As many within the Humber community are aware, the Orangeville Campus will be closing in June 2021.
As we move through this final academic year, we want to highlight the achievements of the community of staff, faculty and students who have made the Orangeville Campus the close-knit, supportive environment that it is.
Beginning this month until May 2021, a series of reflection and celebration focusing on the students, graduates, staff, faculty and the Orangeville community will be featured in Communiqué.
For those who may not be familiar with the origins of the campus, it was the persistence of local resident, Wendy Morley, and former Mayor of the Town of Orangeville, Drew Brown (a Humber alumni) who were the driving forces behind the idea of an expansion into this community.
In 2004, both Ms. Morley and Mayor Brown approached Humber’s then President Dr. Robert Gordon with the idea of a Humber expansion into Orangeville. Many discussions and meetings took place with the eventual approval of such a commitment to Orangeville.
On October 11, 2005, the official announcement was made at an event that was attended by the Humber Executive team; Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson; Dufferin-Caledon MPP John Tory (now Toronto’s Mayor) and Drew Brown, along with numerous dignitaries and Humber staff and faculty.
I had the pleasure of being the emcee for the proceedings, which led to the various roles I would hold at the Orangeville Campus.
Following the announcement, Humber first opened a Community Relations and Academic Research office in the downtown core in January 2006, followed by establishing the Alder Recreation Complex as the academic delivery and programming space for the first cohort of students in Fall 2007. The Alder Complex would remain the home of the Orangeville Campus for more than 13 years. During this period, more than 2,000 students would enrol, 10 different full-time programs would be offered and hundreds of faculty would teach and inspire our students.
There is so much to share about this journey and that’s what our monthly reflections will highlight. We’ll be looking back at Humber’s presence in Orangeville, our incredible faculty and staff as well as our outstanding graduates who wear Humber’s badge proudly.
Joe Andrews
Principal, Orangeville Campus
