TORONTO, ONTARIO – Humber has been named one of Canada's Greenest Employers for the ninth year in a row by MediaCorp Canada. This award celebrates organizations that prioritize environmental values and integrate them into their organizational culture.
Humber is creating a culture and community of sustainability by integrating socially and environmentally conscious practices into all aspects of campus life. As a leader in the development of resilient, zero-carbon infrastructure, Humber prioritizes the engagement of staff, students, and faculty in achieving the institution's sustainability objectives.
Last year, Humber made organizational changes to integrate its Sustainability, Equity Diversity and Inclusion and Indigenous Education & Engagement departments into one portfolio - Inclusion and Belonging.
“This strategic move reinforces the college's commitment to environmental sustainability and fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion,” says Jason Seright, vice-president of Inclusion and Belonging at Humber. “It reflects the reality that environmental degradation disproportionately harms low-income and disadvantaged communities. Across generations, First Nations have demonstrated profound knowledge and stewardship of the land, embodying a deep respect for Mother Earth. There are opportunities for that experience to inform our approaches to sustainability across campus."
The college's sustainable initiatives include:
Humber Cultural Hub: The ongoing development of the Humber Cultural Hub at Humber’s Lakeshore Campus aims to create a sustainable centre for arts and culture. Designed for LEED Platinum certification and Zero Carbon Building™ (ZCB) targets, the Hub will not burn any fossil fuels on-site. It will feature Indigenous design elements and unique cultural experiences for students.
STARS Certification: Humber College achieved Gold status in the Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) with an outstanding overall score of 79.01, the highest among all Associate colleges in North America.
Kaua‘i Community College Study Abroad: Offering students a unique summer abroad experience, this program explores Indigenous cultures and sustainable practices in Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario. Through land-and-culture experiences, students learn about the interconnected nature of Haudenosaunee ways of knowing, being, and doing, expressed through worldview, histories, language, stories, and cultural practices. They will then travel to Hawaii to learn how in Polynesia, voyaging on canoes has shaped people, values, and relationships with each other along with the natural world fostering cross-cultural understanding and environmental awareness.
Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2): Humber College's participation in C2R2 focuses on developing workforce training solutions for a clean economy, funded by the Government of Canada's Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program. These micro-credentials equip individuals with the skills needed to adapt to evolving green construction techniques and engage in Canada’s transition towards more sustainable, low-carbon practices.
SMART Lab: Humber secured ‘The Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery’ grant for the Microgrid Application and Control program, integrating adult learning principles with a self-directed component and hands-on lab experience at the SMART Lab.
Birch Bark Coffee: Humber introduced Birch Bark coffee, an Indigenous-owned, Fair-Trade coffee brand, across campus. A portion of the profits from Birch Bark coffee sales contribute to providing clean drinking water to Indigenous communities.
To learn more about Humber's long-term sustainability vision and goals, visit humber.ca/sustainability.
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About Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Innovation. Opportunity. Partnership. Support. At Humber College, we bring it all to more than 86,000 learners, in-person and online. As a global leader in polytechnic education, Humber provides in-depth theoretical learning, hands-on, work-integrated experiences and applied research opportunities to students at three main Toronto locations and beyond. Extensive industry connections, experienced faculty and a comprehensive range of credentials, including honours undergraduate degrees, Ontario graduate certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships, and certificates prepare career-ready global citizens for success in the future world of work. Visit humber.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Sylvie Lendvay
Media Relations Specialist
Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
Sylvie.lendvay@humber.ca | 416.729.8940