The Bubble that bubbled

The Humber bubble was a canvas hemisphere about the size of two high school gyms

By Shernett Bennett, Library Technician, Archives on
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The exterior of a large, inflated canvas structure.

This story is part of a collaboration with the Humber Archives to dig into Humber Polytechnic’s past to resurface fun, memorable or quirky moments and memories from the institution’s history.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Humber bubble took place on October 5, 1970, and enthusiasm was in the air.  

“For the first time in the history of Canadian sport, an air-structured gymnasium will officially open,” declared Harry Pasternak, Humber Polytechnic’s then Athletics Director.  

Over a year later, on Monday, November 8, 1971, Humber’s bubble gym was officially declared open.  

Constructed at a cost of $135,000, by Nordic Air Halls of Canada Limited, the gym was used to facilitate all the sporting and recreational activities for the Humber community.  

The Humber bubble, deemed as the largest such structure in Canada at the time, measured 154 feet long and 124 feet wide. This bubble, according to the plans, was defined as a canvas hemisphere about the size of two high school gyms. Inside contained a synthetic playing surface and large basketball and tennis courts. The instructional schedule included fencing, yoga, weight training, ballet and modern dancing, Judo, and Karate, to name a few.

Recognizing that the bubble was being utilized mainly by the male students, first-year Recreational Leadership students Linda Gibbons and Gloria Murray in 1973 initiated programming including woman’s basketball, volleyball, trampoline work and keep fit classes. These initiatives were geared toward getting more women and girls involved in sports offered in the bubble.

The exterior of a large, inflated canvas structure. A bus with Humber College on it is parked in front.

After many years of use, the bubble had its fair share of wear and tear. Rick Bendera, the new Director of Athletics, pointed out the many challenges with regards to the maintenance and repairs to the bubble. It was supposed to just be a temporary structure based on its very nature as plans were afoot to build the Gordon Wragg Student Centre. 

However, on December 20, 1979, the bubble met its demise when it was ripped and torn by a severe snowstorm that ‘burst its bubble,’ a disaster that it never fully recovered from.  

Fortunately, the Gordon Wragg Student Centre was already open to students.