Humber Et Cetera, Volume 70, Number 2, Oct. 2, 2025.

Minimum wage rises 40 cents

Ethan Alcaidinho Senior Reporter

Ontario’s minimum wage has risen to $17.60 per hour as of Oct. 1, an increase meant to help workers keep up with the rising cost of living.

But while employees are welcoming a boost to their paycheques, some say the increase still falls short of what’s needed to make ends meet.

The increase represents a 40cent jump from the previous rate of $17.20 per hour. The provincial government says they adjust the wage annually based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) to reflect inflation.

To many, the move is a step in the right direction, but the gap between minimum wage and what’s considered a livable wage continues to grow.

Across Ontario many minimum wage workers are working in retail, hospitality, food service  and caregiving jobs.

Isabelle McChesney, a Univerity of Guelph-Humber Student, who works at Lone Star Texas Grill, says she is happy to hear about the wage increase but it is still not enough to survive.

“I don’t think it’ll make that much of a difference. Just because I feel like whenever the minimum wage does increase, it’s just because the price of living increases

as well. So it’s just going to be like the same thing over again,” McChesney said.

For workers in cities such as Toronto, where housing and food costs remain high, the new rate still lags behind the living wage. The Ontario Living Wage Network estimates workers in the GTA need $26 an hour to cover necessities.

Businesses have raised concerns about higher payroll costs at a time when many small businesses are still recovering from the pandemic and dealing with inflation.

Since 2018, the minimum wage has increased $3.60 to $17.60 from $14 per hour. Ontario now

has one of the highest provincial minimum wages in Canada. Alberta is the only province that has not increased its minimum wage of $15 per hour, now the lowest in Canada.

The Ontario Ministry of Labour says the annual adjustment ensures fairness for workers while giving businesses time to prepare for changes.

In a news release, the Ontario Ministry of Labour said the 40-cent increase is set to help workers deal with the rising cost of living.

They also noted someone making minimum wage full time will see an increase of about $800 in their annual income.

Ontario has one of the highest minimum wages in the country, but it falls short in meeting the cost of living in many communities

HUMBERETC/ ETHAN ALCAIDINHO

Humber surrounded by strikers

Benjamin Steeves Senior Reporter

In her scramble to leave her house before the sun breached the skyline, forgetting her large coffee on her kitchen counter, Arax Acemyan braced for a day that hopefully would usher in change for all college staff and students.

Working as a full-time support staff member at Centennial College for 16 years in the events department, specializing in international protocols, Acemyan was one of hundreds striking full-time support staff workers beehived at Humber’s North campus on Oct. 2 for the “OPSEU ALL OUT” strike in Region Five, which is Toronto.

With more than 10,000 full-time support staff on strike since Sept. 11, resulting in a gruelling back and forth at the negotiation table that has since fallen short, OPSEU gathered picketers from four colleges across the province, Seneca Polytechnic, George Brown, Centennial and Humber Polytechnic.

They disembarked buses at 7 a.m. on Humber College Boulevard to man the picket line in Premier Doug Ford’s riding.

Acemyan was part of just less than two dozen picketers who departed first from Humber Polytechnic’s Lakeshore campus in the early parts of the morning at 6:30 a.m., exacerbated by negotiations seeming to fall flat.

“I’m frustrated by the stalling of the negotiations and the news coming from CEC. It’s not accurate, OPSEU is trying to really help us

keep our jobs.” Acemyan said.

She said, despite the pressure they’re feeling, their power is sourced from standing united as one.

“There is always strength in numbers and one person makes a difference. So that’s why I’m here and we’re fighting as a group to be able to achieve our goals,” Acemyan said. “I think today we’re going to roar. That’s what I hope. Because I do believe in activism and it’s our right to strike.”

those emails. How is that even professional?” Ha asked. “If there was a deal and your staff went back to work, how do they feel knowing that you sent them something like that?”

While all Ontario support staff are currently on strike, some colleges have been seen to be hit harder than most.

Tutoring English and math at Seneca York in the learning centre for students with learning disabilities, and part of OPSEU for 37 years, Janice

“THE OUTCOME I WANT IS A PUSH TO GET THEM BACK TO A TABLE AND COME OUT WITH AN AGREEMENT THAT’S FAIR, [...] IT’S GONNA BENEFIT THE STUDENTS, IT’S GONNA BENEFIT THE COLLEGES.”

- Ken Clevely

The power and urge from the picketers is fuelled even more following communications between the CEC to OPSEU members.

“I feel like they’re creating this mistrust between the bargaining team and the employer,” said Elizabeth Ha, a bus patrol person who kept track of those departing from Humber’s Lakeshore campus.

She said the uncertainty could have longevity and manifest itself to have ripple effects in the future and beyond.

“The emails, too, we’ve been seeing intimidation tactics by the employer,” Ha said. “I’m really shocked because I’ve been a union activist for almost 30 years. And to see that type of communication from their bosses to staff, it was crazy to me.”

“I was really shocked when I saw

Hagen discussed that the level of layoffs is detrimental to their operations.

“At Seneca, we’ve had hundreds of layoffs. Full-time support staff, parttime student workers, just we can’t even keep track of how many people are devastated, they’re afraid,” Hagen said. “On top of the fear of job loss, we have people who don’t want to be inside because it’s psychologically just really traumatic right now because we can’t help the students we know we can help,”

Hagen acknowledged that while the protest is against the CEC, the focus should be diverted to look at funding from the Ontario government.

“There’s money in our province to fund proper education. Instead, they’re funding private companies, [and] training friends of Doug Ford,”

Alex Kiiffner is a producer for Humber Esports who works behind the scenes, scheduling and setting up for the live broadcast. He makes sure that everything for the events runs smoothly.

For Kiiffner, the best part is when the cameras are rolling.

said Hagen.

Picketing every early morning with his coffee in one hand and a sign in the other at Humber’s Lakeshore campus, Ken Clevely has worked with OPSEU for the last 28 years.

Clevely said that while support staff are on strike, their focus is not just on themselves but on the students in every college across Ontario.

“The outcome I want is a push to get them back to a table, and come out with an agreement that’s fair, it’ll benefit the support staff, it’s gonna benefit the students, it’s gonna benefit the colleges.”

“We want to educate people on why we’re out here, how important it is for students, because I know it’s about us, but it’s mostly for students and their futures,” Clevely said.

While all college eyes have been diverted towards the local support staff strike and their negotiations, he said negotiations between adults should be handled as adult conversations.

“I’m not pleased with how things have turned out,” Clevely said. “I figured they should all be grown-ups, and they should be able to at least sit at a table and be able to negotiate well.”

Despite the swirl of emotions and attention diverted towards the OPSEU rally, Aceyman said she has faith that a resolution will come, and colleges will soon resume regular operations.

“I’m sending out good vibes so that they come to a resolution and at least try to help us go back to work,” Acemyan said.

“The more fun side of things is when we get to do a show,” he said. “I get to direct the story, make sure that everything looks good and that all the people that are working on the show know what our goal is for that show.”

Kiiffner’s journey started when a guest speaker, Bernard Mafei, gave a presentation about esports, and this led to a role as a caster for Humber Esports.

“So I tried, and it didn’t go great. I mean, it wasn’t something you can learn overnight,” he said. “You need years of playing experience to be able to really well commentate on a game.”

Kiiffner said the producer role at Humber Esports did not exist until he pushed for it.

“I basically created the job, and I said, Bernard, you need this role,” he said. “He really believed in me and trusted me, and he wrote the position, created it, and I applied.”

Since then, Kiiffner has seen the growth of Humber Esports during his time.

“It’s a whole different world than what it was when I first got here,” he said. “When I first started, Bernard had just been hired and was essentially rebuilding the program.”

Kiiffner said he hopes to continue his Esports journey with Humber.

“If I continue to work with Esports, it would probably be with Humber,” he said.

HUMBERETC/DENNY LUONG Alex Kiiffner, the current producer for Humber Esports.

Full-time support staff from four different colleges gathered at Humber Polytechnic’s North campus, with Lakeshore campus serving as one of the pick-up locations.

HUMBERETC/REET ARORA

Strikers get together for gigantic

Hundreds of full-time support staff workers from Seneca, Humber, George

As the sounds of whistle-blowing and oldschool rock music blared on Humber College Boulevard, the energetic disposition of OPSEU’s All Out rally acted as nothing more than a mask that covered support staff woes.

Amanda Van Mierlo, a support staff member for Humber Libraries, is one of the many picketers who grow restless the longer the strike looms over the community. As an employee for the college for 23 years, they were on the verge of tears as they reminisced about their students.

“I miss my students, I feel bad for my students. We’ve been talking to students out here [and] hearing their stories about how they’re being impacted. It’s heartbreaking,” they said.

With the strike bleeding into its fourth week and no progress being made between OPSEU and CEC at the bargaining table, union members from four publicly-funded colleges in Toronto came together at Humber Polytechnic’s North campus.

It was to deliver their frustrations towards the College Employer Council, the bargaining agent for the province’s 24 colleges, and stall contract talks.

News of the All Out rally was first revealed to the public on Oct. 1 through social media posts. Newsletters were sent out to OPSEU members the day before. Sixteen buses were coordinated to pick up members from the remaining 23 publicly-funded colleges within the GTA around 6:30 a.m., with crowds arriving at the scene around 7 a.m.

Several hundred strikers filled the entrances as picketers prevented people from entering or leaving the college. The only vehicles excepted were TTC WheelTrans vehicles, which dropped off passengers at the Humber College Bus Terminal.

Police were called to the scene shortly after. Humberline and Windwood Drives were closed to help prevent the overflow of traffic, as police kept watch all throughout Humber College Boulevard and Highway 27.

Humber Polytechnic sent messages to the college population through Humber Guardian and email. At first, Humber urged

those attending campus to park at Queen’s Plate Drive and Highway 27 and walk to campus.

An hour later, another update was sent out advising faculty to hold classes online, alongside limited information about the strike.

“Access to NORTH Campus is

by Clash were some of the songs played aloud while the police watched.

Tensions mainly arose near the Highway 27 entrance.

Cars were backed up at the scene since 6 a.m., with some people even waiting to get through for several

with the strike.

Having also participated in the support staff strike that took place in 2011, one striker said they felt more supported by the administration then.

“We had HR come out with their HR shirts; they provided us with

the strike, they said the college wouldn’t allow portapotties and that strikers would be charged for trespassing if they entered the premises. The picketer said it was because OPSEU refused to sign concessions.

They said the concessions

SEVERELY limited today and not possible in some scenarios. Exiting vehicles may also be detained,” the update read.

The Ontario Labour Relations Act does not have any laws stating it is illegal to block people from entering the premises, but there is a general two-minute time limit allowed to block traffic at a picket line.

Toronto Police did move in at times, allowing a few vehicles through the picket lines. But police changed tactics, saying it was too risky to follow the two-minute rule, and at the height of the rally, Humber College Boulevard was jammed with vehicles in both directions.

The front of the college remained somewhat peaceful, with picketers staying alive by blasting music along the picket line. I Fought the Law and Know Your Rights

hours. One student who wished to remain anonymous said they were on their way to a mid-term exam before being stuck in traffic.

“I tried to get here as early as possible, but I’m still stuck at the picket lines. But I understand you guys are fighting for a good cause, so I’m just going to have to eat the bullets that come with it,” they said.

Some people, however, weren’t as amicable. Police talked to picketers, encouraging them to let people in. The first car let in by picketers was three hours after the rally began, with the driver telling the picket line they were simply trying to pick up their child for a doctor’s appointment.

This uproar was prompted by the growing frustrations among the picket line. Several picketers, who wish to remain anonymous for their well-being, talked to Humber Et Cetera about their experience

muffins and coffee. They never took sides, but they just showed their support,” they said.

Fredy Mejia, OPSEU’s Local 563 president, echoed many of these sentiments. He said the previous president, Chris Whitaker, and the previous VP of People and Cultures, Deb McCarthy, came out and walked with picketers. This year, the difference is starkly obvious.

“The community has been great. Our part-timers have been great. Our students have been great. The major change is that the administration is no longer recognizing the work that we do,” he said.

An anonymous picketer said the 2011 strike also included more amenities available along the picket line. They were provided free parking with shuttle buses, portapotties, and a trailer.

During the second week of

required picketers to agree not to talk to the public or to the students. Mejia confirmed this with Et Cetera.

“They did offer a space, but I had to sign an agreement which, basically, was taking away our rights to strike. I just couldn’t sign the document,” he said.

“We must stop the traffic, not to cause chaos or ruin somebody else’s day, but to send a message. [...] By signing, a document that would have meant giving all of that away,” he said.

Portapotties along Windwood Trail, as well as food, tents, tables and chairs were provided by the union during the rally. As for parking, many picketers said they parked around the community. Some said they parked at Woodbine Mall and walked the rest, while others parked by Etobicoke General Hospital and paid

OPSEU picketers from various Ontario colleges congregated around the perimeter of North campus blocking cars from entering the parking lots.

Story by Julia Ilano, Reet Arora, Aislinn Millette, Ethan Alcaidinho, Tait Graham, Julia Sequeira, Nina A. Kersnik, Celine Sy, Samuel Brito, Olivia Masztalerz and Giovanna Apelabi. Photos by Nina A. Kersnik, Laura Rodgers and Tait Graham.

rally at Humber North campus

George Brown and Centennial arrived in buses in the early morning.

$18.50 for parking.

Mejia said he believes the shift in attitudes from the administration is due to the cultural differences back then, compared to now.

He said they had full-time support staff that knew what the unions were about because they had been here for many years.

“That brought our strongest supporters onto the picket line. It was not about the hours, it was about the solidarity that we were bringing to the picket lines,” he said.

Besides the lack of administrative support, some picketers also said some pieces of news inevitably floated around.

Mejia said that the lack of support creates rumours, which tie into the level of anxiety that has been developing among strikers.

“It’s affecting us physically, it’s affecting us mentally, it’s affecting us financially. So when we look at all the factors, of course, people start talking,” he said.

Mejia said he urges members to be mindful of what they do on the picket line, because at one point, they will have to return to work.

“We look at their relationships,

how we can rebuild or strengthen our relationships with everyone inside because we love Humber,” he said.

Although Graham Lloyd, the CEO of CEC, agreed to an interview, it was put on hold due to the media blackout that began Sept. 26.

Instead, the latest news release from CEC’s management bargaining team states their proposals reflect a genuine effort to reach a fair renewal agreement.

“We made real progress until OPSEU communicated that there could be no agreement unless CEC accepted the union’s restrictions [...] We have clearly communicated to them since bargaining began that we can never accept these demands,” they stated.

President Ann Marie Vaughan told Et Cetera on Sept. 26 in an email statement that support staff are a vital part of Humber Polytechnic and the post-secondary sector in Ontario.

“They are our colleagues, and they are invaluable resources to our students, colleagues, partners and the Humber community. We look forward to welcoming them back to campus once a resolution has been reached,” she said.

Drivers unable to turn into campus from all entrances, told to find parking off campus at Queens Plate lot.

Heavy police presence at North campus, as full-time support staff from colleges across Ontario come together in hopes of fair contract negotiations, in their fourth week of picketing.

Emotions high at OPSEU picket line

Passionate picketers unite in big numbers to intensify impact after mediations fell

through last Monday.

“We don’t want to be an inconvenience but we want students to hopefully know that us being able to have proper funding also meansis beneficial to students and them hopefully being able to be successful in their programs and offering more for students because you’re paying for it and if we’re having our positions cut students don’t get as many supports that they’re paying for.” Mark Moses Business analyst in the ITS department at Algonquin College

“I would just like the public to know we’re striking and to know why we’re striking. I think that would make a big difference because I feel like not a lot of people seem to have really noticed or we haven’t been able to get the message out there.”

-Mark Moses

HUMBERETC/CHRISTIAN LANZILLOTTO

“You’re not getting the services that students in your program got even five years ago, and it’s continuing to fail and get worse.”

Don Christie, George Brown Cooperative Education Officer

“I worked here 20 years ago. I’m in a different union now but were here to support, you know more strength.” Cliff Ngai York Region Paramedic

HUMBERETC/CHRISTIAN LANZILLOTTO

“Well, for me personally, it’s frightening. I’ve been here twenty-three years, and I had planned on retiring here because I love what I do, I love supporting students, and now wondering whether or not that retirement plan and end of career goal is going to happen is alarming.” Amanda Van Mierlo, Humber Library Support staff

What is your biggest concern about the strike? “That people don’t understand we’re working for the good of our jobs not just as distractions. Like, were not out her for percentage. I don’t think. We’re more out here for job security.” Brad Peacock Seneca College Faculty Member

“I had a midterm today and it was cancelled.” Why was your midterm canceled? “It’s because of the rally. There’s nowhere to park, we had to park the car somewhere else and then come to class to find that it’s cancelled.” Agnesa Cerimi Humber Nursing student

HUMBERETC/KAYLEIGH AINSWORTH

HUMBERETC/KAYLEIGH AINSWORTH

HUMBERETC/GRACE MACINERNEY

HUMBERETC/KAYLEIGH AINSWORTH

“Public education as opposed to private education.” Joseph Wu Faculty member at York University

HUMBERETC/SIMON DE CICCO

“Ontario is a big province and public colleges are the least funded in Canada.” Kevin Gonneau Simulation specialist in Faculty of Social and Community services

HUMBERETC/SIMON DE CICCO

Contributing Reporters: Christian Lanzillotto, Grace MacInerney, Simon De Cicco, Kayleigh Ainsworth

Art we consume daily is ubiquitous and political

Julia Ilano

Whether you realize it or not, art is everywhere. Your daily routine probably already includes some form of art in one way or another.

Whether taking the bus or driving to school, the designs of these vehicles were created by artists. The music by your favourite artists in your headphones is art. The advertisements and buildings you see were designed by artists. Art can be easily overlooked, meaning, no one can understand why we should care. Last August, the Edmonton Public School Board shared a list of banned books exclusively with CBC News. With the list spanning 200 titles, including as The Handmaid’s Tale and Brave New World. Both have been subject to censorship in North America due to sexually explicit themes and violence.

However, both books are highly acclaimed for their portrayal of themes related to oppression, societal standards, and gender roles that are detrimental to humanity. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood depicts a dystopian future where a patriarchal, totalitarian government reigns. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley also details a dystopian future that exaggerates the problems we have in the real world with outlandish technologies.

These books were essential in bringing forward sociological theories and principles that helped shape how people vi.ew the world By criticizing the issues that exist in entertaining yet digestible mediums, it helps people stay informed and truly understand the world. Yet, these books were brought down to “sexual themes” and “explicit violence”. Although there is some truth to restricting younger audiences from these themes, banning these books altogether sabotages the artistic integrity behind these messages.

A school board in Austin, Texas, used AI to learn which books had Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion content. The new-s was discovered by one of the founders of the Texas Freedom to Read Project, a non-profit organization that fights book bans and for student rights in Texas.

Using AI to censor art is a slap in the face. Using a tool that was created by usurping existing arts an to oppress content made to educate highlights why it is important to save the arts in the first place.

An aspect of being political is to adapt the human experience into something digestible,

where a major idea is simplified into something exaggerated for its ideals to be understood. I-s it not fair to assume most art is inherently political?

In 1930, Disney, originally Walt Disney Studios, released multiple propaganda cartoons during the Second World War and the Great Depression. One of the most well-known cartoons is Der Führer’s Face, a short cartoon highlighting the day-to-day life of a Nazi Donald Duck working in a bombshell factory.

The 1943 propaganda cartoon was satirical, featuring a miserable and anxious Nazi soldier remaining patriotic to fascist political symbols.

These cartoons were an essential piece in maintaining high morale when the state of the world was uncertain. An interview with \ Smithsonian Magazine’s, Kirsten Komoroske, the executive director for the Walt Disney Museum, sees these them as “feel-good place.”

The world of Disney is seen as “an upbeat place to take refuge,” she said to Smithsonian. Music is able to convey a similar message. For instance, from the mid-1950s to the late ‘60s, the Civil Rights Movement brought into fruition art that challenged oppressors.

Cultural critic A. Loudermilk wrote in a 2013 study of jazz artist, Nina Simone, noting she released many songs that became representative of the Black experience in this era. Old Jim Crow, Mississippi Goddam and Strange Fruit, for instance, take on racist stereotypes, such as blackface, or revamp a song to coinciding with the political movement.

Loudermilk cited interviews with Simone, who said her anthems for the Civil Rights Movement went unacknowledged for some time despite their impact.

“I was desperate to be accepted by the Civil Rights leaders, and when I was, I gave them 10 years of singing protest songs. In turn, it was the only time I’ve been truly inspired by anything other than ... Mozart, Czerny, Liszt, and Rachmaninov,” Simone said.

Music was her platform to uplift the minority. She was able to portray the message of her music.

With traditional news slowly dwindling and the general population gravitating to social media it’s more important than ever for people to remain informed. As free media becomes a foreign concept, it highlights why artistic criticisms are ess-ential in the first place.

Throughout history, art has been a symbol of speaking out on the issues within our institutions. With corruption and genocide on the loose, famine and war running rampant, sometimes there are no ways to verbalize brutal hardships.

But we may hear or see them through creative expression.

Art is awareness, and the medium is the message.

Julia Ilano, she/they is a Humber Et Cetera news editor. She covers esports, food and news.

UNSPLASH/TANDEM X VISUALS Canada recognizes Sept. 30 as Orange Shirt Day, and Truth and Reconciliation Day.

EDITORIAL

Preaching forgiveness, denying reconciliation

Reconciliation is characterized as settling a conflict and coexisting in harmony.

To reconcile, forgiveness is necessary. For forgiveness to take place, there must be acknowledgement and full acceptance of wrongdoing.

In school, we learn that an apology is only truly impactful if we don’t repeat our actions. We learn that change needs to occur in order for our regrets to be legitimate.

However, schools are not cur rently leading by example. This year, Dufferin Peel Cath olic District School Board (DPCDSB) changed its protocols on flag displays in schools, leading to the ban of certain flags.

This includes the epochal Every Child Matters flag.

unifies Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, creating a space of community and honour. There, they acknowledge the lives lost to residential schools.

After numerous families spoke out, Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra directed the school board to revise its flag policy, allowing the survivors’ flag to be raised on Sept. 30, Truth and Reconciliation Day.

After families expressed concern, the school board did not take the correct step until mandated to by Calandra.

It seems paradoxical. The institutions that hold the same system of belief as those that facilitated the loss of thousands of children are the ones who should be seeking to reconcile the most, and yet are doing the very least.

Least in the sense of no action, and not only that, but going backwards. If an institution refuses to acknowledge wrongdoing on its own accord, it is refusing true reconciliation.

Residential schools were established to strip Indigenous child of their tradition and ancestry, better known as assimilation. The schools funded by Canada’s Department of Indian Affairs were often presented as boarding schools to help Indigenous children integrate into colonialized society.

It is now known that it was much more horrific than that.

Humber Polytechnic’s Walk for Reconciliation was scheduled for Sept. 25. Yearly, the walk

During the walk, monumental Indigenous landmarks, items and art are acknowledged in a group setting led by IGNITE. The informative walk is often led to the Humber Arboretum to appreciate the cultural significance of the location in which Humber Polytechnic is situated and the agriculture that lives on. Adoobiigok served as an Indigenous transportation and trade route for the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Wendat peoples. However, this year’s walk was cancelled due to gloomy conditions outside. The walk was reduced to an indoor self-guided walk around campus. They handed out maps of Humber for attendees to use after the event. Many, however, were left crumpled and scattered on the floor.

Communal education is what makes the walk impactful, but instead, many people didn’t even attend the speeches or do the walk. Numerous students just scooped up a free meal at the end.

The speeches acknowledged the importance of keeping culture alive, but didn’t compare to last year’s. People, unfortunately, don’t always care to do more if systems don’t set a standard.

Coexisting in harmony is what defines true reconciliation. Doing the walk as a united group is a way of holding everyone accountable while creating a sense of oneness and rapport. Without accountability and acknowledgement, we take one step back from whole forgiveness and take a giant leap from wholehearted reconciliation.

Education systems teach us to apologize, be regretful of our actions, and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again. However, they repeat history and contradict their own teachings.

So raise a survivor flag, walk for Truth and Reconciliation, and wear an orange shirt, in the names of those who perished to the systems that serve us but failed them.

OPINION

Trust in the Philippines swept away by the floods

Luis Miguel De Castro

Iwatched from Toronto as Manila was filled with white ribbons and chants on Sept. 21, the anniversary of martial law.

On that day in 1972, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared nationwide military rule, sparking two decades of authoritarianism marked by arrests, torture, and bil lions plundered from the public treasury.

Even across the other side of the world, seeing the images of people protesting and speaking up struck me.

protect the country’s poorest and most flood-prone communities from disasters that strike year after year.

I’ve seen this happen many times before. People get angry, investigations make headlines, officials promise change, and a few are punished to calm the public.

But once the attention fades, nothing really changes, and the scandal is quietly forgotten.

This cycle of anger without real accountability has been part of Philippine politics for decades.

After the fall of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1986, a government agency, the Presidential Commission on Good Government, was created to recover the billions of dollars stolen during his dictatorship.

Some scenes showed many citizens and students raising banners. Others showed chaos. Videos circulating online show protesters being arrested and, in some cases, killed.

Filipinos were filling the streets, demanding justice after billions meant for flood-control projects were stolen or wasted.

For me, this was a painful reminder that corruption has become part of our history, repeating itself like an endless script.

The outrage was triggered by revelations that more than 545 billion Philippines pesos (about C$13 billion) had been poured into flood-control projects that were substandard, unfinished, or never built at all.

These projects were supposed to

Almost 40 years later, only a fraction of that money has been returned.

In 2013, the “Pork Barrel Scam” revealed that lawmakers were diverting development funds intended for communities into fake projects. A senator and several officials were jailed, while the larger system of corruption remained intact.

the same pattern. Corruption is exposed, promises of justice are made, and yet the system resets itself without real change.

To see their blood, sweat, and tears drained away by greed from people who are supposed to make Filipinos’ lives better left me both sad and restless.

“IT WAS ONLY LATE THAT I REALIZED THESE FLOODS WEREN’T JUST ANY NATURAL DISASTERS. THESE WERE ALSO CONSEQUENCES OF BROKEN AND CORRUPT SYSTEMS.”

Before that, in 2004, the Fertilizer Fund Scam exposed how nearly a billion pesos meant to support poor farmers was funnelled instead into the political campaigns of those in power. Despite investigations and outrage, accountability was limited, and the practice of politicians using public money to serve their own interests never really disappeared.

Each of these scandals followed

That is why this latest flood-control scandal feels so familiar and unbear-

able, painfully reminding us that history keeps repeating itself.

I thought flooding was simply part of life while growing up in the Philippines. Streets turning into rivers, classes getting cancelled, and seeing people struggle to evacuate were some of the experiences I had.

I got used to it, believing it was normal for a country hit by multiple typhoons every year.

It was only later that I realized these floods weren’t just any natural disasters. These were also consequences of broken and corrupt systems.

Showing their heavy frustration towards our government, I remember my parents saying with a disappointed tone, “This is where our taxes go.”

It is heartbreaking to know that what I once accepted as inevitable was actually the result of theft from the very people meant to be protected and cherished. The protests in Manila are part of a larger wave of anger sweeping across Asia.

In Indonesia, Nepal, and Timor-Leste, people have also risen against political elites flaunting wealth while citizens struggle. What connects these movements is the growing realization that ordinary people no longer have to accept corruption and abuse as “normal.”

Young people, in particular, are using social media to challenge the greed and expose the wrongdoings of the government.

Still, without real accountability, there is the risk that this too will fade into the same cycle.

For Filipinos like me studying abroad, it is easy to feel distant from these protests.

and blatant, I cannot just sit back and watch. We share the same responsibility as those who were present at the protests in Manila to demand that this cycle of betrayal finally ends. Accountability cannot be a performance in Congress or another commission that fades into irrelevance.

Hearing that broke me, because my parents are among the hardest-working people I know.

Distance, however, is not an excuse for silence.

When something is this severe

It must mean that there are real consequences for those who steal, and real protection for those who suffer.

If corruption has long been the script of our history, then it is time for people, at home and around the world, to speak up and rewrite it. Luis Miguel De Castro, he/him is the Humber Et Cetera mens sports editor. He covers sports, culture and social justice.

COURTESY/HOPE GAERLAN

Citizens fill the streets, holding up signs, protesting the flood-control project scandal and corruption.

COURTESY/RAM PASTRANA

Filipinos came together to protest against corruption on Sept. 21.

Mark Fera amassed massive Leafs collection

Brampton superfan copes with long-lasting trauma,

collection first began to take shape.

Fernando Bossoes Senior Reporter

The basement of Mark Fera’s Brampton home holds one of the world’s largest collections of Maple Leafs game-used and vintage memorabilia. From the stick Darryl Sittler used for his historic 10-point night to a piece of Bill Barilko’s plane wreckage to the puck Bobby Baun scored with on a broken ankle in Game 6 of the 1964 Stanley Cup final, every corner of Fera’s basement tells a chapter in Leafs history.

But for Fera, the collection is about more than just preserving history.

As a boy, he says he was a victim of the Maple Leaf Gardens sex abuse scandal. Fera is currently suing Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, alleging the company failed to protect him from his alleged abuser, John Paul Roby, who was convicted in 1999 of sexually abusing young fans in the 1970s and 1980s. The man declared to be a dangerous offender later died in prison in 2001.

The $6.25-million lawsuit has yet to be tested in court.

Fera carried that trauma in silence for years, only revealing it to his father when he was in his twenties. By then, the damage had already been done.

“I missed out on a lot of things. I got two great stepdaughters, but I will never be a biological dad. I got married at 52 to my best friend, but we missed a lot of years together, a lot of years of marriage,” Fera said. “There were a lot of issues along the way, and I continue to work hard at them, and they will affect me for the rest of my life.”

Despite the ongoing lawsuit, Fera resisted pursuing legal action for years. He would tell lawyers he couldn’t because he’s a Leafs fan and loves the team. Only later did he realize his love for the team did not mean staying silent about what happened.

The duality of loving the team while confronting its darkest chapter also runs through his collection. Fera said every piece is about the story it carries, whether triumphant or challenging.

“As I say, some of my best memories were with my dad in the stands, sitting in Section 67, row F, seats one and two in Maple Leaf Gardens, and some of the worst ones will be what took place under the Gardens,” Fera said.

It was with his father that the

After playing hockey, he and his dad would buy packs of hockey cards. Soon, Fera was racing down to the store with whatever change he could find, even returning pop bottles and beer cans to get enough money for another pack.

He would sort through his cards, sell some to friends and trade for the “old stuff” they did not want. At one point, Fera estimates he had more than 100,000 cards, maybe even a quarter of a million.

said.

When visitors visit his home, whether fans or former players like Mike Palmateer, Frank Mahovlich, Ron Ellis or David Keon, Fera always asks them what they feel most connected to.

“And everybody’s [answer] is

hopes to start a charity to support people who have gone through traumas like his. For now, the collection keeps growing, and some of its most prized pieces are from Leafs’ modern-day superstar Auston Matthews.

“I FEEL LIKE PART OF MY JOB IS TO TELL THE STORY OF THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS AND TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS FOR NOT ONLY MY CAUSE BUT HOPEFULLY FOR POTENTIALLY OTHER CAUSES,”

- Mark Fera

different, and that’s what I love about it,” Fera said.

His first game at the Maple Leaf Gardens was in 1983. That night, his father brought home a stick from former Leaf Greg Terrion, covered in faded signatures from the team.

For a young Fera, it was a magical moment. The kid thought it was amazing to own something nobody else had.

He alleges that it was also around the same time the abuses began, and Roby, who was a Maple Leaf Gardens usher and a one-time Boy Scout leader, lured him with promises of game-used items that never materialized.

Decades later, Fera has built the collection the young kid who traded hockey cards never imagined: more than 300 game-worn sweaters, 250 game-used sticks, hundreds of pucks and more.

When he first met her wife, she didn’t understand it. She even suggested the fuselage from the float plane that crashed and killed Barilko in 1951 could be used to hang wet laundry. Barilko won four Stanley Cups in five years with the Leafs, but the team wouldn’t win another cup until his remains were found in 1962.

Now, she embraces it, falling in love with the Leafs, especially William Nylander, and recognizing the collection is really about stories.

Fera is grateful for his wife. She embraces his passion and enjoys it with him. With a smile, he added that her only rule is that nothing from the collection goes upstairs.

“Downstairs is mine, and upstairs is hers. But if I buy her a couple of Wonder Woman things, it keeps her happy for a bit,” Fera

He remembers watching Keon handle his old hockey sticks like a man transformed, “going from a senior to a young man again.” Moments like that remind Fera of the importance of his collection.

“I feel like part of my job is to tell the story of the Toronto Maple Leafs and to help raise awareness for not only my cause but hopefully for potentially other causes,” Fera said.

As his work life slows down, he

Fera received an invitation on Aug. 31 to watch Matthews skate privately at the Ford Performance Centre the next morning. At first, he almost turned it down. At the cottage with his wife and stepdaughter, he was just “minutes away from pouring a glass of whisky.”

“My wife looks at my stepdaughter, they look at me, and they are like, ‘What are you talking about? We are out of here, you’ve got to be there,’” Fera said.

After a sleepless night, Fera arrived at the practice facility around 9:30 a.m.

“We walked around the corner, and I’m in the change room, and there’s Auston, sitting at a stall, introducing himself to me,” Fera said.

He said they talked about the collection and how they had first

met at a Hospital for Sick Children event. “He looks at me and he goes ‘Holy mackerel, I remember meeting you and hearing about your story,’” Fera said.

Matthews was surprised by the size of the collection, telling Fera he would have to come see it one day. Of all the players and alumni Fera has spoken with, he said Matthews was the most genuine and invested in the conversation.

During the two-hour-and25-minute practice, which Fera described as Matthews going “full bore,” he was told he could leave at any point.

“I said, ‘If he stays here for five hours, I’m watching for five hours,’” Fera said.

Matthews asked Fera what he thought of the practice, and jokingly answered that he got tired of just watching how hard he was working on the ice.

At one point, feeling comfortable, Fera even extended an invitation.

“I was even joking with him, saying, ‘I got an Italian restaurant across the house that if you want to come over, I’ll order you a good meal,’” Fera said.

Then came a line he will never forget.

“I said, ‘You are the f------ captain do said. face. understands the Leafs.

“He for where say,” his with For is known “torontomapleleafguy,” down necting platform “I’m for that the Leafs,” follows because ever something

Mark Auston a photo Brampton dedicated jerseys, Photos

collection while healing along the way

trauma, lawsuit through storied hockey team’s memorabilia

tain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, you realize what that is?’” Fera said. “He gets this smile on his face. He is proud, honoured and understands what it is like to be captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“He gave me everything he had those moments, to a point where I didn’t have much left to say,” said Fera, adding Matthews is favourite Maple Leaf of all time, with Wendel Clark a close second.

For the ultimate Leaf fan that known on social media as the “torontomapleleafguy,” it all comes down to sharing the stories, connecting with people and using his platform for something bigger.

“I’m looking to raise awareness certain causes, including boys that have been sexually abused and history of the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Fera said. “I’d love to get the follows and the likes from people, because at the end of the day, however this works out, it’s going to be something for everybody to enjoy.”

Mark Fera and Leafs centre Auston Matthews smiling for photo (right). Below, Fera’s Brampton home basement is dedicated to Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys, helmets, and gear.

Photos courtesy/Mark Fera

Walk for Reconciliation unites Humber

Laura Rodgers HumberETC News

It was an emotional speech for the Vice President of Inclusion and Belonging at Humber’s Walk for Reconciliation.

Jason Seright brought his grandson, Tariq Saddleback, on stage to share his personal connection of caring and respect to those gathered inside the Student Centre at North Campus on Sept. 25.

Seright said he hopes events like this can continue to grow and make his grandchildren feel proud to attend Humber. Saddleback said most of his family “hasn’t had the opportunity to go to post-secondary or even graduate most of the time.”

Statistics Canada said in a 2021 report that almost half of Indigenous adults held a post-secondary qualification at 49.2 per cent. It said this was 18.8 per cent lower than the data recorded for the non-Indigenous population at 68 per cent.

Seright said he was proud of him for knowing his culture, practices and language and that he was not deterred from doing it when he is at Humber.

“That resilience is what I see reflected in moments like this when we come together in solidarity,” Seright said.

He said the strength he carries with him is the strength of his ancestors.

“This walk is a shared step forward, a reminder of the responsibility each of us carries on the journey toward truth and healing,” Seright said. “And also, to see how beautiful everybody looks in orange.”

Humber marked its third annual Walk for Reconciliation with speeches, a shared meal, and a self-guided tour.

Due to the weather forecast of rain, the walk hosted by Ignite was held indoors at the Student Centre.

Seright said not to let the rain and clouds dampen the audience’s spirits.

“This is such a great turnout, and it really warms my heart to see so many orange shirts,” he said.

Dean of Equity and Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, Kimberly Daniels, said she appreciated hearing Seright’s speech.

She said it was a vulnerable position for him to be in as a senior leader, and she appreciated that he was willing to tell his story.

Student Advocate for the University of Guelph-Humber, Emily Edwards, a fourth-year student, started the speeches.

“Let us remember that acknowledging the land is not just a

statement, but a call to action,” Edwards said. “It is our responsibility to listen and learn and reflect on the stories that they continue to share with us.”

She said IGNITE provided maps for the self-guided walk at the entrance of the Student Centre.

Seright also thanked Ignite for organizing the walk.

The maps led the viewer to spots in the school with artwork made by Indigenous creators.

Works such as “The Success of Unity” by Philip Saunders, “Magic at the Arboretum” by Natalie Very B. and “Visions of Abundance” by Chief Lady Bird were exhibited.

Edwards said the lunch following the walk was for participants who had registered and received wristbands.

Participants were encouraged to stay, eat, and watch as videos of Indigenous speakers played on the screen.

The manager of Leadership and Advocacy, Kristine Galvan, said the first Walk for Reconciliation three years ago was the biggest turnout with 400 people. There were just under 200 participants at the event this year.

She said the smaller numbers could be affected by the OPSEU strike and virtual classes.

“I’m going to take liberties and blame it on the rain,” she added.

Galvan said Ignite wanted to commemorate its partnership with the Department of Indigenous Education and Engagement (IEE) through this event.

She said she wanted to “relieve them from having to commemorate the day and (to) have their partners do something for them because it would feel like that’s what shows allyship.”

The IEE said on its website that it is working to build the feeling of community by connecting people through Indigenous perspectives.

It includes information on how to receive truth and reconciliation training on its website. Galvan said everyone is encouraged to go to the IEE office and indulge in the learning opportunities Humber offers.

“You can learn about beading, you can learn about Red Dress Day,” she said.

Galvan also suggested checking out the library and the resources it offers, such as books written by Indigenous authors.

“Go read one,” she said. Galvan said a lot goes into the event, including research, strength in partnerships and thoughtfulness.

“The planning starts early into the summer, just so we know that we are doing it right and it’s not like: September we have thirty days, let’s do it,” she said.

“Know that you are cared for. Those aren’t just words from me, those are actions, and we follow that,” Seright said to the students.

“We are the stories that we tell and we are the voices we uplift,” Daniels said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney attended an event on Sept. 30 in Ottawa for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Announcing the country is advancing the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry for Missing and Murdered Women and Girls while implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act to build a stronger, fairer country.

“As a government and as a people, we match remembrance with responsibility,” he said. Carney said Ottawa will support Indigenous communities in uncovering unmarked and undocumented graves and burial sites at residential schools.

“Reconciliation is a generational task, lived and practiced every day,” he said.

“On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, we honour survivors and the children who never returned home, and we reflect on the devastating legacy and the ongoing impacts of the residential school system.“

Standing at the podium during the Walk for Reconciliation Vice President of Inclusion and Belonging at Humber Polytechnic Jason Seright introduces his grandson Tariq Saddleback

HUMBER ETC/ LAURA RODGER

Orange Shirt Day deserves reflection

Generational stories raise awareness of residential schools

Olivia Masztalerz HumberETC News

Tariq Saddleback is a Cree man from Maskwacis First Nation in Alberta who has organized events like the Truth and Reconciliation Walk held in the Student Centre at North Campus last week.

Saddleback said he believes the stories carried down through the generations should be acknowledged, and not just covered by the media on special commemorative days.

Generational stories are needed ‘’to spread awareness,’’ he said.

‘’A lot of the history, all the facts, and just the whole topic of residential schools, tried to be suppressed and covered up, so it’s not easy to find out information,’’ Saddleback said.

He was a part of this event as he was introduced to those gathered in the student centre by his grandfather, Jason Seright, Humber’s Vice-President of Inclusion and Belonging.

Saddleback said Canadians think residential schools existed a long time ago and are more of a historical topic.

The last residential school closed “six years before I was born, so everyone thinks residential school was a long time ago,’’ he said. “It’s one of those things that carries through generations, and all the trauma that was experienced gets

put onto their kids, so on and so forth.’’

The last federally-run residential school closed in the 1990s.

Saddleback said the topic of residential schools wasn’t acknowledged much in his personal experience, although it has more impact today.

’Years ago, reconciliation wasn’t even a thing and half of the people I’ve met probably had no clue what happened, might have heard of a residential school, but didn’t really mean much to them,’’ he said.

Saddleback said the stories have been passed down through generations and those stories still have a significant impact on Indigenous families.

‘’Well, there’s 158,000 children that were taken from their homes involuntarily. You didn’t have a choice if you got to go,’’ he said. “They’d come and take you from your house, your parents try to say no, and take you anyway, or they get thrown in jail for trying to stop you if you go in.’’

The power of Saddleback’s voice increased as he talked about the awful things that they did to children, and how the punishments “were beyond unjust.’’

“When you get there, they cut off your hair, shave your hair down so you weren’t allowed to have long hair,’’ he said. “Just a few of the things that I heard would be if you spoke your language, you usually get slapped on the hand with a ruler, slapped with a ruler in general.

Nina A. Kersnik Senior Reporter

Every year, on Sept. 30, Canadians come together to recognize National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

But for Angelina Bomberry, an Indigenous student in the Arts Administration and Cultural Management Graduate Certificate program, this day demands more than just recognition.

“To me, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day dedicated to reflecting on and addressing Canada’s history toward Indigenous peoples,” Bomberry said.

“I do not view this day as a holiday or a day off from work or school. This day should be used as a time of honouring residential school survivors, those who never made it home, and intergenerational survivors,” she said.

Originally from the Mohawk Nation and Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River Reservation, Bomberry said she uses this day to take care of her own mental health.

She also spends time with her family, since her father is a residential school survivor.

“Just the way that residential schools are, they’re built on one mission, which is to kill the Indian child,’’ he said.

Saddleback said ethnicity shouldn’t determine how a person is treated.

“That’s just wrong for any person, it doesn’t matter if it’s First Nation, or any other kind of ethnicity,’’ he said.

Saddleback encourages everyone to take part in events by talking to people, sharing and listening to stories, and reflecting on the truth and the power of the stories of Indigenous people.

He said the more the community openly acknowledges the truth about Canada’s Indigenous people, the more understanding and awareness will increase.

“The more we spread awareness of truth in reconciliation, the history of Canada’s Indigenous people, the more knowledge there will be. In a short time, since it’s become a big topic,’’ he said.

trauma using athletics.

“My dad is one of my biggest supporters,” Bomberry said. He’s only missed five [of my] games [in my] entire softball journey,” she said.

As a third-year pitcher for Humber softball, Bomberry said during Orange Shirt Day games in the past, the team wore shirts with logos designed by Indigenous artists. The Canadian anthem was also cut from the program.

She said they even invited residential school survivors out to watch their game and included a first pitch ceremony that was thrown by a survivor.

Last season, the team also beaded their own orange shirt pin to wear on their visors during the game.

Bomberry said the importance of beadwork was something she wanted the team to understand because it serves a deep connection to her heritage.

“These pins were created as a way for each teammate to carry a physical reminder of what they have learned,” she said.

Her father, currently in his early 60s, attended Mohawk Institute Residential School in Brantford, Ont., with his three sisters and brother at a young age.

“When I was younger, I never heard him talk about it ever,” Bomberry said.

“He kind of kept it to himself, I think, because he didn’t want to make me and my sister feel uncomfortable, or upset about his experience,” she said.

Bomberry said her father was also a Sixties Scoop survivor, who was placed within a Native home on the Six Nations reserve.

The Sixties Scoop was the extensive removal of about 20,000 Indigenous children from their families and communities, and then they would be placed into foster homes of mostly non-Indigenous, middle-class homes throughout Canada and the United States. The policy of child welfare authorities scooping children without consent from their families began in the 1950s and continued until the 1980s.

This was also where he and his brother were separated from his sisters. She described the home he was in as “very abusive.”

“It didn’t allow him to practice our own traditional beliefs, and rather follow the church, so he would also face trauma there as well,” Bomberry said.

Now, she said her father has been invited to schools to talk about his experience and how he has improved since that time.

Bomberry said he then went into the United States Marine Corps, where he learned to get through the

“So, every time they see their pin or hold their pin, they will be reminded not only of the lesson but also the connection between beadwork and our stories,” Bomberry said.

She also said that she would like more collaborations between the Athletics Department and the Indigenous Education and Engagement Centre.

“There has been some involvement like having an Indigenous designed jersey for the rugby team, and I would like to see every varsity team have one,” Bomberry said.

She said she would like Humber softball to continue these dedicated games, even when she leaves the program.

As for the Ontario Colleges Athletics Association involvement, Bomberry said they should hold Every Child Matters-themed or Orange Shirt Day games, during the whole month or on the 30th of September.

In terms of the learning aspect, she said there are numerous sources across the internet and books that people could use to better understand this day.

One of them is Humber Polytechnic’s Truth and Reconciliation cultural awareness training.

The training, known as the Four Seasons of Reconciliation, is delivered through Blackboard in a threehour online course and is divided into 10 modules.

It was made to help people learn about the history and current situation of Indigenous peoples.

“There is no excuse for not knowing,” Bomberry said. “There are so many other education resources out there for you to ‘not know’ and just be ignorant,” she said.

Third-year Humber softball pitchers Shade Hansen (left) and Angelina Bomberry (right) walking on the field

HUMBERETC/NINA A. KERSNIK

Tariq Saddeback.

HUMBERETC/ OLIVIA MASZTALERZ

It’s a struggle to make friends at Humber

Emma Randall HumberETC News

Some Humber students said it can be a struggle to connect with other students at the North campus, a commuter school that draws in thousands of students each year.

First-year Landscape Technician student Quinn Jeynes said they have found it difficult to make friends since the semester started.

“And we, none of us, have really talked much, I don’t think. Today was the first day we exchanged numbers, and we’ve been here for, like, a week and a half,” Jeynes said. Jeynes said their long commute makes it harder to interact with others and attend events or spend extra time on campus.

“It takes me a bit to get home, like, about an hour and 20-ish minutes. So, I’m more preoccupied with figuring out when I want to be home than actually, like, looking around and interacting with people,” they said.

Yaksh Patel, a second-year student in the Electrical Engineering program, said he feels isolated after many of his classmates switched to a shorter version of his program.

“Because I’m in a three-year program, and I have an option to make it, like, a two-year program.

So, all of my friends just left now,”

Patel said.

He said he feels nervous talking in large groups, so it’s harder for him to be more social in his program. He’s a team lead at his workplace, yet he feels the disconnect at Humber.

“It’s made me realize how

important it is to be more friendly and to be able to find friends more easily. Because you appreciate the time you had with your friends after they are not there anymore,” he said.

Digital Content Creator at Humber’s Health and Wellness Centre, Krysti Jaglal, said the centre

provides a place for students to connect and advises students to be patient, that friendships will happen.

“I think, especially with college and university, you don’t know everyone, and that, to me, is one of the scariest things on the planet, because, in elementary

school, middle school, and high school, you kind of know who you’re going to meet, even when you switch between grades,” she said.

“You have a big idea, like these are the people from schools all going here, and now, all of a sudden, you could be walking down the hall at Humber, and you’ll meet someone,” Jaglal said.

The Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It offers students opportunities to meet and engage. More information can be found on its Instagram site, SWC Humber.

Jagal said students struggling to find their place shouldn’t be afraid to share their personal interests.

“I would say don’t be afraid to share your personal interests, because sometimes when I want to talk to people, in my head, I just think that because what I like might not be the same as what other people are into, they’re gonna ice me out or think it’s weird,” she said.

“But no, find something that you’re passionate about and be like, ‘Hey, have you seen this show?’ And if they’re like, ‘No,” you can just be like, ‘Oh, really?’” Jagal said.

IGNITE, Humber services for students

Humber Polytechnic and IGNITE, Humber’s student union, have a variety of services available for the individual needs of every student on campus.

The sleep lounge is an example. It is above the student centre in KX204 and is open throughout the week from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

It is a service much appreciated during exam season by Desyack Morales, a third-year computer science student.

“I slept one time there because I pulled an all-nighter after my exam. My exam was at 8 and I just slept there for an hour. It was really nice and comfortable,” he said.

Komaljit Randhawa, a fourthyear kinesiology student, emphasized the lounge’s added convinience for students with long commutes.

“If you’re commuting and you have, like, I don’t know, four hours, five hours break in between, then yeah, like, an hour’s rest is better than nothing,” she said.

Morales said there’s a great advantage to having a sleep lounge

available at school, as many other schools don’t offer that option.

Morales said there’s a great advantage to having a sleep lounge available at school, as many other schools don’t offer that option.

“I think it’s something like none of the schools have, so having this is a big privilege that we should definitely use more because it’s very underused,” he said.

Deyn Rodrigues, the administrator for the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellness, said there are two clinics that offer services for the Humber community, one in A107 and another in C105.

health ... So, Humber does a great job of offering these services,” he said, adding it also helps Humber students in the program get their required hours.

Rodrigues described the variety

nutrition counselling.”

Along with acupuncture and cupping, there are other services, such as hearing specialists and free clinics for faculty, staff and students.

Rodrigues said it’s beneficial for students in the health and wellness program, and it gives the body a break from the consistency of schoolwork.

“It kind of moves you away from your day-to-day school regimen life by doing work. I think you should be prioritizing your

of treatments available for students.

“Massage therapy, traditional Chinese medicine,” he said. “In the winter semester, we offer fitness assessments, so students can get a baseline fitness assessment. We have a hearing clinic, as well as

He outlined the process for accessing massage therapy and what to expect.

“If you’re doing a massage, you’d book an initial assessment first … (then) you would do a treatment. The students in the program would give you a treatment plan to meet your goals, what you want worked on,” he said.

Rodrigues said students’ insurance could cover some costs of this service, which provides a discount for students.

“We offer it to students for $15 each treatment,” he said. “And for a traditional Chinese medicine, so they do acupuncture, cupping and other modalities, it is $25. How-

ever, $20 is covered by their student insurance.”

Marcy Skribe, a dental hygienist for Humber Dental located by the IGNITE office, said there are benefits to the office’s location being on the North campus, as there’s no need to leave the campus.

“I think that the biggest advantage is visibility in the sense that we have so many people come in and say, ‘You know what? I didn’t even think about having my teeth checked until I saw you guys when I was walking by,’” Skribe said.

Skribe said the service also offers information about oral health.

“Just a wide range of dental services that you would normally expect, such as cleaning, complete exams, X-rays, wisdom tooth extractions, root canals, fillings, whitening, sports mouth guards, night guards,” she said.

Skribe said it’s highly recommended and important for all students to use this service.

“Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware that the health of your mouth is directly linked to the health of the rest of your body,” she said. “Having a healthy mouth is really important.”

Students say Humber’s commuter culture makes it harder to socialize with peers everyday on campus.

ARTWORK/EMMA RANDALL

Olivia Masztalerz HumberETC News

IGNITE’s dental clinic at Humber North campus offers services.

HUMBER ETC/OLIVIA MASZTALERZ

Drag show returns to North campus

Students watch local drag queens perform their comedy routines, lip syncs.

Denny Luong Humber ETC News

IGNITE’s annual drag show returned with entertainment and inclusiveness at the Humber North campus’s Ignite Student Centre on Sept. 18.

This year’s edition featured three drag performers, including Guy Anabella and two who had previously appeared at Humber, Ivory Towers and Manny Dingo.

The show brought a mix of lipsync performances, comedy and audience participation, allowing students to lip-sync and dance along.

The first 20 early arrivals met and greeted the drag performers.

Emily Edward, the IGNITE Student Advocate for the University of GuelphHumber, said the event brought much energy to the Student Centre.

“It looked like people were participating and having fun, lots of people dancing in the crowd, which is always nice to look at,” she said.

While drag shows typically serve as a form of entertainment, Edward said events like this also showcase inclusivity and community.

“It’s good for inclusivity, and I think it’s good to showcase queer

excellence and joy,” she said. “Those are important things to showcase, and it’s a very important event for that reason.” Design Foundation student Daelynn Taylor was one of the few people who got the opportunity to dance along with Drag Queen Guy Anabella.

She felt surprised and embarrassed when Anabella asked her to dance alongside, she said.

Taylor said inclusivity was what made her attend the drag performance.

“A lot of queer spaces are very inviting, and I’m queer myself. I just wanted to go here and see a drag show, just because it’s so fun,” she said. “The environment is very inviting. I get to see, I get to meet new people. That’s the main reason I get to go here.”

Taylor said she hopes students who don’t feel represented should know that they belong and are loved.

“You are allowed to be here. You’re more than welcome. You belong. You are loved. Even when you’re anxious and you don’t feel like you want to be seen, you’re seen in a good way,” she said.

“There are people looking at you and looking up to you, even if you

don’t think that.”

Film and Television Production student Chloe Ciolli said drag gives everyone the chance to explore their selves in creative ways.

“It’s a beautiful way to express yourself, and I think drag is just really important because growing up, there are just sort of two paths you can take if you’re born a female or a male,” she said.

“Everything is so gendered and so stereotypical, and I feel that drag, especially since it’s become more popular nowadays, shows people that binaries can be broken,” Ciolli said.

Drag shows bring a message of self-acceptance and belonging as they remind students about their own identity.

Anabella told the crowd after her performance that Drag is more than just performance, but about discovering yourself.

“We’re all on our own journeys. We all take our time (and) however, we need to. There’s no pressure to be anywhere that you think other people tell you,” she said. “You take your time (to) figure yourself out. Just be true to yourself. Listen to your instinct and be who you are,” she said.

Drag Queen Manny Dingo performs her dynamic dance movements at the center of the stage in front of the crowd at the Humber North campus Ignite Student Centre on Sept. 18 .

HUMBERETC/EMMA RANDALL

Guy Anabella

Blue Jays batters took them from worst to first

Marco Moretto

Toronto Blue Jays fans finally have an October to look forward to after clinching the AL East last Sunday following a resounding win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

The first-seeded Jays have a bye for the first round after just edging out the Yankees in the race for the top. Securing a bye is important for getting rest and getting key players, including injured shortstop Bo Bichette, healthy..

But the season is about more than clinching the top spot in the East. The Toronto Blue Jays went from worst to first, and the most significant reason for this surge is their offence.

Toronto fans had been bracing for another summer of mediocre play after the Jays finished in the

bottom half of most offensive stats last season. And the team’s explosive turnaround has fans now filled with joyful anticipation.

The Jays developed one of the most dangerous offences in the league, leading the MLB in total hits at 1,461. They also lead in the team batting average with a .265. Despite his knee injury, Bichette finished second in the league in hits with 181.

The team also improved in on-base plus slugging (OBS), rising to number three in 2025 from number 18 in 2024. There was also a major jump in slugging percentage, to .427 from .389 in 2024. Also, the Jays are first in on-base percentage with a .333 after having a .313 in 2024.

The Jays jumped to 191 this year from 156 home runs in 2024. They also made a major leap in runs batted in, rising to 771 from 640. They also have seen a small increase in stolen bases, 77 from 72.

The big boost in offensive stats in just a year has come from a large increase in weighted on-base average (wOBA). The Toronto Blue Jays saw the largest increase in wOBA in the MLB, and it is thanks to players who have stepped up like Bichette, George Springer, Addison Barger, Alejandro Kirk, and Dalton

Varsho, who all went over a .300 wOBA while finishing under .300 last season.

The bottom of the batting order also stepped up to the plate in the drive to clinch first. Names like Ernie Clement, Davis Schneider, Joey Loperfido and Nathan Lukes provided slugging prowess during the season.

But Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can’t be left out of this tale of redemption. It was a good sign when Jays President Mark Shapiro and General Manager Ross Atkins secured his 14-year $500-million contract, showing

they were committed to contending in one of the hardest divisions in the MLB.

Vladdy is having another great season, and this stellar offence has helped hide some of the team’s flaws – especially pitching – going into the postseason. The Jays’ pitching is going to finish the season in the bottom half in earned runs averaged with a 4.19, but they have to step up when it matters most in October

The last time the Jays won the AL East was in 2015.

The last three times the Jays made the postseason, they all resulted in

the same way: a first-round exit. This year, things can be different if they can come in healthy and keep firing on all cylinders, so they can make up for their sloppy work on the pitching mound.

The Jays now await the winner of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees series.

Going from worst to first is impressive, and now, the Jays need to keep those bats hot when it matters most.

Marco Moretto, he/him is a Humber Et Cetera news reporter.

He covers sports and news.

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Blue Jays’ Nathan Lukes (38) is doused by teammates after beating the Tampa Bay Rays in Toronto on Sept. 26.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/CHRIS YOUNG

Men’s rugby squeeze by Georgian 22-19

3-0 Hawks tie for first in conference with Durham Lords by midseason

Joseph Zago HumberETC Reporter

The Hawks men’s rugby team secured their third straight win, beating the Georgian Grizzlies 22-19 in a back-and-forth match on Sept. 27.

Humber narrowly gained the victory thanks to winger Cooper Markou’s late 79th-minute try.

Markou later earned the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association and Humber athlete of the week awards on Sept. 29.

Both Humber and Georgian were undefeated going into the match.

Head Coach Fabian Rayne said he considered Georgian’s strength when he talked tactics with the Hawks prior to the game.

“Their forwards are very strong, we’re aware of that. We’re probably

not as big as they are, so we’ll have to play to our strengths,” he said.

Although the Georgian Grizzlies had Reilly Kirk, the 2024 player of the year, Humber etched over the try line with a few hard-fought rucks for their opening points.

The game-winning try was an open dart down the right flank.

Second-year fly half Joshua Dunbar, known as “Debo,” pulled through in his last conversion after missing the first three.

Dunbar is second overall for conversions in the league with a total of six and leads the team in points.

Among the other players on the score sheet were scrum Matt Gianfriddo and winger Reuben Hill with one try each.

“We’re willing to put our bodies on the line for each other, and

we’re going to do it for the rest of the season and get that gold again,” Gianfriddo said.

The Humber team consists of 37 per cent first-year athletes.

Rayne, said the team is looking to have its first year defend the gold title while also building toward the future.

“We’re really big on terms of making sure we have a good, strong foundation, and we’re trying to win in the immediate, but we’re also trying to prepare for the future at the same time,” he said.

Second-year athlete, Harry Lutumba Mpongo, said the players’ talk prior to the game gave them the energy to perform well.

“The (speech) of the day was, we have to fight. So, we fought and

we won,” he said.

Winning is in Humber’s blood, the varsity team hopes to build accomplished young men, Rayne said.

Last season’s gold medal marks the first since their suspension from the OCAA for violations of the Varsity Code of Expectations in 2015.

The team has been on a steady medal climb since the end of the suspension, winning the bronze in 2019-20, silver in 2023-24 and then last season’s gold.

Rayne is responsible for four of the seven golds in Humber’s OCAA history. He also holds a 74 per cent winning percentage throughout his career.

The Hawks hired two first-year assistant coaches, Prince Ndukwe and Seth Kirkham, who were

brought up to the coaching staff from being “star” athletes in prior seasons, Rayne said.

“They understand what we’re trying to do as a team, and they’re basically bringing their fresh perspective to what we’ve been doing,” he said.

According to the OCAA, Humber and Durham are the only teams in the conference to hold a 3-0 record at the midway point.

Gianfriddo previously played for the Lords before joining Humber.

“That’s going to be the most exciting game for me,” Gianfriddo said. “I picked the right team.”

The Hawks face off against Durham on Oct. 18 in Oshawa.

The Hawks’ next match is against the Conestoga Condors on Oct. 4 at 12 p.m.

Humber men’s rugby’s third-year scrum Isaac St. Louis making a run down the flank with the ball in hand during their midseason match against the Georgian Grizzlies on Sept. 27.

HUMBERETC/JOSEPH ZAGO

Humber men goes 8 games undefeated

Humber Hawks score a 5-goal frenzy against Royals

Sean Moniz HumberETC Sports

The Hawks’ men’s soccer team remained undefeated this season with a dominant 5-1 win over the Redeemer Royals on Oct. 1. Still the number 1-ranked team in the country, the Hawks are also undefeated at home this season, with a record of 4-0.

This win now has them on an eight-game winning streak, equalling the regular-season streak set by Humber last year, and leaves Redeemer in seventh place in the Western Conference with a record of 0-3-4.

The Hawks have now beaten the Royals in seven straight games, dating back to the 20192020 season.

Head coach Jason Mesa said the team’s morale is at a high right now, with the players having confidence in each other.

“When you’re winning games, it’s a good feeling to have, for sure,” Mesa said.

The first-year coach said the week-long break after a game against Mohawk has helped the players recover from the early schedule workload, where the squad was rotated. “We do have a lot of depth, a lot of talent on

the team, so it’s about giving some players some opportunities as well, too,” he said.

Through the first 20 minutes of the game, Humber and Redeemer were figuring out how to exploit the other to find a golden chance to put momentum in their direction.

After the Royals hit the post in the 21st minute, it was Humber that took the momentum and proceeded to never give it back for the rest of the game.

A right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner from midfielder Franz Mella kickstarted the onslaught for the Hawks

after he took a solo run from just outside the box to make it 1-0 Humber inside twenty-six minutes.

This goal was a sign for Mella that luck was on his side for this game, unlike the game against Mohawk, where he hid the woodwork three times.

“The mentality we had coming into this game, knowing that we’re the best team in Canada, just made us fly through the first half,” Mella said.

In the blink of an eye, Humber made it 2-0, after a cross from third-year midfielder Tariq Joseph found second-year forward Marcus Riviere, who calmly put the ball past Redeemer goalkeeper Sam Barnhoorn, for his third of the season.

Soon after, Riviere had his fourth of the season in the 35th minute after a fluid passage of play between first-year’s Allister Johnson and Tyler Yasaka.

Yasaka flicked the ball through to Riviere with his right heel, and he proceeded to smash the ball into the roof of the net to give the Hawks a 3-0 lead inside 40 minutes.

Riviere said he was happy with how he played and his efficiency with the chances he was given.

“I think I could have got a bit more, but two is alright,” he said.

To end the half, Humber added another goal for good measure when third-year midfielder Matias Lescano put a corner into the box and as Redeemer defender Joshua Freire was attempting to clear the ball, it ended up in the back of his own net.

The second half started with Redeemer controlling possession in an attempt to get something to go their way, but in the 56th minute, the Hawks made it a handful of goals as fourth-year defender Isaiah Noel got on the score sheet.

The game became stagnant for the rest of the match, with both teams battling in the midfield.

Redeemer added a goal of their own in the 75th minute, courtesy of forward Ethan Smith.

This was only the third time the Hawks conceded all season, and their first in six games, breaking their clean sheet streak.

Riviere and Mella said the team lost focus being up five goals and will fix any “miscommunication” they might’ve had on defence.

“Hopefully, the rest of the season, we don’t concede any more goals,” Riviere said.

Humber will rematch against the Conestoga Condors on Oct. 8. Humber won the away leg 1-0. Kickoff is at 3 p.m.

Marcus Riviere attempts a left-footed shot on goal against two opposition defenders. The forward finished with an impressive brace in a dominant 5-1 win against Redeemer College.

HUMBERETC/LUIS

Humber’s left wing-back Luca Pinto takes on Timo Sladakovic on a one-on-one opportunity but got denied.

HUMBERETC/LUIS MIGUEL DE CASTRO

Women’s soccer continues shaky start

The Hawks women’s team went down by one at home just after halftime and could not bounce back against the Redeemer Royals on Oct.1.

A 47th-minute goal was all that divided these two teams.

Humber entered the matchup in second place and came out third in the Western Conference.

Redeemer is now fourth in the conference with a game in hand.

The first half of the game was even on paper, with both teams having similar times on attack, shots and corners.

Hawks defender Doreen Anane-Bediakoh said Humber didn’t start the second half well, which set the tone for the remainder of the match.

“Off the kickoff, I feel like we were kind of on the back foot instead of being on the front foot of things,” she said.

Humber was put on the defensive after halftime.

Redeemer had nine shots in the second half, compared to Humber’s four.

The Hawks kept a level head and tried to improve with the next play despite the tension, Anane-Bediakoh said.

The mass of time Humber spent in their defensive zone resulted in a goal-line clearance that roused the crowd.

Still, the away fans out-chanted the Humber faithful shortly after the game-winning goal was scored until the final whistle.

Head coach Jose Caro said the team defended well but needed to score a goal.

“You can defend as much as you can, but you got to put one in the back of the net to make sure that the nerves and the tension is a little bit less intense,” he said.

Caro said the team did not make the most out of their scoring opportunities, which cost them the match.

“It was just a few times in the final third, we couldn’t capitalize on our chances. And when you wave that open for other teams to exploit, that’s typically what happens,” he said.

Humber took mostly long shots in the second half, having difficulty breaking through the Royals’ defence.

Caro said the team needed more resilience after conceding the first goal.

“I think in the first half we looked much sharper, as the game went on and on…that’s when we started to die out,” he said.

Caro said he appreciates the losses coming now rather than playoffs, which gives his young team time to learn from their experiences.

Four of the girls who started the match are straight out of high school, he said.

Ten of the 22 players on the roster are first-year students.

Humber has been ranked sixth across both conferences in the OCAA for the past two weeks.

Caro said this season’s record of 4-2-2 is better than last season’s start of four straight losses.

However, they did win the silver medal that season in the OCAA.

Both forwards, Audrey Benjamins from Redeemer and Chantel Spalla of Humber, got yellow cards during the game.

There are two more matches in the round robin before the seeding is determined, and the

playoffs begin.

Both coach and players said they hope to put this loss behind them, learn from their shortcomings and finish the season strong.

“(Hopefully) we kind of have a little more grit, more effort and intensity moving forward,” Anane-Bediakoh said.

The team prepares for their second-to-last match of the season against Conestoga on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Joseph Zago

HumberETC Sports

Hawks attacking winger Olivia Di Cesare challenges for the ball against Redeemer Royals midfielder Audrey Benjamins. The Hawks fell short to the Royals after 90 minutes, losing 1-0.

HUMBERETC/LUIS MIGUEL DE CASTRO

Mikayla Orrico dribbles past Kendra Sieders as she looks to create an attacking opportunity for her team.

HUMBERETC/LUIS MIGUEL DE CASTRO

FLAWLESS HALF GETS WIN

18

MEN’S RUGBY GET THE LAST WORD IN A HEADTO-HEAD MATCH

P. 17

HAWKS WOMEN’S SOCCER LOSE 1-0 TO IN-FORM REDEEMER SIDE P. 19