It was a joyous scene at the Toronto Congress Centre as Humber graduates, their families, supporters and loved ones came together to celebrate success at the Spring 2024 Convocation ceremonies.

The Humber community celebrated the accomplishments of the nearly 10,000 new graduates, with more than 6,800 crossing the stage in-person to receive their degree, diploma or certificate and become one of Humber’s more than 315,000 alumni.

The graduation ceremonies, held June 18 to June 21, were also livestreamed for those unable to attend.

“Convocation is more than a ceremony; it is a celebration of your achievements, your growth and your limitless potential,” Humber President and CEO Ann Marie Vaughan told the crowd of graduates. “Each one of you here today has demonstrated exceptional talent and unwavering determination in reaching this point. From the beginning of your time at Humber, you have overcome obstacles, embraced challenges and have emerged stronger because of it.”

“Graduates, be bold in your pursuits, remain strong in the face of challenges and compassionate in your interactions with others,” she continued. “Never underestimate the power of kindness, compassion and empathy to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Hospitality – Hotel and Restaurant Operations Management graduate Jessica Carrera Valle said graduating, for her, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and one not to be missed. While her time at Humber has prepared her for career success, it also brought other benefits.

Carrera Valle forged deep friendships at Humber – her friend group calls themselves The Front Row for their penchant for sitting in the first row in class. They’re going on a trip to Cuba this July together.

She added that her time at Humber helped her grow as a person and taught her not to doubt herself.

There was plenty of sweet moments throughout the week including when a student leaned in and gave President Vaughan a big hug after receiving their credential.

Emilia Curto and Zarina Baig are both graduates of the Bachelor of Social Science – Criminal Justice program. They thoroughly enjoyed their program and their time at Humber and are looking forward to what the future brings.

“It’s really exciting because I’m about to start the next chapter in my life,” said Curto.

Christine McCaw is a professor and program coordinator with the Business – Marketing program who said Convocation is a wonderful way for graduates and their supporters to mark an important milestone.

“The hard work is done and now it’s time to celebrate,” said McCaw. “The students are so excited to share this moment with their families and loved ones. I really enjoy being here to celebrate with them.”

Alexa Ruby and Charlotte Stevenson graduated from the Business Management program and thanked their families for the love and support they received that helped them succeed on their post-secondary journey.  

When asked about advice they had for their peers still at Humber, they suggested finding a group of friends to lean on. They said having friends accentuates the Humber experience and they’re a valuable resource to turn to for help and support.

Baking and Pastry Arts Management graduate Emma Conrad-Morrison flew back to Toronto from Bridgewater, Nova Scotia to attend Convocation. She brought along her mother for the trip and said it was important to be there to celebrate with friends after all the hard work they put into their studies.

Melodie Lue, graduating from the Funeral Director Class 1 (Embalming) program, was happy to be joined by her family and partner at Convocation.

“It’s meaningful having them here with me because they all played a part in my success,” said Lue. “Today is as much a celebration for them as it is for me.”

During convocation ceremonies, a video was played featuring the Ninjiichaag Drum Group, who are all members of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, performing an honour song to recognize the Humber graduates and their accomplishments. Humber also presented Indigenous students with Indigenous medallions to wear during convocation.   

Humber conferred several honorary degrees as part of this year’s ceremonies. The recipients are inspiring Canadians who have made their mark in the fields of law, journalism, sport, business and education. Many of the recipients have also had a significant impact on equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging efforts, human rights, as well as humanitarian and community initiatives.

Find out who is part of this group of honorary degree recipients, along with a list of past recipients, by visiting the Spring 2024 Convocation website.