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HUMBER ET CETERA HUMBER’S AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER
SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | VOL.72, NO.1
BASKETBALL CANADA BUILDS ITS NEST
ARBORETUM WELCOMES STUDENTS P. 2
HONOURING A PRIME ROBOT LEGACY P. 7
ETC
2 - NEWS
SEPT 25, 2026
Arboretum’s allure excites students Guided walk is first of many events for Humber
Humber Et Cetera is the Humber Polytechnic journalism program laboratory newspaper. It is created by journalism students in the Advanced Diploma and Post Graduate programs. Et Cetera serves to inform the Humber community and give its readers well-rounded coverage on the things that matter to them.
Jo McRae
HumberETCNews On the third day of her new job, Lisa Curran went for a walk. Curran, a health promotion specialist at Humber Polytechnic, found herself in the Humber Arboretum for the first time for an Arboretum guided walk. “I know that I need nature as part of my workday, and I was so excited that this was here,” she said. The Arboretum held guided tours of its gardens and trails for new and returning staff and students on Sept 16. Staff pointed out notable native plant species such as wild blackberry bushes and the purple New England aster durng the walk. Curran said the tour was more in-depth than she expected. “Having this right next to campus is incredible. Like, not everybody has this,” she said. Third-year psychology student at the University of GuelphHumber Dani Agosta said they’ve spent a lot of time at the Arboretum, but learn something new every time. They said they wished more students knew the Arboretum
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Laura Rodgers HUMBERETC/JO MCRAE
Humber instructor Joaquin Varela says the goldfish living in one of Humber Arboretum’s ponds were left there by a former student.
existed. “I guess they just don’t come to this side of campus, but it’s honestly really unfortunate because it’s one of my favourite places to be,” they said. Curran said the Arboretum tour is relevant to her work in health promotion, “I like to practice what I preach.” She said so much of what she does is about supporting students in making healthier choices. “Connecting with nature, we
know, has protective benefits for your health,” Curran said. Agosta said the Arboretum is a great place to study or to take breaks from studying. “If I feel stuck, I’ll just take a break, I’ll come out to the Arboretum and just sort of clear my mind and go back to it after,” they said. “It’s just a really great way to take care of yourself, just by being here and observing and learning,” Agosta said.
Curran said going outside doesn’t have to be a big deal. “Often when you think you don’t have time is when you should try to access it,” she said. Curran said that even five minutes outside is helpful and can help “rest your brain.” “You don’t have to plan an exercise session, just being active and being outside is enough,” she said. The Arboretum will host a free pruning workshop Saturday, Sept. 26.
NEWS Joseph Zago CULTURE Giovanna Apelabi SPORTS Madison Boynton Scott Blain OP-ED Mia Badju FACULTY ADVISER Rob Lamberti FRONT PAGE PHOTO
Courtesy/MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects BACK PAGE PHOTO Scott Blain
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HUMBERETC/JO MCRAE
Outdoor education instructor Joaquin Varela (center) brings tour through Humber Arboretum discussing the extent of the forests and nature.
ETC
SEPT 25, 2026
NEWS - 3 HUMBER SPOTLIGHT •
COURTESY/JESSA NARANJO
Jessa Naranjo is the voice behind several popular characters on television.
Journey shaped by education, chances
HUMBERETC/MIA BADJU
Olympian Michelle Plouffe listens to Toronto Raptors RJ Barrett tells reporters he’s stoked to experience the new expansion of Humber Athletics.
Humber now nat’l basketball home Madison Boynton and Mia Badju Senior Reporters
Th e Canadian government announced a $76 million basketball facility on the Humber Polytechnic North campus. The project, unveiled Sept. 16, is a state-of-the-art basketball facility that will become Canada’s national centre for basketball. Most of the money will be provided by Ottawa and Queen’s Park. Premier Doug Ford said the province provided $24 million to the fund, along with other funding allocated from Basketball Canada and the federal government’s Canada’s Build Communities Strong Fund. “We are very grateful for the partnership with the federal government,” Ford said. The facility will be home to the Canada basketball program He said Humber will forever hold a place in his heart and it is his favourite institution. He paid tribute to his late brother and former Toronto mayor Rob Ford, recalling his days of coaching and how he grew a love for sports The 23,727-square-foot facility will also include a regulation soccer pitch with a covered dome, a high-performance training centre, non-binary change rooms, training spots aligned to Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility
Gold certification and office and clinic spaces, including a National Head Office for Canada Basketball. Michael Bartlett, CEO of Canada Basketball, said Humber Polytechnic President Ann Marie Vaughan has been leading the charge in the process of this new chapter for Humber. “I think the relationship we have with Humber is tenured and genuine. Humber campuses have been opening their gym doors to us for decades,” he said. Bartlett said students will benefit from this project by offering pathway opportunities into the national team and to other basketball programs in the country. “I can see dedicated internships held, specifically for Humber students and learning opportunities and employment opportunities. Especially as they graduate as well,” he said. Bartlett said the initiative is holistic in its approach and is not just about creating better national team athletes. “We had five business days to pull this announcement day off, but the real answer is Canada Basketball has been talking about a national training centre, and we found it in our board folder from the mid-‘90s. There’s been a hundred different ideations and concepts along those years and discussions,” he said. Bartlett said the Canadian gov-
ernment has placed an emphasis on building in Canada and the role that sport plays in building pride in the country. “The idea is very clear. The vision for it is very mutual, from day one, Canada Basketball and Humber were as dedicated to creating a high-performance base as we were to community benefit,” he said. Bartlett said the building buzzed throughout the event. Toronto Raptors guard and small forward RJ Barrett said he grew up playing at Humber North campus and is now thrilled about the new facility. “It felt like home playing here,” Barrett said. Three-time Olympian Michelle Plouffe said teamwork is what has gotten them this far. “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together,” she said. Plouffe said having this facility offers much more than a building. “It is so clear that this has been a team effort from so many of you here in the gym, to bring such a momentous step towards having a facility, having a home, for basketball, for athletes and for varsity athletes,” she said. She said there have been extensive efforts behind the scenes, and she couldn’t be more grateful. “It’s just really going to be so exciting moving forward. This is
just a seed that has been watered over the years,” Plouffe said. Secretary of State for Sport of Canada, Adam van Koeverden, said the hub will be a focal point for basketball in Canada, along with providing about 32,000 hours of community use each year. “We need to work together to ensure that all the necessary mechanisms are in place because sports should be accessible and affordable for everyone,” van Koeverden said. Vaughan said the expansion entailed significant work and planning. She thanked the federal and provincial governments for helping the community live out this dream. “Days like this don’t just happen,” she said. “They happen from decades of work, from partnership and collaboration. “We are so proud of Humber to be your partner to bring this vision to reality,” Vaughan said. She said the facility is a moment for Canada to shine. “At Humber, sport innovation is a moment that looks beyond competition and recreation, through significant enhancement to learning opportunities, optimization and performance, broadening community impact and expansion for climate research in all aspects of sports,” she said. Vaughan said she always loves connecting with the Humber Hawks.
Jessa Naranjo, 30, a second-year Bachelor of International Business student at Humber Polytechnic’s North campus, has been at the institution since 2014, moving through several programs and careers along the way. Naranjo graduated from General Arts and Science in 2014, before pursuing practical nursing. She later switched paths, moving to Humber’s 3D Animation and graduated in 2018. Her animation education eventually opened doors to work for Nickelodeon, Disney Junior, Treehouse and Teletoon. Her experience also included working on shows such as Sesame Street, CBC Kids, and “Ollie: The Boy Who Became What He Ate.” “No matter what field it is, you have to see yourself in a way where you are allowed to be in the room, and if you are in the room, it’s for a reason,” she said. “Don’t be afraid of the potential of rejection, because every no can lead to a yes,” Naranjo said. Naranjo said joining the Longo Faculty of Business encouraged her to explore opportunities outside of her coursework. “With being a part of the Longo business, it really made me realize how lucky I am that I can try so many new things,” she said. “You don’t know who will influence you next, but those were some of my prized possessions of memories I hold in my academic career.” This report is by Mia Badju Op/Ed Editor
ETC
4 - OPINION
SEPT 25, 2026
EDITORIAL
Voter participation means voices are heard T here is a story unfolding at the ballot box. Voter participation in municipal elections has not always reflected the scale, diversity and size of Etobicoke’s population. The 2021 Census counted 376, 237 residents in Etobicoke, of which 263,085 are eligible voters. Yet in 2022, only 77,290 voters, or 29.4 per cent, cast a ballot. This is a striking gap between the district’s population and voter turnout, according to city data. We should be concerned about the low number of voters who turn out, or the high number of those who don’t. Municipal government is about daily life: water, sewage, policing, transit, and garbage, fence heights and parking permits, and public
health. City data shows voter participation in 2022 ranged from just 24 per cent to 33 per cent, across all three wards. Etobicoke North (Ward 1), represented by Vincent Crisanti, saw a saw a 24 per cent turnout. Etobicoke-Centre (Ward 2), represented by Stephen Holyday, recorded a 30 per cent turnout, while in Etobicoke-Lakeshore and (Ward 3), represented by Amber Morley, only 33 per cent turned out to cast a ballot. In the 2022 election, Crisanti received 6,815 votes, Holyday got 18, 559 votes, and Morley received 15, 271. Understanding the role of city council, knowing who represents a
neighbourhood, finding information about candidates and policies, and simply knowing when and where to vote can all present their own barriers. Municipalities can be difficult to navigate, particularly for someone who is voting for the first time. It would be too easy to suggest voter apathy is the sole reason behind the low voting rates. There are other obstacles when looking beyond that. Considering the state our economy is in, people find themselves working multiple jobs who may find it difficult to get to the polls. Renters and residents who have recently moved into the one of the wards may not be familiar with the local political landscape and what
that entails. Language and information barriers can make municipal elections even harder to follow along with. The result is a disconnect in the democratic process, where the people who live in a community may not be fully or accurately represented by the people who turn out to vote. Etobicoke political organizations, community groups and elected officials should be asking a broader question, than simply how to get out the vote on election day. How do we build a culture of participation between elections? That simply means making municipal politics easier to understand. Providing information in the language residents speak, engagement
through community initiatives and explaining why decisions at city hall matter to everyday life. Whether it’s transit and housing to parks, potholes, roads, and local services such as garbage pickup and clean water. Voter turnout is not simply a number on election night. It is a measure of how connected residents feel to the political system around them. Etobicoke is changing. Its communities are becoming more diverse, and many residents are bringing new experiences and perspectives to the neighbourhoods they now call home. The next step is ensuring those voices are heard, and not just within communities, but also at the ballot box.
OPINION
Renaming lake denies Indigenous history
Laura Rodgers
Despite Canada’s long history of Indigenous cultural and linguistic suppression, there are still places where key geographic areas use Indigenous words. Lake Ontario is one of them. The lake borders both the United States and Canada, yet its name belongs to neither country. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Aug. 27, stating that he “filed all necessary papers” to rename the lake “Lake America.” The announcement comes
during ongoing U.S.-Canada tension, but its significance extends beyond the two countries’ economic relationship. It may have been done out of spite or to troll Canadians, but Trump does not have the power to change Lake Ontario’s name. The name, from Kaniatarí:io or Oniatarí:io, means “lake of shining waters” or “beautiful lake.” The name Lake Ontario carries the cultural and linguistic history attached to the lake, whether people recognize it or not. The
HUMBERETC/LAURA RODGERS
President Donald Trump wants to change the name of Lake Ontario, which suppresses Indigenous inflence and history.
lake’s name was officially used in the 1794 signing of the Treaty of Canandaigua, a deal between the U.S. and the Seneca Nation. The executive order repeatedly describes the lake as an American asset and part of American heritage. It makes the argument that because the deepest parts of the lake are in U.S. territory, it claims most of its volume. The issue is that mass, regardless of either modern country, cannot erase the history that predates both of them simply because the water crosses borders that are artificial to Indigenous people. Trump’s move is just another ploy by a government to remove the history of Indigenous people. The Canadian government is not innocent in the history of Indigenous cultural suppression. Residential schools and assimilation policies are known to have caused enormous erasure of Indigenous languages and cultures. That makes the survival of Indigenous-derived place names all the more significant. Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a post on X that the lake’s name comes from the Wendat language. The United States has long been described as a melting pot of cultures and identities. But Trump’s recent actions suggest the melting-pot ideal can also become a form of suppression of culture and language.
He is turning the ideology into something else: a way of “melting” America’s diversity into a single national identity. A country cannot claim that it celebrates diversity while continually placing one dominant national identity above the culture within it. Trump’s renaming of the lake places American identity above the Indigenous and the shared Canadian-American history attached to the lake. This is not the first time Trump changed the name of a body of water. Trump signed an order in 2025 changing the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, placing U.S. identity directly in the name of a shared body of water. The world, however, doesn’t recognize the renaming. Trump reinforces an America-centred worldview by changing the names of these bodies of water. His decisions reflect a narrow conception of the world in which American identity is considered the default centre of political and cultural life. American political power does not give it ownership over a lake whose history predates the country’s independence. Carney said Canadians will keep calling it Lake Ontario, regardless of what name Trump decides to use. Trump can change what appears on a U.S. map, but he cannot rewrite the lake’s history or alter its identity.
ETC
SEPT 25, 2026
OPINION- 5
TALES FROM HUMBER
The work behind keeping tradition rolling
Marie Pascual
I
rolled into David Balfour Park in Toronto’s Rosedale neighbourhood on my OneWheel on Sept. 12, as longboarders kicked and pushed past me toward a field full of suits, ties and boards. About 100 people were scattered across the grass. One was dressed head to toe like a cat. I caught myself staring at the boards and how people had made them their own. Some were strapped with medic bags and Red Bull. Others were covered in stickers, signatures or custom designs. All of them looked well-
loved. “It’s skateboard Christmas, really,” said Alex Thompson, an organizer from Toronto’s Board Meeting. The Toronto Board Meeting is an annual ride that brings skateboarders and other riders together to move through the city. Fellow organizer Soul Merasty says riders have travelled from Korea and the United States, while longtime participants return even after moving away. Behind the gathering are organizers planning routes, recruiting volunteers and stepping up to keep the tradition going. It felt like I was entering a family reunion with relatives whose names I didn’t know but somehow felt comfortable introducing myself to them anyway. Old friends greeted each other with tight hugs. New ones got fist bumps. A father skated while pushing a child in a stroller. In the half hour before the 4:20 p.m. ride, I was handed a beer, a bow tie and stickers, and invited to sign someone’s board. I had followed the Toronto Board Meeting online since the pandemic but had never attended. After years of riding with smaller e-rider groups, I expected something similarly loose: people hanging around until someone eventually pointed everyone in a
direction. Instead, Thompson stood with a megaphone announcing the route. Volunteer skate medics waited in red armbands; experienced riders marshalled intersections and a cyclist carried a speaker loud enough to hear from an intersection away. At one point, I watched someone hand water to a stranger who looked exhausted. It was organized, just not in the way the city would organize a marathon. The Board Meeting began in 2003, according to a 2012 account published by Toronto Grand Prix Tourist, when longboarder and photographer Benjamin Jordan was completing a community leadership assignment that required him to give something back to a community he identified with. Already riding with Toronto’s Metro Longboarders, Jordan gathered riders to travel through the city together, asking them to wear white shirts and ties as part of the “Board Meeting” joke. And more than two decades later, nobody formally handed the event to Thompson. “It just needed someone to do it, and I took over,” he said. That apparent informality still takes work. Thompson said the Board Meeting has expanded into a week of skate events, while orga-
nizers plan routes, decide who can safely lead riders down hills and manage media throughout the year. Pipe O’Neal, attending his 15th Board Meeting, said the event has survived because participants put it on for themselves and others who share their love of skating. He worried that becoming corporate or sanctioned could mean fulfilling expectations that limit creativity and change what people loved about it in the first place. What keeps him coming back is simple. “It’s the love for the community, the adrenaline of skating down a big hill with so many people, you feel unstoppable,” said O’Neal. O’Neal said he met some of his best friends through the Board Meeting. Kai Xie, who helps run Toronto community group Happy Town, travelled from Markham for his first Board Meeting after seeing clips on Instagram. His Exway Atlas electric skateboard, which he calls Sally, has become a way of getting himself out of the house. He said Sally gets him away from his computer screen in his home and out into the world. But the freedom of the Board Meeting also comes with risk. Early in the ride, I watched a skateboarder end up directly in
front of a car, her board slipping near its front wheel. Later, riders approached a steep stretch of Avenue Road with opposing traffic moving beside us. Organizers warned riders about the hill and encouraged those without helmets to walk. I had expected people to show up and ride. Along the way, I noticed the work that made that possible: medics in red armbands, riders marshalling intersections and someone making sure we knew what was ahead. By the end of the ride, I was moving with everyone else, surrounded by people kicking, pushing, bailing, recovering and rolling on. “We do this for ourselves and the people that share the same love of skateboarding, community and well-being,” O’Neal says.
Author’s note: Pipe O’Neal credited Escarpment Surfers, Skate Invaders and Team Ontario with helping keep the Board Meeting alive, providing experience, knowledge and guidance that support riders and keep the tradition going. For another look at the event, I recommend Andre Arevalo’s beautifully made documentary, Lucky 13: The 13th Toronto Board Meeting.
HUMBERETC/MARIE PASCUAL
Toronto Board Meeting skaters prepare to roll down Avenue Road in downtown Toronto in early September. Volunteers work hard to keep the annual event rolling throughout the city.
ETC
6 - CULTURE
SEPT 25, 2026
HUMBERETC/CHRISTIAN LANZILLOTTO
A poster for the construction of the new fire station in Essa township gets tagged by names and symbols. Angus residents say the graffiti looks awful and officials are working to rid it.
‘Trashy’ tagging mars small town in Essa Christian Lanzillotto Humber ETC Culture
For Susan Kotyk, who has lived in Angus, a town in Essa Township for 10 years, the graffiti in her neighbourhood is not artistic expression but vandalism. “It’s not even pretty to look at, it’s just letters. I think it’s ridiculous,” Kotyk said. Residents in the small community of 15,000 have noticed an increase in tagging, the signature used by graffiti artists to mark their work. “Nothing of mine has been tagged, but it makes our neighbourhood look trashy,” she said. Essa Township has a rapid removal program where residents can notify the township of graffiti or tags, and
removal takes up to 72 hours. “We rely on other eyes, we are not on all the roads and streets. Rapid removal reduces a lot of the tagging. When we get it off fast, their audience is diminished and they’re not getting anything out of it,” Essa Township Mayor Sandie Macdonald said. “We are a very small municipality and have limited resources, but I think we do a good job at getting it off quickly,” she said. OPP Const. Coty-James Hietanen, of the Nottawasaga detachment that services the area, said there has not been an increase in reports of vandalism or graffiti. Hietanen said the OPP doesn’t have a specific classification for vandalism, as it falls under the Criminal Code violation of mis-
chief. “The typical markings are spontaneous and usually linked to youths causing mischief,” Hietanen said. “Residents and business owners can assist by ensuring their properties have video surveillance,” he said. Macdonald urged Angus residents to call the township at 705424-9917 to report tagging. She said it is vital for the community to take responsibility to stop the graffiti. “Call the township if you see it, we’ll get it done in 24 to 72 hours,” she said. Graffiti removal in more urban areas can be a lot more excessive compared to smaller towns like Angus. Chris Snoyer, owner of Graffiti
Buffer, a graffiti removal business based in Toronto, said the difficulty of removal depends on the surface it’s on. “Removals vary, but our preference is always going to be taking paint off a wall and to restore it to its intended state,” Snoyer said. “The most standard one we do is to apply chemicals and then use a hot-water power washer to remove it. It’s fairly low cost,” he said. Macdonald said there are better ways to show artistic expression than painting on property people don’t own. “Some look at it differently. Some are trying to put their artwork in place, and some are defacing public property. No one should be defacing public property,” Macdonald said.
“I think there are different outlets that they can look at. It could be a school or community run program. But it needs to be tasteful and not offensive,” she said. Macdonald said putting up a mural for artists to paint on could be a productive outlet. “What if we gave them a mural, or a banner to paint on? And we could vote on the artwork, and actually let them make something people want to see. That’s something we’re looking into,” she said. Communities have found some relief by putting up murals for artists to paint on, and Kotyk hopes for one in her community. “There is nothing for young people to do in this town. I think a canvas would be cool, so actual artists can draw cool graffiti.”
SEPT 25, 2026
ETC
CULTURE - 7
Honouring a transformational legacy
Optimus Prime memories are emotional for movie fans
Donnie Xeng Ngo Humber ETC Culture
The original 1986 Transformers film is back to theatres for its 40th anniversary and features a final performance of Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime. Hasbro, the owners of the Transformers brand, call it the Apology Tour as a way to say sorry to fans who watched the movie as children and were upset when Optimus Prime died in the movie. The Transformers cartoon first premiered on Sept. 17, 1984 and featured two factions fighting for resources, the good Autobots and the bad Decepticons. In a Q&A at a Transformers Convention in 2019, the writer for the original film, Ron Friedman, reiterated that it was Hasbro’s decision to make a movie to replace the
1984 and 1985 cast of characters in “I’ve looked up to him and his hit me pretty hard.” the cartoon with new characters. character all my life, almost didn’t Pimentel and Sewell watched Friedman said he was disap- feel real,” he said. the Transformers movies directed pointed that he was tasked with Rowan Yarwood, 17, said “I by Michael Bay, and said that writing the death of Optimus cried. I felt really depressed.” prompted both of their fathers to Prime and creating the new leader The Internet Movie Database show them the 1986 movie as chilto take charge. (IMDb) says Cullen is primarily dren. “I didn’t wanna Yarwood’s father kill Optimus Prime, Jason said he introhe was the centre of duced his children “I’VE LOOKED UP TO HIM the Autobot family,” to the franchise in AND HIS CHARACTER ALL MY LIFE, Friedman said. theatres and cried. New and old fans This showing ALMOST DIDN’T FEEL REAL, ” arrived at Cineplex of the film also - LUCAS PIMENTEL included Cinemas in Vaughan a earlier this month to 12-minute short watch the movie, but titled Optimus it became more of a gathering to known for voicing Optimus Prime Prime Awakening and a tribute pay respects to Cullen, who died but also for voicing Disney’s Eeyore after the credits to Cullen as the on Aug. 26. He was 85. from Winnie the Pooh. voice of the character. Lucas Pimentel, 28, a fan since Web analyst Robert Sewell said “It was a really good send-off, he was a child, said “when I saw “I didn’t watch a lot of Trans- knowing what happened recently. the news it gave me goosebumps formers growing up, but I found It was cool and very well done and cause it almost didn’t feel real.” out he was the voice of Eeyore that at the end, it was emotional for
me,” Pimentel said. The distributor for the re-release of the movie, Fathom Entertainment, originally planned to release it worldwide on Sept. 17 and end the run on Sept. 21, but it has been extended to Oct. 8 due to high demand. Hasbro has said it is currently the only way to view the short is after the movie credits, but there are plans to include it with new releases of the film on disc. At the Calgary Fan Expo in 2015, Cullen had said that his inspiration for the Optimus Prime character was his brother, Larry Cullen, a U.S. Marine. Cullen told the audience that when he was auditioning to be a hero truck named Optimus Prime, his brother Larry said, “If you’re going to be a hero, be a real hero. “Be strong enough to be gentle.”
COURTESY/SHEA CATHRINE MCGIMPSEY
Optimus Prime reaching for a light to convey a strong, melancholic emotion as franchise fans are deeply saddened by the passing of the character’s long-time voice actor Peter Cullen.
ETC
8 - NEWS
SEPT 25, 2026
QP funds nearly 2,000 seats at Humber 1,971 spots are for health care, STEM and trades programs
Joseph Zago Senior Reporter
Ontario announced $32 million in funding for nearly 2,000 new openings for students in competitive programs. The funding is part of a larger $1.7 billion project to create 70,000 more enrollment positions for students in the province. The province announced an additional 40,000 seats earlier this month to its original 30,000 seat plan. Humber’s healthcare programs will receive 1,187 seats, STEM programs gain 428 seats and 356 seats will be provided to trades programs. Humber is receiving the fifth largest allocated seats in the province after McMaster, Brock, Ontario Tech and Waterloo. The majority of seats are headed to McMaster University in Hamilton, 2,769, followed by Niaga-
ra’s Brock University, 2,565, then Oshawa’s Ontario Tech at 2,523 and Waterloo University at 2,515 seats. Institutes across the provinces are adding all additional
will recieve the spots and “the government will repond accordingly. “We know the programs that we want to support and then the government will indicate what
initiative. He said Humber looked into labour demand before submitting the proposal which included health, STEM, trades and the unapproved education sector.
“THAT WOULD INCLUDE STAFFING, EQUIPMENT, OTHER STUDENT RESOURCES, OTHER COSTS TO RUN THE PROGRAM,”
- Andrew Leopold
seats to STEM, healthcare, trades or other in-demand career programs, the province said. Humber’s Director of Communications Andrew Leopold said the polytechnic is expecting to know which specific programs are gaining the additional seats by mid-October. He said Humber will advise Queen’s Park on which programs
they want to support.” He said the funding will go to supporting the growing programs. “That would include staffing, equipment, other student resources, other costs to run the program,” he said. Leopold said the government assigned the extra seats to each department after Humber submitted a proposal for the funding
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However, other post-secondary institutes did gain extra seats for their education sectors. “Anytime we can have an additional student or more than one student is a positive thing for Humber,” he said. “These additional seats are good for Humber to have.” “As part of our plan to build a stronger, more competitive and more self-reliant Ontario
economy, we’re investing record amounts to train students for good-paying careers in high-demand fields,” Premier Doug Ford said. A 2026 Council of Ontario Universities report says Ontario will need more than one million educated workers within the next decade. The report predicts more than 350,000 healthcare and STEM jobs will open between 2026 and 2035 in Ontario. The same report says these seats for programs in healthcare and STEM are justified to reflect the demands of the economy. Without expanding classroom capacities for the labour market, shortages will continue, the report says. The Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security did not respond to requests for comment.
SEPT 25, 2026
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NEWS - 9
ETC
10 - FEATURES SPORTS
SEPT 25, 2026
Active attacker drill shakes Humber campus Olivia Masztalerz and Mia Badju Senior Reporters
Humber Polytechnic’s North campus Public Safety department conducted an active attacker drill on Sept. 24 to prepare students and staff to respond during a serious emergency. The drill, which took place on campus, simulated an active attacker situation and gave the Humber community the opportunity to practice emergency procedures in a controlled environment. For students, the exercise is relevant because an emergency can happen while attending class, studying in a library, eating in a cafeteria or moving between buildings. Humber Polytechnic Department of Public Safety, Rob Kilfoyle, said the main objective is to bring awareness to the Humber community about what to do in the event of an active attacker situation. “Making people aware of the different emergency notifi-
cations through the video playing on screens and messages with instructions gives an idea of how to react or respond during an active attacker scenario,” he said. He said tackling this early on in every semester is an appropriate timeframe to do so before the academic year becomes stressful and heavy for students. “This is an opportunity to keep it fresh in people’s minds,” he said. “So we run the drill every semester and aim for times where it is not too busy for students.” He said that over the years of operating the Humber Guardian app, they have received lots of positive feedback from students. “The Humber Guardian App has been around for 13 years,” he said. “We continue to make enhancements to it and put news features to the app.” The drill also highlights the importance of students paying attention to campus emergency communication, such as the Humber Guardian App, as well as displays on Humber devices.
This helps students know what to do, be prepared and take necessary precautions, as well as silently spread the word. Knowing how to respond before an emergency occurs can help students make decisions more quickly during a real incident. Active attacker drills are designed to familiarize people with emergency procedures, including how to recognize a threat, seek safety calmly, and follow instructions from a campus official and emergency responders. The exercise also allows Humber to evaluate its emergency response plans and time frames. By conducting a drill, the institution can identify areas that may need improvement and determine whether students and staff understand the procedures they are expected to follow. For students who were on campus during the exercise, the drill may have been disruptive or unsettling. However, the purpose of the exercise was to create a realistic training environment without putting participants in danger.
HUMBER ETC/GIOVANNA APELABI
Alert shows on a computer screen as Humber Polytechnic prepared its staff and students for a real-life attacker situation by scheduling a brief drill excercise on Sept 24.
Callaway ad was misguided messenging Humber profs say company’s riff of movie backfired
Grace MacInerney HumberETC News
This summer’s controversial Callaway golf ad shows how large, reputable brands can be misguided in their messaging, three Humber advertising and marketing program coordinators explain. The Callaway and Good Good Golf ad was posted Aug. 21 and was met with widespread online outrage. The scripted skit referenced the theme of being possessed by an obsession like the characters in the popular movie Obsession. In the ad, Callaway’s new driver is the obsession. Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark plays a deranged golfer who is overly protective of the driver. The ad shows him roughly shoving professional golfer and content creator Alexis Miestowski to the ground because she was trying to use it. That scene was
clipped from the ad and gained traction online. The ad divided viewers into those who thought it was unnecessarily violent and glorified domestic abuse and those who defended it and thought critics were overreacting. It opened up a larger online discourse about the justification of domestic abuse, who was defending it and why. Program co-ordinator for the Bachelor of Creative Advertising, Richard Bingham said “there’s a lot of crossover here between content and entertainment and advertising right? Because at this stage no one is really prepared to be advertised to, but we are prepared to be entertained.” He said the ad was “unbelievably tone deaf and kind of stupid” and now Callaway has to live with the consequences of buying into edginess. Bingham said the “villain” is the
renormalization of misogyny, and this ad highlights a larger societal problem. Program co-ordinator for Post-Graduate Certificates in Marketing Management, Advertising Media Management and Entrepreneurship, Susan Kates said “clearly they didn’t do their research properly. Clearly they didn’t do their focus groups properly.” She said the ad pitch was probably overconfident in the public’s knowledge of the movie, and Callaway didn’t question it. However, Kates said the company did the right thing in terms of crisis management. Callaway took down the ad hours after it was posted. Both Good Good and Callaway issued public statements of apology. Callaway’s CEO admitted the ad should not have been approved. In a statement posted to X, Callaway CEO Chip Brewer wrote
they are investigating and Callaway has “already made changes to our approval process aimed at ensuring this will never happen again.” Callaway’s Director of Content and Production Alex Upegui has left the company. Callaway ended its partnership with Good Good Golf and said it would donate a million dollars to organizations preventing violence against women. Program coordinator for Advertising and Marketing Communications Diploma, Riddell Murica said he thinks the Callaway ad was genuine and not a miscalculation. “I think that maybe in their minds when they created the ad, there was, or like the content, there was nothing wrong with it,” he said. Murcia said a lack of diversity in decision-making rooms is why companies like Callaway are
unable to flag potentially offensive content. “So that’s a structural issue on how on the hiring process and on sort of how the company behaves in a sense,” he said. “The fact that they were like, okay yeah, ‘apology, apology. We’re going to kick people out, give a million dollars’, call it a day. Seems dismissive,” he said. Murcia said Callaway firing people was an effort to assure their customer base they were safe to shop from again, and to stop further questions about the structure of the company that allowed this type of ad to go ahead. “I don’t get the sense that they’re taking it that seriously,” Murcia said about Callaway’s response. Kates said the best approach is for companies to move on quickly “because, believe it or not, the market or the audience has a very short memory.”
ETC
SEPT 25, 2026
FEATURES SPORTS - 11
MAIN PHOTO COURTESY/DIEGO GUILLEN ; INSET PHOTO COURTESY NOVIA
Humber’s women’s basketball team captain, Marian Martin, said female athletes work hard for their place in sports but are misrepresented in Sydney Sweeney’s sexualized ads(Inset)
Sweeney’s betting ad sets women back Actress’ use of sexualized images insults athletes
Mia Badju
Senior Reporter Actress Sydney Sweeney faced a strong backlash following her partnership with sports betting platform Novig. As coaches, athletes, and parents share their disappointment behind the marketing and target audience of this ad. Emily Sevcik, a Humber Polytechnic alumna and former women’s soccer team captain, and was named female athlete of the year in 2024, says she did not think women were still being portrayed in a sexual way in sports advertising until she saw the campaign. “When I saw that ad, I was really surprised that we were still living in a world where we are sexualizing women’s sports,” she said. “It infuriated me, of course, and a lot of other athletes. “Being a woman, playing sports for so many years, I would want them to see all of the hard work I’ve put into my sport,” Sevcik said. She said women efforts to establish themselves in sports is much more difficult. Men’s sports have traditionally received more financial support and attention. “As women, we have worked really hard for our standing in sports. A lot of money goes towards male athletes and sports,” she
said. “For women it has been a struggle to build that from the bottom up, it is demoralizing and degrading,” she said. She said the campaign could affect not only athletes but women more broadly, particularly young girls developing their identities. “If I had seen this ad when I was younger, I would have looked at myself differently,” she said. “ I was finding out who I was at that time.” If she could ask Sweeney one thing about the campaign, Sevcik said it would be simply, why? “Why would you agree to be in an ad like this? For young girls viewing this ad, did you think of them?” she said. Marian Martin, 22, a captain for the Humber’s women’s basketball team at North campus who moved to school to pursue opportunities in basketball, said the portrayal of women in advertisements such as Sweeney’s does not accurately reflect female athletes. “It was just surprising to see, it didn’t really advertise sports,” she said. “It was just a way of grabbing the attention of the audience and doesn’t portray women in sports.” “Female athletes work so hard in sports but they are not recognized for their skills, (but) instead for their appearance,” she said.
If one of her team mates were struggling with insecurity, Martin said she would reassure them and encourage students to pursue their goals and become the best versions of themselves. She said having a women’s team can create an environment where athletes feel supported to develop their skills. Tanya Buchhan, 56, a consultant with Toronto’s Children Services Division and a former kickboxer with a brown belt in Karate, said she was disappointed when she saw Sweeney’s ad. Buchhan, who has two children, said her 20-year-old daughter plays flag college football. “I think this advertisement was directed completely towards men,” she said. A 2008 University of Manitoba study found that 56 per cent of advertisements purposely embedded aggressive sexual themes to attract younger men. Although the study is almost two decades old, it remains relevant in 2026 as it shows how advertising has long used gender and sexuality to target specific audiences, calloused attitudes toward sex to hook the attention of younger men. Buchhan said the advertisement was close enough to be categorized as pornography. “It stagnates women in sports,” she said. “Sexualizing sports doesn’t need to happen.” Buchhan remembers struggling with con-
fidence and other issues common among young girls. “When I was a young, I always struggled with self-esteem, popularity and all of the typical issues that young girls struggle with,” she said. Buchhan said women remain underrepresented in positions of authority in sports. “The majority of female sports are governed by men,” she said. “When I played sports, I didn’t have any women in my sports, it was a male dominated sport. I was always very excited to have female opponents.” Buchhan said female role models in sports could have a better result on young girls in sport. “If young girls and young women had that female role model in sport, it would have a much more positive impact,” she said. Buchhan said conversations about media portrayals are important for parents, although she believes many parents may not think about them. “Having that conversation with my daughter, is informing her that this isn’t a representation of women in sports,” she said. “Having that same conversation with my son, to say this is not how you should be viewing a woman.” She said she reminds her daughter of her strength and resilience to help keep her motivated.
ETC
12 - SPORTS
SEPT 25, 2026
HUMBERETC/SHARUJAN VIYAYASINGHABAGU
Fanshawe’s Connor Rodwin ended the night with two runs on one hit. Humber lost the game by 11-4 against the Falcons. It was the fifth consecutive loss and are 3-7 in the OCAA.
Hawks mens baseball falls to Falcons Sharujan Viyayasinghabagu HumberETCSports
The rain was not the only thing that dampened Humber’s baseball team in its game against the OCAA champions Fanshawe Falcons The Hawks were looking for a bounce-back win in their match . But the Hawks were doused 11-4 by the Falcons in the game on Tuesday, Sept. 15, that was delayed for more than an hour by rain. Humber had started this season with a three-game sweep against the Sault Cougars from Sept. 5 and
6 in Brampton and Toronto, but were handed their first defeat by Lambton Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13 at Connorvale Park. The team had hoped to get back on track. But the Hawks suffered their second consecutive loss and fell to 3-2 on the season. Fanshawe heading into this game were 3-0 into the season with wins coming from both Lambton and Durham Lords. The Falcons improved to 4-0 and are first in the OCAA standings. Humber Head coach Troy Black turned to second-year pitcher
Marco Rutulis in his first-career OCAA start, to be the starting pitcher. The first pitch was originally set for 7 p.m., but the rain pushed the start to 8:15 p.m. The visiting team did not waste time in the top of the first inning. With the bases quickly loaded after two walks and an error, Falcons outfielder Connor Rodwin broke the deadlock with an RBI single to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the third inning, Jack St. Louis singled to right field, Isaac Duva walked, and Callum Blue hit a two-run double
HUMBERETC/SHARUJAN VIYAYASINGHABAGU
Right-hand pitcher Marco Rutulis pitches in the second inning against the Falcons. The Hawks lost 11-4.
to give the Humber the lead. Fanshawe gained momentum and were really speeding away in the top half of the fourth inning. Luke Allen regained the lead for the Falcons with a two-run single and Bradee Boughner added another run with a sacrifice fly. After a couple of walks, Black pulled Rutulis off the mound and brought in right-hander Owen Marshall. The Falcons added two more runs thanks to Owen Constantineau by lining a double to the left-field gap to extend the lead to 6-2. Right-handed pitcher Cameron Andree struck out two of Humber’s players in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Humber continued to struggle. Fanshawe’s offence continued to dominate Humber in the top of the sixth inning. Hunter Wright drove in a run with a single before Connor Rodwin would continue his dominant performance with another RBI hit. Humber would later on bring out right-handed pitcher Maxx Davidson, who would give up a two- run single delivered by Owen Wicks, helping Fanshawe grow its lead to an 11-2 advantage. Near the end of the game, Humber would manage to get runs with the help of Caleb Eguren,
who recorded an RBI on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Braedan Fischer who scored a run from a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, the small rally couldn’t get the job done for Humber. Hawks’ first baseman and fourth-year player Callum Blue said the mental mistakes were the toughest hurdles they’ve faced during the game. “A lot of mental mistakes today. Just cleaning up and practicing going forward and making sure they don’t happen again.” Blue ended the game with one run, two hits, and two RBIs. Humber gave up runs due to errors that were committed during the game. It was one of the main contributors to the Hawk’s loss. Blue said the team accepted this loss and had made adjustments during the game. “Just moving on the arm slot around, just adjusting to the speed. “What they’re giving you, not caving to what they have, just kind of letting them come to you. Being the bigger man,” said Blue.With this defeat, Humber now lost its fifth straight game to Fanshawe, dating back to September 2024 Although the Hawks lost this game by seven runs, the team out-hit the Falcons 8-6.
ETC
SEPT 25, 2026
SPORTS - 13
Hawks womens soccer home opener Hawks overwhelm Conestoga 7-1 in home opener
Madison Boynton Senior Reporter
The Humber Hawks women’s soccer team dominated at home against Conestoga Condors. The Hawks women’s soccer team beat the Conestoga Condors 7-1, as forward Kaitlynn Russell phoned in a natural hat trick to open the scoring in Wednesday’s game. Russell took a year off soccer, but her return play appeared like she never left. Forward Kaylese Callender, one of Humber’s athletes of the week, also had a multi-goal game, with her two goals coming in the second half of the game. “I was honestly surprised” to be named an athlete of the week, Callender said. “It feels good.” Russell opened the game’s scoring just 11 minutes into the game, assisted by forward Chantal Spalla and midfielder Mikayla Orrico. “I feel like coming back after a year and taking a year off, I felt really nervous, but as the game goes on, I feel like the hat trick helped build my confidence,” Russell said. Conestoga took a while to respond but eventually did at the 31-minute mark, with Abby Curtis
scoring the Condors’ only goal of the game. Humber’s next goal was scored on a penalty shot made by Russell. Shel scored her third as the first half wound down, assisted by Layah Haye. “It’s nice to score early. I feel like usually in these types of games we score later, and it’s always more of an even match, but it was nice to be up early,” Russell said. At 57 minutes, Callender added a mark to give Humber the 4-1 lead, assisted by forward Vanessa Miranda. Callender recorded her second goal on a penalty shot 70 minutes into the game. Five minutes after Callender’s second, Layah Haye made it 6-1, assisted by defence player Neveah Petten. “We’ve been on a streak. We had one really bad game, but the intensity that we’re bringing every game, we act like it’s a brand new thing every single time,” Callender said. To close out the game, Mia Lavorato scored for Humber, giving the Hawks a tilted finish of 7-1 against the Conestoga Condors. The Hawks’ play Redeemer on Wednesday, Sept. 30, in Vaughan at 7 p.m.
HUMBERETC/MADISON BOYNTON
Humber hawks forward Chantal Spalla getting the ball from Consestogs Condors player during the game.
HUMBERETC/MADISON BOYNTON
Hawks midfielder Mikayla Oricco passing the ball downfield during Wednesday’s home opener against Conestoga Condors in Vaughan. The Hawks won 7-1 in their third victory so far.
ETC
14 - SPORTS
SEPT 25, 2026
Bartlett reflects on new basketball hub
Mia Badju and Madison Boynton Senior Reporters
For Michael Bartlett, it was a dream come true. The CEO of Canada Basketball said the organization and Humber Polytechnic have been
dedicated since day one to creating a high-performance base for community benefit. “We were actually tapped on the shoulder as one of a select number of sports to bring an advanced proposal together. The good news is, we had an advanced proposal ready,” Bartlett said. “We were
ready, and we put out the shot when they asked, and we sunk it.” Bartlett said that while both institutions had previously explored this move with other partners, the alignment wasn’t right until now. Finalizing the funding took time. “It came down to the right place,
HUMBERETC/MIA BADJU
Canada Basketball players Yvonne Ejim (left) and Kelly Olynyk (right) were present for the announcement.
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right time, right ask, and right funding pathway. It took a while to get there, but when it got there, things moved really quickly,” he said. The concept is decades old, although they had only five business days to pull the final announcement together. “Canada Basketball has been talking about a national training centre, and we found it in our board folder from the mid-‘90s,” Bartlett said. “The board at the time was talking about legacy from those moments, and how a home for Canadian basketball and specifically for training athletes, this would potentially be a tipping point for the development of the athlete pipeline,” he said. Bartlett said they were notified five business days before the event to pull it off and make it successful. “The announcement itself,, what an absolute buzz in the building. All branches of government were touched by the way sport and basketball showed up,” Bartlett said. Bartlett said the initiative will be holistic, extending beyond ath-
letic training to provide dedicated learning and employment opportunities for Humber students. Through this partnership, students will gain direct pathways into national teams and other Canadian basketball programs. “The Canadian government has placed importance on building in Canada and the role that sport plays in building pride in Canada,” Bartlett said.
HUMBERETC/MIA BADJU
ETC
SEPT 25, 2026
SPORTS - 15
HUMBERETC/SCOTT BLAIN
Hawks fourth year guard Kwabena Antwi (#12) dribbles the ball up the court, guarded by Varsity Blues guard Mikey Ballout (#7). Antwi finished the game shooting 2 for 6 from the field.
Men’s basketball preps for OCAA repeat
Defensive woes squander Hawks’ first exhibition contest vs Varsity Blues 85-58 Scott Blain
Senior Reporter A new season awaits the Hawks men’s basketball program, and preparation for the upcoming campaign saw some growing pains. The University of Toronto Varsity Blues rolled into the Hawks Nest Tuesday night and dominated from tip-off, cruising to an 85-58 victory over Humber. Despite it being an exhibition game, long-time Hawks head coach Omar Miles did not mince words regarding his team’s performance. “We didn’t match U of T’s energy, physicality and effort,” Miles said. “That showed quite early as we were down and gave up 29 points.” The Hawks got off to a slow start, quickly finding themselves down 8-1 after Miles called a timeout just under two minutes into the first quarter. The momentum continued to be with the Varsity Blues, as they outscored Humber 52-31 by halftime. Miles was not pleased with the team’s defence, something the Hawks emphasize in their system. “You don’t play defence, you can’t win a lot of games,” Miles said. “We hang our hats on defence,
and that’s not what we did.” The Varsity Blues managed to score at least 20 points in three of the four quarters, showing the Hawks’ need to address a key part of their play style before the start of the season. The Hawks came into the upcoming season with a younger roster compared to previous campaigns, with significant departures that include 2026 CCAA Player of the Year Malik Grant and forward Benni Kazadi, who transferred to the TMU Bold over the offseason. With the turnover in mind, Miles took his squad overseas over the summer, playing exhibition games in Italy. Miles said the trip was a way for the younger players to bond, and for the veterans to bring the young players along before the start of the season. “It’s about being a team and, you know, feeling at home and feeling part of something bigger than yourselves,” said Miles. “I thought we did that when we were in Italy and now we just got to do that throughout the season.” The departures leave veterans Victoire Ndongo, Kwabena Antwi and Dwayne Burke to lead the way and set the tone for the demand that comes as the defending
HUMBERETC/SCOTT BLAIN
Hawks Head Coach Omar Miles talks to his team during a timeout, as they found themselves trailing early.
OCAA champions. Miles emphasized the pressure that comes with putting on the Hawks uniform and the players playing for the Humber community, saying that accountability is the motto for the team this season. “You hold each other accountable in anything that we do,
whether that’s going to class, whether that’s showing up to practice, ready to compete and then showing up to games and ready to compete,” Miles said. “It’s definitely bigger than ourselves. We play for the community, we play for our families, we play for each other, and then also you
play for yourself,” he said. The Hawks have two more exhibition games against university squads in the Hawks Nest, with the Laurier Golden Hawks visiting on Sept. 24 and the Waterloo Warriors on Sept. 30. The regular season begins Oct. 23 at Conestoga against the Condors.
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