Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre

Talk about unique classrooms! Humber’s Equine Studies offered students a “stable” job.

In the 1970s, Humber established one of Canada’s most respected equestrian programs. The Humber Equine Centre was the only college facility of its kind in Ontario. It was located nearby to the Woodbine Racetrack and the spacious (at the time) Humber Valley. The Centre included stables for 35 horses, feed storage, an arena, a tackroom, classrooms, and a surgical wing. The surgical wing allowed students to learn all the necessary knowledge for the industry and acted as a clinic facility for the industry. Students involved in the pre- and post-operative care and observation of the horses reinforced their classroom studies.

The Equine Studies program which was a two-year program that provided both practical and theoretical training in equine care and management. The program was the only two-year program in Canada at the time. Students were expected to have some previous experience in the horse industry. Once in the program, students were taught about the care and handling of horses and were shown new technologies related to the horse industry and techniques in horsemanship. Hands-on experience was given through participating in the daily care of the horses in the stable. Students would be assigned a horse for individual daily care and could be given special assignments of breaking-in and training new horses. Students also worked with the Royal Winter Fair to gain management experience. In 1975, a horse gave birth to Humber’s first foal. Students were given the opportunity to provide all of his care. This included feeding, grooming, and monitoring his development.

The Equine Centre and the Equine Studies program closed their doors in 1995. But it is safe to say that the Equine Studies program was one of the most unique courses offered at Humber.

Photos from the Humber Archives

Humber students really made a splash at the Humber Sailing School.

One of Humber’s unique classrooms was actually Lake Ontario. Opening in 1972, the Humber Sailing and Power Boating Centre operated out of Humber Bay Park. The program began by offering continuing education courses to make sailing more accessible. Courses were open to the public and affordable compared to private sailing schools. By the mid-1980s, interest in the sailing programs had surged and the Humber Bay Park campus expanded. Humber also leased part of Colonel Samuel Smith Park for an additional sailing centre.

Courses taught how to operate vessels as small as a dinghy to yachts and keelboats. Students of all ages and experience levels would learn more than just how to handle a boat. They would also learn radio operation and communication, navigation, emergency procedures, and teamwork. By the Sailing School’s 25th anniversary in 1997, Humber had one of the biggest sailing schools in Canada. Unfortunately, the Humber Sailing School closed in 2015, but the centre remains one of the most unique classrooms at Humber Polytechnic.

What unique program do you want to find out more about next? Stay tuned for the next post soon! Can't wait that long? Visit us in “The Wonder Room” on the first floor of the Student Welcome and Resource Centre, open Monday-Friday from 10-2.

Photos from the Humber Archives

Students were blooming in the classroom with the Retail Floriculture Program.

Perfect for plant lovers, Humber’s Retail Floriculture Program offered a unique experience for students. Beginning in the 1970s, the Retail Floriculture Program was a 2 year program where students studied the practice of floral arranging (including design, storage methods, special arrangement techniques, colour coordination, and more) in addition to the practical management of running a floral shop. This was a very hands-on program with the opportunity to work in floral shops, including Humber’s very own, integrated into the program.

The Humber College Flower Shop was part of the hands-on portion of the Retail Floriculture Program. Second year students would rotate as weekly managers of the store and were responsible for store operations such as ordering, pricing, advertising, and accounting. Students made the day-to-day decisions and learned practical skills alongside the floral training. The Humber Flower Shop was very successful. It was a community hub – it fulfilled special orders for weddings, funerals, and campus events. The Retail Floriculture Program ended in the 1990s but the program is remembered through its impact on the Humber and surrounding communities.

What unique program do you want to find out more about next? Stay tuned for the next post soon! Can't wait that long? Visit us in “The Wonder Room” on the first floor of the Student Welcome and Resource Centre, open Monday-Friday from 10-2.

Photos from the Humber Archives

Over the past 6 years, the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre has joyfully hosted the New Toronto Holiday Market annually in November. We have hosted countless small businesses and artists, welcomed community members, and supported local charities and community groups. It has been an honour to welcome everyone to our space.

As resources change, we have come to the conclusion that we must pause the New Toronto Holiday Market going forward. Supporting local small businesses and artists has always been one of our main priorities and we want to announce this pause now to give everyone the chance to research and apply to other local markets happening in our community.

We want to thank everyone for the support we have received over the past 6 years; the New Toronto Holiday Market would not have happened without you.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this announcement, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected]

Thank you,

The LGIC and NTHM Teams

Do you know the difference between edible and non-edible foods? At one point, students at Humber were taught how to differentiate them!

When introduced, the Outdoor Education Certificate Program was the only one of its kind offered by an Ontario college. The name was to act as an umbrella for a wide variety of courses related to outdoor recreation. The courses were offered to those of all ages and previous experience. Faculty found that students in this program were genuinely there because they had an interest in the topic the course covered. Courses included birdwatching (ornithology), rock climbing, winter camping, weather forecasting, wilderness survival, nature photography, and much more.

A few weeks into the Wilderness Survival course, students would participate in a simulated wilderness survival situation. Students would enter the chosen park with little gear with the idea of going in only with what’s on your back. Students would then need to rely on the skills they learned for the night – such as building a shelter, starting a fire, and identifying edible wild food. The Wilderness Survival course was actually taken by a well-known Canadian survival expert and filmmaker Les Stroud. Les Stroud, aka TV’s “Survivorman”, completed the course and said this is where he learned the foundations for his career.

The Outdoor Education Certificate was a great way to learn how to interact with nature. While Humber no longer offers classes, the Wilderness Survival Challenge Survival School (founded by a former Humber faculty member) continues to offer valuable courses.

What unique program do you want to find out more about next? Stay tuned for the next post soon! Can't wait that long? Visit us in “The Wonder Room” on the first floor of the Student Welcome and Resource Centre, open Monday-Friday from 10-2.

Photos from the Humber Archives

Strike a pose! Humber students were model students in the Fashion Modelling program.

Humber’s Fashion Modelling program offered students the opportunity to gain insight in the world of modelling. Students were taught about anything they would need to know to go into a career in fashion modelling. Coursework included history of fashion, stage techniques, on-camera work, makeup application, skin care, and typing. The models were taught how to change their hairstyle in less than 30 seconds and to know at least 10 different hair styles.

Fashion Modelling students had placements in the community from working at the nearby Woodbine Mall and Sherway Mall, organizing fashion shows, and even working with patients at the Etobicoke General Hospital. While completling classes, Fashion Modelling students often had the opportunity to work the runways. In 1981, students helped show off Levi’s Canada’s new winter line. Students would also be in charge of organizing and running all aspects fashion shows each year – from lighting and advertising to makeup and hair.

While Fashion Modelling ended in the 1990s, Humber continues to offer a fashion related program, Fashion Arts and Business, which focuses on the business and retail sides of the fashion world.

What unique program do you want to find out more about next? Stay tuned for the next post soon! Can't wait that long? Visit us in “The Wonder Room” on the first floor of the Student Welcome and Resource Centre, open Monday-Friday from 10-2.

Photos from the Humber Archives

Join us on Saturday May 23 from 10am-2pm in Colonel Samuel Smith Park for the 17th annual Spring Bird Festival!

There will be bird tours, live birds, reptiles and amphibians, children's activities, and more! Come visit our Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre and Humber Archives booth along with local bird, community, and environmental groups.

Hope to see you there!

The art of mixing the perfect drink was just one part of Bartending courses.

The Bartending, or Mixology course, began in 1966 as part of the Hotel and Restaurant program. A specialized Mixology Lab was built at Humber’s North Campus in the 1980s. Students in the Mixology course explored basic and speciality bartending principles. Along with learning how to make drinks, students also studied the origins and creations of wine, beer, cognac, and champagne. Humber has also offered non-credit courses in bartending in the evenings and as one day workshops.

While there are no longer bartending workshops, students can still learn the basics of mixology and beverage management in the Hotel and Restaurant Operations Management program and the Culinary Management program. The Mixology Lab has, and continues to, offer hands on learning for students entering the hospitality field.

What unique program do you want to find out more about next? Stay tuned for the next post soon! Can't wait that long? Visit us in “The Wonder Room” on the first floor of the Student Welcome and Resource Centre, open Monday-Friday from 10-2.

Photos from the Humber Archives

The May long weekend is almost here! Victoria Day weekend is often the marker of the beginning of the summer season.
 
Looking for some inspiration for some inspiration of what to make on the Barbeque while you’re enjoying the sunny weather? Why not try the Burger-a-la Scotch recipe seen in our “Bon Appetit” exhibition! This recipe was featured in the February 1986 (vol. 14, no. 21) edition of the “Coven”. Created by Saleem Giga (a Public Relations student), Burger-a-la Scotch is fast and uses cheap and easily found ingredients. Find the recipe below or in the link in our bio (page 15):
 
INGREDIENTS:
1½-2 lbs. ground beef
1 egg
½ cup breadcrumbs
1 small onion, chopped
1 tsp. salt (or less, if de sired)
1 tsp. black pepper(or less, if desired)
several pinches seasoning powder
one shot of Chivas Regal Scotch (or more, if desired)
 
METHOD
1. Combine ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, onion, salt, pepper, and seasoning in a bowl, mixing thoroughly with hands.
2. When well-combined, add Scotch and mix well.
3. Shape into 4 patties, each one approximately ½ inch thick.
4. Using a large, un greased skillet, cook ham burgers at medium heat for about 5 minutes each side.
5. Cooked in its own fat, these burgers are tender and extra juicy.
Preparation time: 10 mins. Cooking time: 10 mins. Yield: 4 hamburgers.
 
Do you want to see more recipes highlighted? Let us know!
 
Interested in learning about some recipes you could try yourself? Visit “Bon Appetit!” on the Third Floor Gallery, where recipes reflect attitudes on nutrition, taste, and affordability. Check out “Bon Appetit!” on the Third Floor Gallery of the Student Welcome and Resource Centre-open Monday-Friday from 7am-7pm.

Did you know Humber used to offer an Equine Studies program?
 
Humber has been home to many unique programs over the years. From bartending to fashion modeling, so many different programs have brought in students to Humber’s unique classrooms. Many of these unique programs proved that the classroom is not the only place to learn – Humber studies could be found in a stable, on a boat, or even in Algonquin park.
 
Want to learn more about Humber’s unique programs? Visit us in “The Wonder Room” on the first floor of the Student Welcome and Resource Centre, open Monday-Friday from 10-2. Can’t make it in person? Stay tuned as we explore some of the exciting programs Humber has offered in the past in the upcoming weeks.