Announcements

When:
June 19, 2018

The LAS Admin Team is proud to announce that Dr. Paula Gouveia won the Ontario College Administrative Staff Association (OCASA) 2018 Distinguished Administrator Award.

The description of the award from the OCASA website is as follows: “The OCASA Distinguished Administrator Award recognizes administrators within an Ontario college who have demonstrated distinguished administrative performance within their college or region demonstrating the following: outstanding leadership (Innovations, vision, enterprise, impact, and involvement) and excellence of performance (team involvement, achievements, beyond job expectations, and recognition by others).”

We would like to formally thank and acknowledge Paula for her dedication, innovative approaches and the positive team environment she has nurtured in LAS and at Humber. This award embodies academic leadership in the Ontario postsecondary system and fills the Humber community with pride.

Congratulations, Paula!!

When:
June 19, 2018
Tel:
416.675.5009
Posters/Attachments: Event Poster
A girl holds a monarch butterfly

Summer Nature Camp at the Humber Arboretum starts July 3 and runs throughout July and August! 

Humber Arboretum nature day camps are based out of the Centre for Urban Ecology, but campers spend most of their time outdoors making their own discoveries in the forest, river, meadows, wetlands, gardens, and ponds of the Humber Arboretum. Active and engaging, our nature camps are designed for ages 5-13 and are conveniently located at the back of North campus.

Nature Camp (ages 5-12)

Every week of Nature Camp includes activities such as nature walks, forest exploration, ecology games, pond discovery, natural mindfulness, and free-swim Fridays (supervised time in Humber's indoor pool). Weekly themes inspire more activities that explore a special part of our natural world. 

Several weeks of Nature Camp are already wait-listed, but there's still room available to explore exciting themes during the first week of camp and later this summer:

July 3-6 Arboretum Adventures
July 9-13 Humber River Rally (waiting list)
July 16-20 Dirty Science (waiting list)
July 23-27 Wetland Wonders (waiting list)
July 30 - Aug 3 Wilderness Survival
Aug. 7-10 Powerful Pollinators
Aug. 13-17 Eco Olympics
Aug. 20-24 Time Travellers
Aug. 27-13 Ecosystem Exploration

New This Year - Jr. Naturalist Camp 

Jr. Naturalist Camp is a new day camp for curious 12- and 13-year-olds that focuses on exploring the West Humber Valley’s flora and fauna in greater detail. There are four weeks of camp to choose from:

July 16-20 Aquatic Ecosystems
July 23-27 Terrestrial Ecosystems
Aug. 13-17 Aquatic Ecosystems
Aug. 20-24 Terrestrial Ecosystems

Times and Pricing

The regular camp day runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with before- and after-care available from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for an additional fee.

A full week of camp starts at $245 (or $200 for the two four-day of weeks of Nature Camp, July 3-6 & Aug 7-10). A sibling discount and payment plan are available in the registration system.

To learn more and register online, visit humber.ca/arboretum/learn/camps.html

Connect with the Humber Arboretum online: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Newsletter

When:
June 19, 2018
Contact:
Candice Warner-Barrow
Tel:
x5146
Posters/Attachments: Event Poster

By the time the Fall semester starts in September you will be hearing a lot more about the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) implementation. This system is due to “go live” in November 2018 and February 2019. To get more details on the HRMS look out for a personal postcard which you should receive before the end of June.

To learn more about this project we encourage you to visit our website at: humber.ca/hrms

When:
June 19, 2018

I’m pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Downes as program coordinator of Humber’s Bachelor of Music program.

Mike is one of the most accomplished musicians in Canada. He is a two-time JUNO Award winner as a bandleader, for Ripple Effect (2014) and Root Structure (2018), and he frequently works as a performer, arranger, composer and producer for other musicians. He has performed with many of North America’s top jazz artists—including Pat Metheny, Chris Potter, and Oliver Jones—and appeared on numerous other JUNO-winning or nominated recordings, such as Molly Johnson’s Lucky, Shirantha Beddage’s Identity, and Lorne Lofsky’s Bill Please.

Mike is equally well known for his work as a music educator as he is for his musicianship. He has been the Bass Department Head at Humber since 2000, and travelled across Canada and internationally as a featured artist/clinician. Mike is the author of The Jazz Bass Line Book and the co-author of Jazz and Contemporary Music Theory.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Music from McGill University in Montreal, and a Master of Arts in Music Composition from York University.

Please join me in welcoming Mike to his new position.

Steve Bellamy
Dean, School of Creative & Performing Arts

When:
June 18, 2018

Spring Convocation - Chris Whitaker’s address to graduates

This spring more than 10,000 students will become Humber alumni. Spring convocation (June 12, 13, 14 and 15) ceremonies were held at the Toronto Congress Centre over four days and ten ceremonies. This year, President Whitaker’s remarks were tailored to each graduating school, using examples from many different areas of study. This speech was prepared for the School of Health Sciences, which celebrated its graduates on Thursday, June 18 at 3 and 7 p.m.

 

Humber College
2018 Spring Convocation
President Whitaker’s Address to Graduates
June 12-15, 2018

“Leading the Skills Revolution”

 

Members of the platform party, honoured guests, faculty and staff, family, friends and especially our graduates, it’s my pleasure to welcome you to today’s convocation. This week’s ceremonies mark the 50th anniversary of Humber’s convocation, first held in May 1968.

That year there were 19 graduates. This year, we’ll recognize ten thousand graduates over ten ceremonies, so I think it’s safe to say we’ve come a long way from our humble beginnings. Thank you for being here to share this milestone in our history.

Thank you as well to all the Humber employees who help to make this event happen. A day like this takes a village to produce. From when our graduates arrive and receive their gowns, to when they walk across the stage in a few minutes, you, our staff and faculty, work hard to make this day memorable for our graduates and their families, and we are grateful for your efforts.

I’ve been a part of many convocation ceremonies – as a graduate – no, I won’t tell you when I graduated – as a professor, as a President and most importantly, as a parent. I share the many emotions that we’re all feeling today.

The pride of achievement, the joy of success and the relief that this significant day has finally come.

Today, I want to talk to you about the value of your Humber education and why you should be confident that you are prepared to take the next step in your personal and professional journey, wherever life takes you.

As students, each of you came to Humber from somewhere else. From high school or another postsecondary institution, from a job, from another city or even another country.

Six years ago, I too, made the decision to come to Humber. I came from another Ontario college, and when the opportunity to work at Humber was presented to me, I chose to change my life and those of my family members to come here.

Just like you, Humber gave me the chance to do what we as a college encourage all of our students and employees to do: to be life-long learners and to challenge ourselves to take action to make the world a better place.

While we chose to come here for our respective reasons, hopefully you now recognize, like I do, that Humber is a place that brings people together. And together we strengthen our reputation for excellence in teaching and learning and for supporting the many individuals who make up our diverse and inclusive community.

Many of these qualities were more apparent than ever this past year.

While we enjoyed some big wins such as our Women’s basketball team winning the provincial and national championships with a perfect record, and Mechatronics graduates winning a bronze medal at World Skills, we also supported each other through challenging times.  

I know the work stoppage this past fall was a stressful time for many of us, and we’ve worked hard to move forward as a united community.

Whatever the issue or obstacle may be, Humber is known for its resiliency. Our ability to join together to turn challenge into opportunity, and opportunity into success is what defines us.

And that brings us to now. Convocation is my favourite time of the academic year because it’s a time for our community to celebrate students’ achievements, and to look ahead to the new beginnings and abundant possibilities that await our graduates.

Before we recognize their accomplishments, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank those who helped our grads along the way.

To Humber’s faculty and staff, thank you for your dedication and commitment. Our students wouldn’t be here without your support, wisdom and encouragement, from orientation to today.

When I speak with students, they tell me they feel valued here – as learners, and as people. You represent the caring community we take pride in at Humber. Let’s give our faculty and staff a big round of applause!

Thank you also to friends, families and loved ones for supporting our graduates through the ups and downs of college life. Your support comes in many ways – financial, emotional, lending a helping hand, and not getting frustrated when there’s more playing Fortnite than studying going on. I think you deserve a round of applause as well.

And now, to you, our graduates – you did it! You’ve earned the spotlight you’re receiving today.

Some of you may have heard me speak at your Orientation when you began your studies. I encouraged you to make the most of your time at Humber, and I said that learning is about trying new things, getting out of your comfort zone, and in doing so, changing yourself along the way.

I believe being here shows that you’ve done that and more. You’ve stepped up to the challenges of learning, developed new perspectives and skills, made new friends, formed new relationships, and most importantly, learned about yourself. You have put yourself in the position to make the transition from education to employment.

Your Humber education provides you with a great set of tools. How you use them is up to you. I hope you will all leave here confident in your abilities as you head towards the next destination in your life’s journey.

The good news is that you’re starting off on the right foot. A recent RBC study entitled “Humans Wanted: How Canadian youth can thrive in the age of disruption” focuses on the rapidly changing economy and world of work, and how your generation can lead the transformation into the skills economy.

The RBC study found that the Canadian economy is expected to add 2.4 million jobs over the next four years - many of which will require skills you’ve developed while at Humber, including critical thinking, complex problem solving, active listening and social perceptiveness.

Take Nick DiSimone for example. Nick is graduating this year from the Architectural Technology Program. He told his program coordinator that learning to read and interpret blueprints helped him to develop his critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These skills helped him to earn a job as an Estimator and Project Coordinator with RMG Consulting.

The company recognized that Nick had obtained the knowledge they required through his studies, and that he was someone who would continue to learn and grow with them.

Nick worked part-time with RMG while completing his diploma and started full-time after completing his classes in April. Nick is an example of a student who used his Humber experience to move seamlessly to a job in their field of study.

The RBC study also resonates with me because it shows that there’s opportunity out there, and I know that Humber grads are ready to contribute. The study found that there are lots of jobs but not enough skills, and that educators and employers can do more to prepare students for today’s and tomorrow’s skills economy.  

As part of your polytechnic education at Humber, you received a combination of classroom and hands-on learning. You were taught by professionals in your field who could give you a sense of what your career path might look like once you graduated. They may have told you that you’re preparing for jobs that don’t even exist yet or that you’ll work in several roles in several places.

They may have connected you with an internship or a project that asked you to develop solutions to real business challenges.

You tackled the problem in a learning environment with labs, equipment and technology integrated with industry and the work place, all to better prepare you for the transition from school to work.

This was the case for another student graduating this week, Daniel Tiulin from the Bachelor of Commerce – Finance program. Daniel is an award-winning student in The Business School, who, a year ago, completed his summer work placement as an intern at the TMX Group, in the financial sector. While there, he competed with students from various universities to secure a full-time position at TMX that began last month. Daniel has shown that skills learned and developed at Humber can be transferred and applied to the work place.  

Finally, the RBC study is one of many that focuses on career mobility, emphasis on skills development and the importance of four key abilities - foundational skills, digital literacy, global competencies and decision making – that are the essential skills needed for moving between and within jobs.

These are the skills you’ve developed at Humber, and that you will take with you into the future. You are ready to triumph in the age of automation, and to lead the skills revolution.

So, no pressure, but the world is counting on you, and because I know you’re up for the challenge, let me give you a few friendly reminders of some things I hope we have reinforced in your time at Humber. 

First, remember to think critically, to question and to challenge what some accept at face value. We all know the term “fake news.” You leave here with a strengthened ability to make sense of the world and make the right choices to engage and make a difference for yourself and others.

Second, as a Humber student you’ve been part of one of the most diverse and inclusive institutions in Canada – so embrace diversity, in all its forms. From race, religion, place of origin, culture, sexuality, gender identity, age, to economic status and more, it’s up to each of us to acknowledge and seek to understand these differences and find ways to build bridges, establish common ground and welcome others into our world. Let me give you an example.

Temitope Edagbami, is graduating from the Pre-Health Science pathway program this week. Temi came to Canada from Nigeria as a single parent with three children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology in Nigeria but realized she would need some Canadian education to start a career in her field here.

Like so many of our students, she juggled family obligations, worked night shifts and spent weekends managing her course work. She has now been accepted into the Nursing program and is well on her way to the life she envisioned for her family here in Canada. She is a great example to her classmates and I’m sure, to her children as well.

We can all learn from Temi and students in a similar situation, and you will be at a personal and professional advantage if you can recognize the value of diversity and inclusion.

Third, find a way to get involved and give back. This can take many forms and can be as simple as being kind to others, paying forward a kindness that was shown to you, or getting involved in community or international development efforts - as many of our students and graduates do. Look beyond yourself and your immediate surroundings, and you’ll find endless opportunities to make a difference. Even with its challenges, the world offers incredible opportunities to those with the courage, creativity and energy to seize them.

We need more leaders and fewer followers. Be bold and be ready for your chance to make a difference in the world.

Today, as you all graduate, I’d like to thank you for spending time with us and for contributing to the college in many ways. Our faculty and staff have learned from you just as you have learned from them.

As you enter the next stage of your life, whether that’s starting your career or continuing your education, you will always be a part of the Humber community. You are now part of the more than two hundred and forty thousand alumni who are the college’s reputation in action. I encourage you to continue in their footsteps by making your mark on the world, doing your community proud and of course, keeping in touch with us. 

Choosing to come to Humber is one of the best decisions I ever made. I sincerely hope the same is true for all of you. Everyone here is proud of all you have achieved. You are now and forever part of the Humber family and no matter where you go, our doors are always open and you will always be welcomed home.

Stay in touch, tweet often, post your pictures and remember:   We Are Humber!

Thank you.

When:
June 18, 2018
Contact:
I.T. Support Centre
Tel:
x8888
Posters/Attachments: Event Poster
Starting Saturday, June 23 at 6 p.m.
Ending Sunday, June 24 at 8 a.m.
Affected Services All technology and information services will be unavailable as of 6:00 p.m. including Banner, MyHumber, Blackboard, e-mail, corporate websites, Wi-Fi network, and lab computers.
Reason Systems in the main data center will be shut down in order to facilitate regular maintenance work.
When:
June 18, 2018
Pulse Showcase Conference Logo Image

The Showcase 2018: Pulse Planning Committee gratefully acknowledges the contributions and support of the Humber community for their role in the planning and execution of this years’ conference. Over 440 members of the Humber community came out to support and celebrate with their colleagues.

Our thanks to the President, Vice-Presidents, Deans, Associate Deans and Directors for their continued commitment to this event. Special thanks to all of our Academic Schools and the following departments for their support and prize contributions: Aboriginal Resource Centre; Athletics; Capital Development and Facilities Management; Human Resources and Information Technology Services.

A heartfelt thank you to all of the presenters who showcased their talents and to the following student volunteers for their dedication, time and energy. Channon Simpson, SSCS; Jahdana Thomas, SSCS ; Linh Ha Huyen Nguyen, TBS; Madison Giffen, SSCS; Mary Sharlinette Antonio, TBS; Michael Duong, CICE; Natalie Millar, SSCS.

Our individual thanks to the following people for their special contributions to Showcase 2018:

Andy Pryde, Christine Zupo, Darren Richards, Sean Foreman, Stevie Geisel, James Irvine, Kathy Nguyen, Katie Evans, Keith Pua, Nashwan Bashir, Lindsay Walker, Nichole Bryan, Antonio Folino, Sharaf El Sayed, Rob Ordel, Shelley Charles, Sue Clevely, Jem Cain, Justyna Belchior, Kavelle Maharaj, Seeret Samra, Anisa Jonmohamed, Erika Heitler, and Valeria Wuschnakowski.

Sincerely,

The Showcase 2018 Committee

Josephine Mazzuca, LAS; Anita John, TBS; Anke Foller Carroll, HRT; Carol Appleby, CTL; Cheryl Pinto, HR; Dean Dickinson, SHS; Dekel Chui, CTL; Heidi Marsh, CTL; Janice Boyd, FM; John Kosmopoulos, SCSS; Kyle Smith, ITS; Lindsay Bontje, Libraries, Mark Ihnat, CTL; Renée Burt, CTL.

When:
June 18, 2018
Contact:
Joe Chimenti
Tel:
647.236.7109
Posters/Attachments: Event Poster
CTI Bridge Work Area Diagram

Please be advised that the CTI bridge work will commence on Monday June 18, 2018 and will affect pedestrian and vehicular traffic flows in the area.

Date: Monday, June 18, 2018 to Friday, August 24, 2018
Time: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Monday to Friday, and potentially some Saturdays
Where: Work area is between the LRC building and the new CTI building on Silver Bell Lane.
What: The steel bridge structure from the new CTI building to the LRC building has been erected and must now be completed with floor, walls/windows, roof and electrical/mechanical services.

Additional Details:

  • Pedestrian access through the work area is prohibited.
  • Delivery vehicles will be allowed through the work area but there may be some delays.
  • The Contractor’s flag person will direct delivery traffic through the work area when it is safe to do so.
  • Work will be happening overhead with equipment and machinery on the ground.

Please see the CTI Bridge Work Area Diagram for additional details.

When:
June 18, 2018

I am pleased to announce that Kevin Viflanzoff will be joining the Financial Services and Planning department as of Monday, June 25 and will assume the role of Manager, Purchasing Services.

Kevin comes to Humber with more than 15 years of procurement experience spanning both public and private sectors. In his most recent role as the Director of Strategic Sourcing, Kevin was responsible for overseeing the procurement function along with developing, implementing and communication of all procurement policies and procedures to support an institution’s strategic plan. Over the years, Kevin has worked closely with both internal and external stakeholders and has been successful in bringing process efficiencies, resulting in substantial cost savings for the institution.

In addition to his professional achievements, Kevin is also interested in giving back to community and participates on the Board for a non-profit child care facility. Kevin’s passion for education and life-long learning education has earned him credentials which include Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Business Administration and Supply Chain Management certification (CSCMP) from the Purchasing Management Association of Canada.

Please join me in welcoming Kevin to Humber College and Finance department. Please reach out to him at X 4205.

Sanjay Puri
Director, Financial Services and Planning

When:
June 15, 2018

As previously communicated, Humber is working with the City of Toronto to house approximately 400 refugee claimants at our North Campus residence. These individuals and families continue to arrive daily and we have welcomed about half of those who are expected.   

As we have seen often at Humber, our community comes together in times of need. Thank you for the overall support and many offers to help. The Red Cross and the City of Toronto are facilitating services and supports for the refugee claimants. We will let you know if and when there are opportunities for members of the Humber community to provide assistance as part of their role here or drawing on their personal expertise.

We are also continuing to welcome other groups and individuals to residence over the summer. Conference Services regularly rents residence rooms at this time of year for various events, conferences and activities. The revenue from these rentals helps to offset the cost of residence for students.

Humber’s contractual agreement with the City of Toronto runs until August 9.

Please contact Susan Miller by email or at x77202 if you have any questions or would like more information.

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