Yesterday, President Whitaker issued a statement about Humber’s commitment to employees. That statement outlined that while our decisions might be shaped by different factors then they would be during normal operations, they are still rooted in our values.

Today, I wanted to share an additional piece with you. The Humber At Home pledge outlines our approach to supporting each other while we work from home and do our best to offer our critical programs, services and supports.

I encourage you to review the attached Humber At Home pledge and keep it nearby in the days and weeks ahead. Our Humber culture has always been expressed through a community that prioritizes health and well-being as well as equity, diversity and inclusion. It is important to remember that no two of us are experiencing this situation in the same way. The challenges we may face and the support we may need can vary dramatically. However, what should remain the same is our pledge to one another, which includes:

• Be respectful of individual circumstances and supportive of colleagues
• Prioritize our own health and wellness
• Be thoughtful about how we conduct meetings and use technology
• Be dedicated to opening the lines of communication
• Adjust our expectations and respect boundaries

I am exceedingly proud of the staff at Humber who have risen to the challenge over the last eight weeks, even when it hasn’t always been easy.

We are all in this together. Take care of yourselves and each other.

Lori Diduch
Vice-President, Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness

Pen and Ink!

Our lives are filled with emails. Take a step back and put pen to paper and write one letter a day for seven days. The mail is still running, and if you don’t want to use that service, consider writing letters to people within walking distance so you can leave it on their doorstep

As we continue to work and learn at home, it’s important to stay connected to our colleagues and our community. To help keep us all connected, we created the #HumberAtHome series. We want to know about how you are taking care of your well-being right now, how your teams are adding a bit of fun into your interactions, and which resources are helping you.  

Here are some examples of what members of the Humber community are doing to bring their community together:  

Faculty of Health Sciences & Wellness and Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology

Louise Zimanyi, ECE Professor and Lynn Short, Arboretum instructor, recently published the article, “Children make connections to Aki (Earth) through Anishinaabe teachings” for Earth Day. It demonstrates the work they are doing at Humber to support land-based play, teaching and learning. View the article here.

Humber Arboretum

Humber Arboretum is wrapping up a successful Earth Month with a home composter tour and tips from Master Composter, Lynn Short, part-time faculty, Horticulture, Environmental Stewardship Coordinator, Humber Arboretum and Education Assistant, Indigenous Education and Engagement. View the video and learn the three components of a healthy compost bin ecosystem, why Lynn keeps her bins uncovered, and more!

Humber Fitness North & First Year Experience

Don’t forget to follow Humber Fitness North on Instagram for the latest workout videos. FYE has prepared something extra special for the month of May, 31 days of wellness challenges. Each challenge will end every day at 5 p.m. and winners will be announced/contacted on the following Monday. Follow along for updates on the challenges and e-gift cards.  

Please send us your #HumberAtHome photos, video clips and stories to bethany.sharpe@humber.ca.

Etobicoke Community Outreach

The world has dramatically changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As students, professionals and families, we are experiencing significant upheaval that can be intensified by feelings of helplessness and anxiety. It’s only natural in times of such extreme uncertainty and confronted by potential job, housing and financial loss, that emotions can rise resulting in conflicts.

The Humber College Dispute Resolution Clinic is offering free online service delivery to support community members with access to:

1. Conflict Coaching
2. Tips and Strategies on Conflict De-escalation Techniques
3. Facilitated Mediations

Community Members can e-mail northdrc@ignitestudentlife.com. Trained alternative dispute resolution (ADR) students, advisors and mediators from within the community will be available by appointment to provide dispute resolution support services. You are not alone. We are here to help in these uncertain times.