give students the chance to:

• Build entrepreneurial thinking skills
• Expand their professional networks
• Gain hands-on experience in a new field

Even better, these 80-hour projects can count toward Work Integrated Learning (WIL) requirements, making them both practical and rewarding.

Please help us spread the word to your students! This is a unique opportunity for them to get experience, get paid, and get ahead. See attached poster to share with students. For any inquiries, please email Emily.Buchnea@Humber.ca.

Important Links:

• Current Project Opportunities 
• Student Registration