This International Women’s Day, we reflect on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusivity and celebrate empowerment and the trailblazers who broke barriers, paving the way for future generations.

Desiree McKenzie is a Humber alumna (Bachelor of Creative Advertising, 2018), award-winning interdisciplinary artist, and National Poetry Slam champion. Through her art, she hopes to tap into the little things that make us who we are. 

In her International Women’s Day poem titled Firsts, she aims to inspire inclusion.

March 10 marks the start of Ramadan

Humber College and the University of Guelph-Humber are committed to the principles of human rights, equity, inclusion, and belonging. March 10, 2024, marks the start of Ramadan.  

Celebrated during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, introspection, reflection, and a time to focus on spirituality and charity. During Ramadan, many Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, breaking their fast with dates and water and a meal called Iftar.  

The end of Ramadan is marked by Eid-al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr, this year starting on April 9, 2024, celebrates the end of the month of Ramadan and involves food and gatherings.  

As a reminder, many Humber students, faculty and staff may be fasting during this month. Please be mindful that they may require accommodation, such as flexibility related to scheduling or extensions, to observe and celebrate. When this holy month overlaps with exam season, Muslim students may have increased anxiety around deadlines, altered sleep patterns, changes in energy levels and commitment to prayer timings.

If you have questions regarding the duty to accommodate based on creed, please contact humanrights@humber.ca.

The Humber community is encouraged to learn more about this important time for many and to support those who are fasting. 

Here are some ways to support students and employees: 

• Flexibility: Be adaptable with deadlines. Ramadan fasts range from sun up to sun down. If a student or staff member asks for an extension, strongly consider granting it. 
• Make concessions: A pillar of Islam is the five daily prayers, which become even more essential during Ramadan. Allow breaks for those who request the time to complete their prayers. You may wish to discuss break timings with your students or staff ahead of time to promote an easy transition. 
• Advocate: Be an ally in your department for students and staff who are fasting or observing Ramadan. For example, consider team-building activities that do not involve food or drink during this time.  
• Exams: Depending on scheduled exam times, students may request accommodations.  

We wish you a peaceful and happy Ramadan.

The Office of Research and Innovation is very excited to share details about our inaugural launch of the Applied Research Program (Accelerated) for this coming May-June! 

This opportunity is open to any faculty or staff who are interested in learning more about the applied research process and collaborating with peers. 

ORI will sponsor one member from each Faculty and Department for this professional development opportunity. Additional departmental members are welcome to join with confirmation from their manager. If you’re interested, please contact the Dean or department head of your respective faculty or department.

Please find attached a poster with further program details.

We look forward to confirming our participants by March 15, 2024.

Thank you to all Humber and University of Guelph-Humber Support Staff who attended the 2024 Support Staff Professional Development workshops from February 26 to February 29. You continue to go above and beyond in your roles to support colleagues, students, and the community. Thank you.

Our facilitators for the sessions reminded and taught us how we can:  

• Respond to a learner in distress using empathy and interpersonal skills, and connect them with resources available on- and off-campus 
• Create psychologically safe and healthy work environments to support mental health  
• Identify and report human rights violations, and communicate through a trauma-informed lens that respects the dignity of others 
• Use planning and time management strategies to ease overwhelm and support mental health 
• Apply helpful communication strategies to enhance relationships and foster team spirit 
• Identify stressful triggers and implement healthier strategies for coping with distress 
• Recognize and address biases, foster effective communication in a diverse setting, and contribute to a workplace environment that values diversity, inclusion and belonging 
• Effectively set and achieve our wellness goals in 2024  
• Support our bodies to achieve optimal levels of energy, immunity and well-being 
• Use effective strategies and research-based education to achieve our nutrition goals  
• Start a new plant from cuttings and connect to plants from an Indigenous perspective 
• Introduce sustainability values in our lives and shape the next Sustainability Plan for 2024 

Thank you to the facilitators for the insightful workshops and engaging discussions. Many of the facilitators are Humber employees and they all did a fantastic job! 

Thank you to Gina Antonacci, senior vice-president, Academic, for her continued support and for participating in this event by opening our keynote session “Boost Your Health, Wellness, and Energy” which was facilitated by Joseph Gibbons, full-time faculty member at Humber College and the University of Guelph-Humber. 

Lastly, a round of applause to the following attendees who were randomly selected to receive a prize. 

• Alanna McKay, Longo Faculty of Business  
• Amanda Raus, Faculty of Social and Community Services  
• Betty Liu, International  
• Colleen Brennan, Government Relations, Marketing, and Communications  
• Fiona Price, Centre for Innovative Learning  
• Oksana Syahrovska, Community Outreach and Workforce Development  
• Shernett Bennett, Libraries  
• Zijian A, Libraries  
• Anneliesea Parkinson, Office of the Registrar  
• Alex Gil Flores, International  
• Unsa Bukhari, Centre for Innovative Learning  
• Chiara Filicetti, Office of the Registrar 
• Jada Fortella, Longo Faculty of Business 
• Jessica Estrela, Longo Faculty of Business 
• Vanessa Colaiacovo, Libraries 
• Hana Glaser, Faculty of Media and Creative Arts 
• Jennifer Ahamed, Student Success and Engagement  
• Simran Sivia, Office of the Registrar 
• Stephanie Boachie, Student Success and Engagement 

For those of you that missed the “Defining the Line: Setting and Maintaining Healthy Boundaries” workshop, or if you would like to view the session again, the recording is now available for viewing. 

To view the recording, you will need to access an external portal provided by TEND Academy. The portal houses the pre-recorded session along with additional resources shared by the facilitator. To request access to the portal, please contact oe@humber.ca. Please note this recording will be available until April 1, 2024.  

Questions? Please email us at oe@humber.ca​​.