Humber Polytechnic Shakes Up Toronto’s Cultural Scene with Movers, Shakers, Changemakers  

Humber’s latest exhibition celebrates seven trailblazers who helped shape a more inclusive Toronto 

By Tayler Buchanan on
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Individual looks up at framed portraits on a wall.

Humber Polytechnic is making waves in Toronto’s cultural landscape with Movers, Shakers, Changemakers – a dynamic exhibition developed in collaboration between the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre and Humber Archives.  

The show spotlights several influential figures who helped shape communities across the Greater Toronto Area, including former Minister of Health Ruth Grier and acclaimed author Wayson Choy.  

“Movers, Shakers, Changemakers is all about celebrating innovation, advocacy and creativity,” said Isabella Conte, project lead and assistant curator at the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre and Humber Archives.  

The exhibition has already generated buzz, earning a nomination from Heritage Toronto for its Public History Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements and leadership in the city’s heritage sector.  

In true Humber spirit, students played a key role in bringing this project to life. Recent Humber graduate Emma Telizyn designed the striking, large-scale, colour-block portraits that sit front and centre at the exhibition. Each piece is accompanied by biographical panels and archival materials highlighting the subject’s lasting contributions to open, inclusive, innovative communities.  

After debuting at Humber’s Lakeshore Campus in September 2024, the exhibition found a new home on the third and fourth floors of the Learning Resource Commons (LRC) at North Campus – welcoming both Humber students and the broader community to explore its stories. 

Beyond its thoughtful exploration of the past, the exhibition calls on audiences to ask themselves how they can become changemakers in their communities.  

“In many ways, the show acts as an invitation for Humber students, faculty, staff and the Etobicoke community to forge their own paths in creating a better and more accessible future,” said Conte, emphasizing the meaning behind the collection.  

With its rich blend of art, history and community engagement, Movers, Shakers, Changemakers showcases the power of storytelling to educate, inspire and spark social change.  

To learn more about Movers, Shakers, Changemakers at Humber, please visit the exhibition at North Campus, on the third floor of the LRC.