HUMBER ET CETERA HUMBER’S AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER
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OCTOBER 9, 2026 | VOL.72, NO.2
ONE COMMUNITY TRAVELER SHOWS ART AT NUIT BLANCHE P. 2
DEBATE STIRS LONG LIST OF CONCERNS P. 5
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2 - NEWS
OCT 9, 2026
HUMBER ET CETERA Humber Et Cetera is the Humber Polytechnic journalism program laboratory newspaper. It is created by journalism students in the Advanced Diploma and Post Graduate programs. Et Cetera serves to inform the Humber community and give its readers well-rounded coverage on the things that matter to them. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Laura Rodgers NEWS Joseph Zago CULTURE Giovanna Apelabi FEATURES Olivia Masztalerz HUMBERETC/ KATELYN PIERRE
Nile X showcases a handcrafted wire basket attached to his bicycle. It holds his collection of Trader Joe’s reusable bags, this is his fifth Nuit Blanche.
Nuit Blanche’s artist on wheels Katelyn Pierre HumberETCNews
Under the lights of Nuit Blanche, artist Nile X prepared his paints and shared a story that stretches from Toronto’s streets to the California coast. Nile said the all-night celebration of contemporary art is more than a chance to display his work. It is a chance to bring his art directly to people who might never encounter it otherwise. On a small pedestrian landing at the intersection of Bay and Queen Street, Nile’s table sat among the crowds It turned his corner of Nuit Blanche into a temporary studio. He said he adopted X as his last name. “X is my artist name,” he said. “It’s currently a form of rejection of holding any other last names.” As a Material Art and Design student at OCAD University, Nile said he spent the past eight years developing a practice that grew from oil painting into textiles and wearable
art. Nile created a set of pillowcases in the Material Art & Design studios at the university using screen printing. From the first pour to the final stitch, he said he found ways to bring his design to life. “I dyed it, I screened it, printed it and I sewed it together. Everything. That’s something you can do at OCAD,” he said. As Toronto transformed into a citywide gallery for Nuit Blanche’s 20th anniversary this weekend. “It’s the only night in the city where people’s intention is art and people actively look for art,” he said. Without gallery representation, Nile said outdoor events like this allow him to put his work directly in front of people and connect with them one conversation at a time. Nile shared the stories behind his artwork, much of which has traveled with him across eight U.S. states He is now planning his most ambitious ride yet, a bike ride from Toronto to California.
His road to becoming an artist did not begin in a gallery or studio. Eight years ago, he came across inexpensive acrylic paints and canvases at a local dollar store and decided to try painting. His first painting was a sunset. That same year, he and his family had immigrated to Canada from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Nile began spending his summers painting and selling his artwork publicly in what was once known as Yonge-Dundas Square. Nile was already learning through experience at age 12. He found new ways to develop his skills and discover how art could connect him with the people around him. Long before studying Material Art and Design, the streets of Toronto became part of his artistic education. Nile said art has meant continuing to learn rather than waiting until he feels finished. “As an artist, you’re always evolving and changing,” Nile said.
“That’s how it should be.” He also emphasizes drawing as the foundation. It is a way to train the eye to understand composition, proportion and what is in front of you. He said this philosophy follows him beyond his canvas and onto the road. “Draw, draw, draw. Drawing is very important,” he said. On his previous rides through the United States, Nile said he painted along the way and brought the work back to Canada. He said he illustrates all he encounters, turning the journey itself into part of his artistic practice. Each trip creates another collection of places, people and moments depicted in his artwork. “It’s a slower pace, and you get to take it in,” he said. he said the route he has envisioned would take him from Toronto through the northeastern and central United States before crossing the Southwest and reaching California. Nile said he anticipates stopping along the way
to experience the communities he passes through, continuing a tradition he has developed on his travels. He has been collecting Trader Joe’s reusable state bags with hopes of gathering all 51. Now, he is looking into ways to fund the trip while working toward getting a new bicycle suitable for the journey. For an artist who began with a few inexpensive paints, his next trip will be another extension of the same ideas. Create first, learn along the way and keep moving. “You just keep creating. Keep innovating. Keep thinking: how can I improve, develop? Build upon that,” Nile said. Those practices come together in the different paths Nile is pursuing. He is an artist selling creations, a student developing his craft and a cyclist planning a journey across a continent. At Nuit Blanche, all three were visible at once.
SPORTS Madison Boynton Scott Blain OP-ED Mia Badju FACULTY ADVISER Rob Lamberti JOURNALISM TECHNICIANS Gabrielle Austin Aasim Manji FRONT PAGE PHOTO
Olivia Masztalerz
BACK PAGE PHOTO Peter Bhagoutie
@HUMBERONLINE
JOURNALISM@ HUMBER.CA HUMBERETC.CA ©2026 All rights reserved Humber Et Cetera is a publication of the Faculty of Media, Creative Arts. and Design at Humber Polytechnic 205 Humber College Blvd., Etobicoke, ON, M9W 5L7 Contact:
HUMBERETC/ KATELYN PIERRE
Artwork of New York City by Nile X
Lara.King@Humber.ca
ETC
OCT 9, 2026
NEWS - 3
Reconciliation ‘a day of mourning’ Katelyn Pierre HumberETCNews
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n the orange-filled courtyard, second-year student Daniel Esquega spoke his truth about what this day means to him as a man from Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (Gull Bay First Nation.) “It’s a day of mourning,” he said. “(It) definitely resonates with a lot of our elders and all our close relatives that had to endure that,” Esquega said. Sept. 30, the day now officially recognized as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, began in 2013 as the Orange Shirt Day movement. It started from the story of one residential school survivor. Northern Secwepemc author and activist Phyllis Webstad was six years old when she was forced to leave her home in the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation in British Columbia to attend St. Joseph Mission Residential school. Orange became a colour associated with the silencing of her expression for Webstad. She arrived on her first day at the school in an orange shirt she had picked out with her grandmother. Webstad created Orange Shirt Day in 2013 to reclaim what was once taken from her and every child forced to attend residential school. Call to Action 80 brought forth the federal government’s establishment of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and officially recognized it as a federal holiday in 2021. Second-year Humber student Samuel Ogunshona recalled what
he could remember about Webstad’s movement. “Orange [shirt] day was for a kid that got kept somewhere or something like that,” Ogunshona said. “I heard about the story a long time ago.” In response to National Day of Truth and Reconciliation some students at Humber have trouble explaining the history behind the land acknowledgement on every course outline. When asked about the meaning of the land acknowledgements, third-year student Daniel Bastidas could connect it to the Orange Shirt Day movement. “It has something to do with the Natives,” Bastidas said. Esquega said the orange shirts allow everyone to share and feel the same kind of pain. “It’s kind of like the definition of an emotion,” he said. In response to the misunderstanding among some students, Esquega said “It can be very intimidating. I know so because I felt that way towards other people’s cultures. I just say don’t be afraid, there’s a lot to learn because I think a lot of people could use this knowledge.” The Ontario Ambassador for the Orange Shirt Society and Webstad’s cousin Sheena Merling said as a proud Anishinaabe-Haudenosaunee woman it’s important to her that people personalize land acknowledgements, instead of just reciting them. “I want people to make it their own,” Merling said. “Don’t read off of a piece of paper. Speak from your heart. Your truth is all you have
.Without truth, there’s no reconciliation.” Merling said it’s important to honour Indigenous truth and reconciliation in the 364 days that surround National Truth and Reconciliation Day. While there is a lack of awareness and misunderstanding among some students, college educators are working on making changes to deepen the conversations and improve knowledge of Canada’s Indigenous history. Humber Polytechnic is built on land belonging to the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. The Humber River watershed was a connection for three different First Nations, the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat. umber professor of Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Perspectives on Music, Film, and Media Heather Watts spoke about the educator’s role in changing Canada’s future. “Think about the people who have to implement that, who have to be the teachers of those things if they have a poor education in Indigenous ways of knowing or history, but now you’re expecting them to rise to the occasion,” she said. Watts said it’s important to peel back the layers of misinformation and to understand change can only happen so quickly. “I’m at OISE [Ontario Institute for Studies in Education] as a doctoral student, and I can hear the conversations that people are having in teacher education programs,” Watts said. “They’re talking about these things. In the next two to three
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years, those will be people who are teaching this next generation.” Indigenous Curriculum Specialist, Aaron Sykes, who is part Indigenous Education and Engagement(IEE) at Humber said there has been a lot of focus on incorporating Indigenous education in a variety of programs. “We are working to ensure that graduates of every program will have some sort of Indigenous content where it makes sense and is appropriate in that program,” he said. Indigenous Education and Engagement has already begun implementing new pathways of educating both students and faculty through the Indigenous Education Plan, training workshops, and developing courses across all three Humber campuses. Humber will see two new courses for faculty, the Land as First Teacher, an asynchronous online course and Indigenous Foundations. Skyes said it is another stride in increasing educators’ knowledge of Indigenous history, educational practices, pedagogies and impacts in the different Humber programs. This year, as a part of Indigenous Education Month, all students and faculty can attend workshops on cultural teachings at the annual Indigenous Knowledges Gathering from Nov. 18 to 20. Its hosted by the IEE department. Maya Amparo Correia, a firstyear early childhood education student, said it is important to recognize Indigenous people were here first. “It means that we’re recognizing that this isn’t our land,” Amparo Correia said.
HUMBERETC/ SAM CASTILLO
Students, faculty, and community members walk to the Indigenous Medicine Garden in the Arboretum at North campus for the Walk for Reconciliation.
HUMBER SPOTLIGHT •
COURTESY/ AMBREKA DUNCAN-WILLIAMS
Humber open house changed Ambreka Duncan-Williams’ course.
Fashion program opens doors Second-year Bachelor of Commerce Fashion Management student Ambreka Duncan-Williams did not originally plan to go straight into post-secondary education. That changed after she attended an open house at Humber Polytechnic to learn more about available programs. She said her program has given her opportunities to connect fashion with other areas of study. During Humber’s involvement with the FIFA World Cup, Duncan-Williams worked on promotional projects for watch parties. “We had the task of creating posters that promoted the watch parties,” she said. “This window brought fashion and soccer together. For the display, students dressed mannequins incorporating interactive elements, including a camera connected to a television. “People could walk by and try on jerseys of each of the teams playing,” she said. Duncan-Williams has developed skills in media, marketing and branding through the program. Another highlight for her was the Humber Fashion History Exhibit. Duncan-Williams chose the theme of hand-me-downs and displayed a leather jacket with personal significance because it belonged to her mother. She said one of her biggest challenges has been figuring out which areas of fashion management she wants to focus on. Her approach has been to remain open to opportunities. “Always research things you are interested in; never say no to an opportunity even if it doesn’t really align with what you think you like to do,” she said. This report is by Mia Badju Op/Ed Editor
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4 - NEWS
OCT 9, 2026
Mississauga mayor’s race heats up Polling shows candidates are level as election nears
Andrzej Wisniewski HumberETCReporter
The race for the mayor’s chair in Mississauga is a heated battle between incumbent Carolyn Parrish and former mayor Bonnie Crombie. The second debate between the four top mayoral candidates was held last week on Thursday, Oct. 1 at the distribution centre for Food Banks Mississauga. The debate saw sparks fly between Parrish and Crombie. “We changed your archaic rules into ones that work,” Parrish said in her opening remarks. Crombie responded, “With respect, those plans were started long before while you were a councillor.” After the debate, polls counted by Mainstream Research, one of Canada’s top public opinion and market research firms, had Crombie leading with 30.4 per cent, Parrish second at 27.6 per cent, Tedjo with 20.5 per cent, and Damerla having 10.4 per cent. Twenty-six per cent of voters still sit undecided. There are 14 candidates running for mayor,
Former mayor Bonnie Crombie
although recent polling has shown Crombie and Parrish receiving the most support. The leading candidates under Parrish and Crombie are Ward 7 Coun. Dipika Damerla and Ward 2 Coun. Alvin Tedjo, who have also campaigned on issues including affordability, housing, transit and municipal spending. Parrish became mayor in June 2024, winning a by-election triggered when Crombie’s resigned after nearly a decade in office to pursue the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party. After failing to win a seat in the provincial legislature, Crombie returned to municipal politics and registered as a candidate for mayor in July 2026. Both Parrish and Crombie have big plans for Mississauga in terms of ensuring neighbourhood safety, easier transportation, and lower taxation. More specifically, Parrish plans to focus on the split of the budget for the Peel Regional Police. “We pay 62 per cent of a joint police force with Brampton; they pay 38.” Parrish said in an interview with Humber ETC, “This year alone, we sub-
sidized Brampton taxpayers $16 million, and over the last five years, we’ve subsidized them $399 million.” Parrish highlighted that she is working very hard with Premier Doug Ford to rejig the split, so it is not based on property values but on population instead. Parrish also said on what role Mississauga should play in regional planning across the GTA, saying Mississauga already plays a strong role in regional planning across the GTA, and how Brampton and Caledon need to have roles of their own. “We did a housing task force after I was elected with 25 of our top developers and builders, and they came up with a whole series of suggestions for our planning department to make things work more smoothly and quickly. So, we’re doing what we can do for Mississauga, less concerned about regional planning.” Crombie became mayor after winning the 2014 municipal election. She ran to replace long-serving mayor Hazel McCallion, who stepped down after 36 years in office. Crombie said she plans to
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handle property taxes and the cost of living differently than the current Council of Mississauga. “I feel that my property tax increases always are in and around the rate of inflation or lower. So, for instance, my [tax] average over nine years on the city portion was 1.7 per cent,” she said in an interview with Humber ETC. “So, the combined rate on average over nine years with the region of Peel was 3.4 per cent.” Crombie said she thinks that the current council has made property taxes unaffordable, with people leaving the city and potentially losing their homes. Especially with senior pensions, as their tax increase last year was 10 per cent, and this year’s was 7.5 per cent. Crombie also spoke about the LRT route on Hurontario Street from Brampton to Mississauga, in an interview with Humber ETC, saying it will hopefully open before 2028. The LRT will get people out of their cars and moving north-south to Brampton. She also brings up her idea of expanding Line 2 in Toronto
Incumbent Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish
to Mississauga. “It will take a period of time to build the business case, do the engineering studies, present them to the prime minister, and then the line would have to be expanded to Sherway Gardens first,” she said. “I know that that has been given consideration for a number of years, but then again we would just keep going; I’m hoping within the decades something like that could be realized.” Affordability, housing and property taxes are among the few major issues facing voters. Parrish has said she opposed a municipal tax freeze suggested by fellow candidate Tedjo, while Crombie has said she would keep potential tax increases at or below inflation. Both candidates have also offered different approaches to transportation, including proposals involving MiWay, GO Transit and the potential extension of the TTC’s Line 2 into Mississauga, but one will take up the responsibilities after Oct. 26. Advance voting is from Tuesday, Oct. 6 to Sunday Oct. 11. Election day is Monday, Oct. 26.
COURTESY/CAROLYN PARRISH
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OCT 9, 2026
NEWS - 5
HUMBERETC/MARIE PASCUAL
An audience member gives a thumbs-down gesture during the Scarborough mayoral debate at UTSC on Oct. 7, 2026. Voters listened to the two candidates as they prepare to vote on Oct. 26.
Mayoral debate on transit, safety, affordability Marie Pascual
HumberETCReporter
HUMBERETC/MARIE PASCUAL
“Mayor, how was your commute here tonight?” Brad Bradford asked Olivia Chow near the start of Wednesday’s Scarborough mayoral debate. CityNews moderator Cynthia Mulligan had a traffic story of her own. “My partner was supposed to be here, but because of traffic, he can’t make it,” she said. Congestion and transit became recurring points of conflict between Chow and Bradford during the debate at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Wednesday’s debate was co-hosted by CityNews and the Scarborough Community Renewal Organization (SCRO), with questions drawn from submissions by Scarborough residents. Chris Alexander withdrew from the race the day before, leaving Chow and Bradford alone on stage. The debate was also moved to 5 p.m. from 6 p.m. with two days’ notice. SCRO president Larry Whatmore said about 600 people registered and roughly 350 attended. A recent Mainstreet survey found Chow with 38.1 per cent support while Bradford has 32.2 per cent support. Alexander had about 7.2 per cent support among the 1,000 Toronto respondents 18 and older that were surveyed on Sept. 28 and 29. During a rapid-fire round, both were asked whether they rode public transit at least eight times a month. “I used to, but I can’t anymore because I’m mayor,” Chow said. Bradford answered yes, adding that he had ridden transit eight times that week. Bradford later argued that safety and reliability were keeping riders away. “Families are not riding transit because it’s not safe,” he said. Chow said the city had hired more than 400 front-line safety workers on the TTC, including police, security and mental health workers. The 2026 budget provides funds for 420 such positions.
Both candidates in the Oct. 26 election also promised to advance the Scarborough East Rapid Transit line. Bradford called it his “number 1 priority” and pledged to have shovels in the ground by the end of his first term. Chow said Toronto would set aside about $380 million for SERT by year’s end. In an April letter to the executive committee, she put the figure at $377.9 million. City council has designated SERT as its top transit expansion priority. The project does not yet have provincial or federal funding commitments. Council has asked Ottawa and Queen’s Park to each cover onethird of construction costs. Linda Sawka, 79, of Agincourt, said before the debate that affordability and policing were the two issues she most wanted the candidates to address. The candidates’ disagreement on affordability centred on taxes, city spending and school food programs. Bradford criticized property tax increases under Chow and promised a freeze in his first year. “I proposed a property tax freeze, because 20 per cent over the past three years is not sustainable,” Bradford said. Chow pointed to TTC fare relief, housing and expanded student nutrition programs as ways to lower household costs. When Bradford questioned how she would pay for her proposed expansion of school lunches, Chow responded, “It’s called leadership.” She said an expanded lunch program could draw on federal and provincial support, contributions from parents who can afford them and private donations. Bradford also called for an outside line-by-line review of the city budget, while Chow argued city hall already reviews spending internally. Affordability was only one of Sawka’s concerns. She also came wanting to hear what the candidates would do about policing. Bradford pledged to hire 1,000 additional officers and argued Toronto does not have enough police for its population. Chow emphasized neighbourhood officers, youth programs and other pre-
ventive measures while pointing to a decline in shootings and firearm discharges. Sawka, who said before the debate that she had already decided to vote for Chow, opposed Bradford’s approach. “I do not want to live in a police state,” she said. “We need community centres, we need support for youth, we want better support in schools.” Bradford repeatedly pressed Chow on why she chose not to sit on the Toronto Police Service Board. “Why did you choose not to sit on the police board if public safety is so important to you?” he asked. Chow said she took office through a by-election and emphasized collaboration between police and community groups. However, Chow did not directly explain why she declined the board seat. Ontario law allows a mayor to decline the seat, in which case another council member can be appointed. Earlier in the discussion, Chow argued community relationships and prevention were central to reducing crime. “That is how you solve it, by preventing the crime from taking place in the first place,” she said. Jobs and economic opportunity were another concern residents brought into the room. Shevonne Chin, commuting from Markham Road and Sheppard Avenue, said before the debate she wanted to hear more about youth unemployment, entrepreneurship and infrastructure as Scarborough grows. “The cure for unemployment is entrepreneurship,” Chin said. On stage, Bradford proposed a target of 15,000 new jobs for young people through partnerships with private employers. Chow said the city should focus on bringing more jobs closer to where Scarborough residents live. But after the debate, Chin said the two-person format still left something missing. “I wish there was a third person on the stage to give a more complex landscape,” she said.
HUMBERETC/MARIE PASCUAL
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Students prepare to v 6 - NEWS
Humber students weighed in this week on the upcoming municipal election and the issues that provoke them to go to the polls. Voters cast the ballots on Oct. 26 to choose new mayors, councillors and school board trustees.
Ash Mathias, 19, a second-year Game Programming student, said admits he’s not as informed about the candidates as they should be, but intends on researching them before casting a ballot. “I care who is governing me and my family and I don’t want a conservative leader because I care about rights for queer people and POC,” Mathias said. Mathias said issues that affect them or their family include school funding and health care for trans people. “For me personally, I think that keeping public parks and libraries clean and up to date with newer books and materials,” Mathias said. “What matters to me is the transit and grocery prices, because they arekind of high at the moment and they keep going up.” Matthew Hubbs, 20, a Carpentry and Renovation Tech student, says he agrees with Mathias’s importance on transit and has a strong sense on how the city’s transit should perform. “I have strong opinions about how I’d like the city to be run and how I’d like it to function. I have certain preferences, especially with regard to transit, and I think I’d vote for the right people who can make the transit that I like possible,” he said. “When a lot of the construction or project ideas are related to expanding lanes and building wider roads, it really gets on my nerves. Being stuck on a TTC delay is like the worst thing possible,” he said. “I’m really hoping that whoever we vote for would be able to make transit, or just moving around, a lot more accessible and free for us to do,” he said. Second-year Photography student Jaden McGann says he intends to vote in the Toronto election. “Because I want change (to) happen in Toronto, more with the transit, more than anything,” McGann said. “What matters to me is the transit and grocery prices, because they are kind of high at the moment and they keep going up.”
Ethan MacDaid, 19, of Mississauga, a third-year Films and
OCT 9, 2026
Television Production student says he hasn’t thought about the election yet. He says an issue that he can immediately think of involves jobs. “Like anything that will get more jobs out there,” MacDaid says.
Third year Bachelor of Science and Nursing student, Lily Jordan, 20, says she hopes her vote will spark change in Mississauga. She says she hopes student loans lower in the wake of the OSAP changes. “I think what everybody’s concerned of is the cost of living right now, I hope the cost of living to decrease,” she said. She said the next mayor needs to prioritize the people of Mississauga. “The cost of living, gas prices and just making life more affordable, all in all,” she said.
Steve Vettese, a 36-year-old Electronics Engineering student in his second year says Incumbent Olivia Chow inherited a bad situation from predecessors John Tory and Rob Ford. “What matters to me is that she gets more of a chance to do what she’s been doing,” he said. He says the expanding downtown airport allowing jets to land near his home is his biggest voting criteria this election. “It sounds like that fight probably isn’t over,” Vettese said. “It would increase traffic. It would increase noise.”
Thomas Crowe, 20, a second-year Film and Television Production student says platform information about counsellors or all potential mayors are not readily available. “I feel like I would make a better decision and a more education decision if I could look at some policies, promises and sort of mission statements from each of the candidates in my area,” he said. Milton doesn’t have a lot of events, Crowe says. “We’re really lacking in events and community drawn together activities,” he said. He said it’s important to play a role in his city’s politics. “If you don’t interfere with politics, then politics will eventually interfere with you,” Crowe said.
Victor Castro, a 28-year-old second year message therapy student agrees that cost of living is most important but appreciates candor from politicians. “I’d respect the person that comes out and says, ‘we made the mistake, we’ll try to fix it,’” he said. Marc-Anthony Hall, 24, a first-year Paramedic student, says he’s submitting his vote to prevent his life from getting worse. “I’m hoping that my votes at least get me somewhere with some sort of reeling in on landlords,” he said. He says that rent doubled to $2,500 from when he was a child. Melania Morales, a pre-health second year student, says Brad Bradford’s promise on transportation is what’s getting her to the polls. “We see (Chow’s) friendly and stuff but she’s not really taking the time to explain what she wants to do,” the 21-year-old said.
ETC
vote on city elections OCT 9, 2026
NEWS - 7
Like many other students and people living in the GTA, Rimmer says the cost of living remains priority for the next municipal governments.
Willow Lauzon, 18, first-year Funeral Services Education student, says the cost of living will be the main factor when casting his vote. “Just being a student living on a tight budget. If I can make decisions or if this is a vote that can make decisions that will influence that cost of living. And hopefully bring it down a little bit. That’s just huge, just in my daily life,” he says. He, like Mathias, says he’s uninformed but has plans to research the candidates before voting. He says the cost-of-living issue is prevalent for years leading up to this election and hopes his choice changes his future for the better.
Second-year Photography student Jaden McGann says he intends to vote in the Toronto election. “Because I want change (to) happen in Toronto, more with the transit, more than anything,” McGann said. “What matters to me is the transit and grocery prices, because they are kind of high at the moment and they keep going up.”
Karl Vearncombe, a 22-year-old first-year Medical Lab Tech student, says he’s voting in the Oct. 26 municipal election because he wants to make a difference. The Scarborough resident said education is an important issue for him. “I’d say they should prioritize more, I guess, like (the) cost efficiency of schools. I mean certain parts of school can get pretty expensive,” Vearncombe said. But he admits he’s not as well informed about the candidates as he should.
Brynn Rimmer, an 18-year-old first-year firefighting student says voting is an important piece of people’s voices being heard. She says funding education, emergency response teams and the city doing its part to solve the housing crisis are the most important issues.
Jadyn Gray, a third-year Sports management student, 20, says her vote is going to someone who cares about the people. “The money may not be there but that’s where you truly create genuine connections with people. And that’s what matters,” she said. Interviews and pictures by Amelia Bateman, Carolina Boateng, David Galbraith, Joshua Duh, Katelyn Pierre, Marlon Merchant, Paul Sabourin, Robin Stiles, Ryan Soble, Samantha Castillo, Vanessa Femia, William Dos Santos, and Zion William.
Story written and page designed by Joseph Zago.
ETC
8 - OPINION
OCT 9, 2026
EDITORIAL
OSAP system fails students, minister needs to go
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Funding is not going to public post-secondary schools
uring the ongoing OSAP storm, Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn said provincial spending on the Ontario Student Assistance Program was unsustainable. After seeing how students live under this new “sustainable” method, Humber Et Cetera says student life under the Doug Ford regime isn’t either. By the Ontario government’s own admission, OSAP is meant to help students gain financial aid to fund their education. That is no longer the case and deserves to be changed drastically. OSAP grant funding dropped to 25 per cent from 85 per cent of the province’s total funding budget for the program while loans increased to 75 per cent from 15 per cent. That significant drop turned out to be unwarranted through the efforts of a Canadian Press discovery that released earlier this month. The Canadian Press Freedom-of-Information request said 95 per cent of the grants provided were to privately-owned career colleges in 2024-‘25. Seven of the career college grants equaled the total amount provided to all public colleges in Ontario, including Humber, at $385 million.
The Canadian Press reported fraud in OSAP funding after government officials investigated three career colleges and found evidence suggesting third parties were completing student coursework and a few students who couldn’t name their school or program. The claims, which the schools deny, hasn’t been tested. The Freedom-of-Information request opened a larger scale audit of the province’s finances and has since been handed off to provincial police to investigate. It may also be prudent to conduct a value-formoney audit as requested by Liberal colleges and university critic Tyler Watt to determine whether the government is properly overseeing the financial aid program. The Canadian Press report shows that the province needed to solely cut spending for career colleges, which it has by removing grants all together, without touching public post-secondary grants, which had a small piece of the pie and likely would not have made a difference in the provinces crusade for ‘sustainable’ spending. Alma Ariaz, a bachelor of Creative and Professional Writing
student at Humber, says she’s balancing part-time, minimum-wage work, with six courses and splits her expenses with her boyfriend but she is still struggling to pay her bills. “It’s practically impossible to work enough hours to be able to afford basic necessities without savings or other financial support,” she says. “OSAP gave me one less thing to worry about, and that thing ended up being pretty massive. Life as a student is very stressful without it.” She says the added “financial stressor” is taking away from her ability to learn and gain the valuable education she’s paid for. “Completing a degree takes clarity, peace of mind and a massive amount of work,” Ariaz said. “You have to prioritize your education, but it’s hard to do that without OSAP.” Humber’s Financial Aid office provides services to help students in low income or in need of emergency funding, but Ariaz said the office is not accessible. Ariaz says she works exhausting hours in her limited time on top of her school work and class time, it’s next to impossible to cut through the bureaucracy that didn’t exist
when simply applying for OSAP. “Despite being on campus five days a week, by the time I finish class or work their office is closed. The last time I called them I was on hold for over an hour, which is difficult to find time for,” she says. Brett Francis, manager of Humber’s financial aid, said it uses all its resources to reach as many students as possible and help students under “financial duress.” Ariaz has not seen any of those resources and calls for Humber to step in for OSAP’s shortcomings. “Humber should make a greater effort to support students in need through larger bursaries and more lenient scholarship opportunities. Post-secondary education should favour students, not profit,” she said. ssociate Registrar of Student Financial Services Daniel Castillo-Sanchez says the province provided an additional $6.4 billion to public post-secondary schools across the province, but it came at a cost to the students. Castillo-Sanchez says low-income students are receiving a 70 per cent reduction in the needs-based program and loans have increased by 446 per cent.
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“Luckily, the federal government hasn’t cut anything for our students. Actually, we’re seeing an increase in those grants,” he says. “There were no changes to the (federal) program. So, I would say that this is attributed to increased domestic enrollment.” Federal grants are automatically included when applying for OSAP and are not made to replace the grants that have been cut. “I don’t think Doug Ford really believes the OSAP is unsustainable, he just saw an opportunity to cut costs, and he took it. But that comes at the cost of our future,” Ariaz says. “Remember, remember the fifth of November.” A day synonymous with opposing tyranny lives on as university students in Ontario are planning a one-day strike on Nov. 5 to protest the OSAP cuts and austerity agenda of the provincial government. College students should join them. The negligent mismanagement of OSAP funds begs the call for the Colleges and Universities Minister’s resignation. Also needed is a complete restructuring of OSAP to ensure students who need financial support for the right of education, receive it
OPINION
Congestion snarls Toronto’s traffic day and night
Olivia Masztalerz Features and Photo Editor
T
oronto is a large city with many construction projects, particularly work involving news roads, buildings and infrastructure. For a long time, it was exciting to see the city grow and improve, with better roads and new developments making it easier to get around. But these projects transformed Toronto into one of slowest moving cities on the planet. According to the 2025 Inrix Global Traffic Study, Toronto is 39th in congestion
ranking among the world’s cities, acknowledges that the number of slower were wrong. the second worst in Canada. construction projects across the city Ultimately, it would take an The report by the traffic data com- is making it more difficult to move equivalent amount of time to drive pany says Toronto drivers lose about around. myself. The more I drove, the more 59 hours a year being stuck in traffic. Projects include road, bridge, I realized how much construction Montreal drivers lose about 63 transit, and water main renewals, as affects everyone on the road. hours a year because of congestion. well as new developments. Now, every time I drive, I see For comparison, the world’s slowest Another report, published by more construction projects overcity is Istanbul where drivers lose Ontario Construction News, called lapping. At times, I find myself about 118 hours to conthinking, “This is gestion. taking forever A report conducted by … When will the CAA South Central “TORONTO DRIVERS LOSE ABOUT 59 HOURS A YEAR the construcOntario said the contion workers be BEING STUCK IN TRAFFIC. ” cern of road conditions done?” - 2025 Inrix Global Traffic Study Some projects remains top of mind for Ontarians. seem to remain Its survey found that 80 unfinished even per cent of Ontarians have a year after they complained about road conditions to for action on Toronto’s $44.7-billion began.The impact is especially their partner, co-worker or mechanic Toronto congestion crisis with fewer noticeable when lanes are reduced. rather than to the government closures, and better infrastructure A road that normally moves traffic responsible for road maintenance. planning. The report said many clo- efficiently can quickly become conThe survey also found that poor sures overlap and are poorly coordi- gested when several lanes are closed. road conditions can contribute to nated. It also found that closures are I have also noticed how quickly vehicle damage, congestion and sometimes scheduled during peak frustration builds in these situations. safety risks for drivers. travel periods or remain in place There is more honking, more aggresConstruction is a major source of when no work is taking place. sive driving and, sometimes, road frustration in Toronto. I didn’t always pay attention to rage. Traffic.ca’s timeline site reports road construction. I try to avoid streets that are under 58 active construction projects curOnce I became a licensed driver, construction so I do not have to deal rently. The City of Toronto’s Con- I realized my assumptions on the with the delays. But in Toronto, that gestion Management Dashboard use of public transportation being can be difficult. Everywhere you
look, there seems to be construction.Construction is necessary for a growing city. Roads need repairs, infrastructure needs to be added or replaced, new transit and developments need to be built. The problem is not that Toronto is improving its infrastructure. The problem is how disruptive the process can become when projects overlap and closures are not properly coordinated. My experience as a driver has changed how I see construction. I have learned that I cannot control when a road will be closed, lanes will be reduced or how long a project will take. If I want to drive, construction is simply one of the factors I have to deal with. But drivers should not have to feel that every trip across the city means navigating from one construction zone towards another. ng and improving, but that growth should not come at the expense of making every trip unnecessarily difficult for the people who live here. i hope we can one day come up with a better solution. Olivia, Masztalerz, she/her is a Humber ETC News, Features and Photo Editor.
ETC
OCT 9, 2026
OPINION- 9
TALES FROM HUMBER
The fear of being misunderstood by everyone
Jordan Pestana Dos Santos Reporter
H
ow do you socialize with other people? Have you ever thought about it? I have thought about how I interact with people ever since I can remember. The more I reflect upon my memories of how I socialize, the more I realize how concerning it is to me. That is a question I have had in my mind since I can remember, and the more I reflect upon those memories, the more I realize how concerning it sounds. I was diagnosed with autism
and ADHD as an adult, and while there were signs of my neurodivergence as I was growing up, the poor understanding of both conditions at the time in my home country made it impossible to be diagnosed. Growing up, people would describe me at best as quirky, but it was more often that they thought I was just weird, if not worse. I internalized those perceptions of me, and I vowed to make sure to do things properly. I have vivid memories of being four years old and repeating in my mind “1) Say hi to everyone, 2) Remember to say please and thank you, 3) Don’t interrupt adults, 4) Don’t be too loud.” I would often think and reflect on how those interactions went. I was happy when an interaction went well, but often, I was obsessed with studying the ones that didn’t end well. It could be hours of me rewinding on a memory, doing my best to decipher what went wrong; was it because I spoke too much about wolves? Was I too loud? What should I have done instead?
I would often feel thrown into my own pity party. I used to cry easily when I was a kid, being frightened by loud sounds, which meant screaming could often upset me. People often thought I was manipulative, not understanding how upsetting it was for me. ecause I would need to study every moment that didn’t go well, need to reflect on previous information, read between the lines that often didn’t make sense to me, having girls who loved to throw double-meaning comments that flew over my head. Yet, the biggest hurdle became me trying to articulate myself in response. Often, my face would not emote or behave in the way I wanted. I grew up hearing people ask me why I looked upset, when in fact I was happy. Or, I would get angry, and people would make fun of the face I made, since I didn’t know how to look upset. From my understanding, other people’s faces move, sound, and behave without a second thought. And yet, I would often need to
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think about what tone of voice I needed to use, what to do with my face, and how to form a response properly, while also needing to focus on looking into the eyes of the other person and smiling, because otherwise people think I am upset.
It feels like there are needles in my face when I smile; I feel myself getting more tired as I try to keep up with a conversation. Socializing feels like survival, and I struggle to keep up between class, work, and daily life. People say you should be yourself, but what does that mean if it leads to misunderstanding? Do you know how it hurts when your friends think you don’t like them because you don’t talk too much, or you don’t sound happy? To have people accuse you of lying about something because you don’t look into their eyes, despite that making it easier for you to understand what they say? To have people lecture you about being rude, because your flat tone sounds sarcastic? For better or worse, I need to
abide by these rules, because even if it is painful, it feels worse when people misunderstand you. I don’t want people to get the wrong idea every time they interact with me, just because my default can come across as distrusting, sarcastic, or uninterested. ot so long ago, I was on the phone with my aunt. I was telling her how I am thankful my coworkers deal more with the customers than I do, while I occupy myself with paperwork and organization. She told me that despite that, she thought I was more social and chatty than when I was younger. My response was simple: “I hope so. I spent over 20 years studying how to navigate social situations.” And told her a lot of what I have written here. I will continue my journey into understanding my circumstances and who I am, while making sure others understand me despite how difficult it can feel sometimes. Jordan Pestana Dos Santos, They/ Them is a Humber Et Cetera News reporter.
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ETC
10 - OPINION
OCT 9, 2026
OPINION
The world shakes when women come forward Essays are not punishment, women are not contradictions
Mia Badju Op-Ed Editor
Women deserve to be listened to, supported and taken seriously.
A
ILLUSTRATION HUMBERETC/MIA BADJU
llegations involving Cornell University have brought to light a broader double standard in how men and women are treated when sexual assault allegations arise. A former Cornell student alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven men at a fraternity house. The story was first reported by student journalists at The Cornell Daily Sun, Cornell’s independent student newspaper. Senior editor Cereese Qusba spent months investigating the allegations before reporting the lawsuit when it was filed, including speaking with the plaintiff and her lawyers and researching Cornell’s policies surrounding sexual misconduct. The Sun’s subsequent coverage was continued by journalists including Mary Caitlin Cronin and Varsha Bhargava, who reported Cornell’s statement that the students involved did not simply receive essays as their punishment, and that the suspensions and expulsions had been issued. Together, their reporting brought the allegations, the university’s response, and the questions about accountability into public view. But one aspect of the story has captured particular attention: the discussion surrounding the essay written as part of the disciplinary process. The details of individual disciplinary outcomes are also limited by student privacy protections.
Still, the question remains worth asking: Why does a man get to write an essay as punishment? It’s not that writing an essay is inherently meaningless. Self-reflection can have a legitimate place in education and discipline. But when the alleged harm is sexual violence, we should be willing to ask what accountability actually means. What does accountability look like to the person who says she was harmed? What does it look like when she has to continue living with what she said happened to her while the institution debates what should happen to the people accused? And perhaps most importantly: Why does the conversation so often become about The future of the accused before we have properly reckoned with the well-being of the victim? In a world that has taught them to bite their tongue, they should not have to. Women should not hold back. Women should not stay silent.
They should speak loudly. Speak clearly. Speak even when the voice
ILLUSTRATION HUMBERETC/MIA BADJU
shakes. Because women are taught from a young age to manage men’s comfort. We are taught to be polite. To be agreeable. To give people the benefit of the doubt. We are told to “protect the old man,” and to remember that “he meant well.” But maybe the question shouldn’t always be whether he means it well. Maybe the question should be: what did it feel like for her? Because somehow, when a woman says a man made her uncomfortable, the conversation can quickly become about him.
HUMBERETC/MIA BADJU
He was joking. He was drunk. Don’t make it awkward. on’t embarrass him. Maybe he meant it. Maybe he didn’t But why is his intention so often treated as more important than her experience? There is a phrase I have always thought about: “drunk words are sober thoughts.” I don’t believe intoxication excuses someone’s behaviour, and I don’t believe being uncomfortable should require a woman to produce a courtroom-quality explanation before she is allowed to feel comfortable. This is not an argument that every allegation should automatically be treated as proven. We can acknowledge uncertainty while still taking allegations seriously. Because this conversation is bigger than Cornell. It is about the culture that teaches women to manage men. Don’t make him angry. Don’t be dramatic. Don’t make an accusation. Don’t make everyone uncomfortable. Don’t say anything unless you’re certain. want to live in a world where women can say that a man crossed a line regardless of whether he intended to or not. I want to be capable of holding two ideas at once: that allegations must be fairly investigated, and that the person making the allegations deserves to be treated like a human being throughout that process.
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I
Because silence has never protected a woman. So to every woman who has been told to lower their voice: Raise it.
ILLUSTRATION HUMBERETC/MIA BADJU
To the woman who has been told that she is overreacting: Trust that your discomfort is worth examining. To the woman who has been told to protect a man’s reputation: Ask who is protecting yours. And to the woman who has been made to feel that speaking up is somehow worse than what happened to her: Dear Jane Doe, I am so glad you came forward. You do not have to make yourself smaller so someone else can remain comfortable. In a world that forces you to become accustomed to the state of a man’s comfort: I hope you do not abide by those expectations and continously fight to express yourself. You deserve to feel safe, heard and respected. in every single room. Mia Badju. she/her is a HumberETC News Op-Ed Editor.
ETC
OCT 9, 2026
NEWS - 11
HUMBERETC/HUE PHAM
Justice Studies student Brody Watson tries on a blazer at IGNITE and BSSE’s Canada Unites, a free clothing popup held Oct. 8 at the North campus.
Ignite, BSSE offer students free clothes Its part of the Canada Unites program
Hue Pham
HumberETC News Second year Justice Studies student Brody Watson does the math quickly out loud. A nice blazer could cost about $25 at the thrift store and if he needs about five items to make a professional outfit, it could cost about $70 total. He tries on a free black blazer over his t-shirt with a graphic of a cartoon sun and bright colours for the ska punk band Sublime. He’s in the middle of a cafeteria. The question is whether the blazer actually fits. “No, but I’ll find stuff that does,” Watson said. He happened to wander into IGNITE and the Black Student Support and Engagement’s (BSSE) Canada Unites free pop up shop at North campus’ cafeteria, addressing issues of student affordability by giving away free, brand new items. Watson’s looking at the belts, blazers and ties available for men. He thinks it’ll help when he has to interview for co-op placement, that the variety is appropriate and practical for students. the event was held Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. at North campus. Their next event will be Oct. 15
from noon to 2 p.m. at Lakeshore campus’ K building. Students are able to drop in and pick out a variety of goods: up to five clothing items, five accessories, one skincare product, one footwear item and a single outerwear item. IGNITE was unable to comment on the event. BSSE Program Assistant Everton Jamie Caine said they started setting up for the event at 10 a.m. and were able to open up at noon. The line up of students waiting had become too long that it had to be broken up into two lines to avoid blocking foot traffic. Cain said this event helps students with affordability issues. “I know as a resource at Humber, we can’t solve every issue but I think we’re able to make an indent and make an impact,” Caine said. First year Practical Nursing student Amanda Black picked up a concealer that was not in the right shade for her, but plans to mix it with other products to match her shade. She only ended up with a few undergarments and the concealer, noting the sizes available didn’t fit her body and didn’t exactly match her style. Despite the lack of variety for
her, she still appreciates the sentiment since she needs more undergarments as a nursing student, mentioning nursing requires wearing more layers. “It’s nice to know that they give back practical stuff that you can use in everyday life,” she said. If things were different, Black said she would like more shoes since a lot of students are commuters and nurses are on their feet for a long time. S he wishes there was more “stretchy stuff.” First year Recreation and Leisure Services student Rebecca Jasmine said she was really excited when she got the email about the event, one of a number of students who heard of it ahead of time. She shows off a slimming black leather pair of pants, a creamy silk dress and “this cool shirt.” She’s not done shopping though, and looking forward to finding more items. Jasmine said she was worried about student costs and appreciates the help. “I think it’s cool how they acknowledged student prices are a lot,” she said. “It’s a lot going to school and they’re giving something to us,” Jasmine said.
HUMBERETC/HUE PHAM
BSSE program assistant Everton Jamie Caine overlooks the line.
ETC
12 - FEATURES
OCT 9, 2026
HUMBERETC/OLIVIA MASZTALERZ
Etobicoke community is contributing to the event by helping one another as a team to bring this event to a sucess by packing fresh food for the families in need for Thanksgiving.
Children’s Breakfast Club packs hamp
Etobicoke community comes together with supporters h
Olivia Masztalerz Senior Reporter
S
teven Moffat works in food. He also knows what it means for kids who miss meals. He joined a community of helpers last weekend at the Ontario Food Terminal in south Etobicoke to help pack hampers for families, ensuring they have a good meal on Thanksgiving. Moffat said small acts of helping the community can make a real difference. “Even if it’s just one thing you’re doing, it helps the community. And this product is getting out into the community, and everybody’s going to have a meal and enjoy their Thanksgiving,” he said. Moffat, the event organizer and vice president of finance for North American Produce, said seeing the food every day is what inspired him to give back to the community. “Knowing it can be distributed out into the community to help people gives me a great sense of satisfaction,” Moffat said. “And being able to give fresh food grown over the summer to give back to the community is important.” He said he enjoys seeing the group of people work as a whole.
And work they did, as about 150 volunteers packed 1,000 food hampers in about an hour. The Children’s Breakfast Clubs have been helping feed children for 40 years. It began in the Jane StreetFalstaff Avenue area in 1984 and has since grown to 43 clubs.
that one in four people don’t have access to adequate food supplies. It reported that 2.16 million visits were made to food banks in March 2025 in Canada, and that one-third of food bank users are children. Gosling said the effort by the Children’s Breakfast Club “helps
great thing to give back to the same community. So that’s why I felt the need to come this morning and give some of my time,” Fazeli said. Jeffrey Scott has worked with the Breakfast Club for five years, said this event makes a difference in the community.
“EVEN IF IT’S JUST ONE THING YOU’RE DOING, IT HELPS THE COMMUNITY. AND THIS PRODUCT IS GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND EVERYBODY’S GOING TO HAVE A MEAL AND ENJOY THEIR THANKSGIVING, ”
- Steven Moffat
The non-profit provides about 10,000 meals a week in 40 communities across Southern Ontario. Rick Gosling, president and founder of Toronto’s Children’s Breakfast Club, said food insecurity is what brought the need for this event to light. “We feed our children breakfast every morning, but we know how food insecurity has become a bigger, bigger issue,” he said. “So, we want our families to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving in a meaningful way and enjoy it.” FoodBanks Canada reports
build communities, make people raise their self-esteem, respect and support each other.’’ Inspector Jeff Bangild, of Toronto Police 22 Division, said officers from his division take part in the event every year. “It was important for me to be here to assist my officers who are in terms helping my community as well,” Bangild said. Staff Sergeant Alan Fazeli, also with 22 Division, said being part of this event was important to him. “I live in this community. I work in this community and I think it’s a
“We know in our society today there’s many people that need help. And the reality is without this organization there’s going to be people that won’t have enough on the table for Thanksgiving,” Scott said. “It’s just a nice added step to help them to feel that people care and give them a chance to be thankful too.” Tyler Heimbecker who volunteers with 22 Division’s Rover Crew program, a partnership between Toronto Police, Humber Polytechnic and Scouts Canada and helps young people explore law enforcement careers, said he thought this day was
a good event. “I just thought it would be a good event. I’ve heard good things so that’s why we are here. We’re just here to help out,” Heimbecker said. Zanana Akande supporting the Breakfast Club provides a positive impact to the community. But it also teaches a lesson. “It’s always nice to see the kids and their families when they’re doing something that not only entertains them but benefits the community. It’s a thing that they learn through these processes that we hope that they’ll continue when they’re adults,” she said. Akande said the day’s event “helps those in need and produces people who are learning to give back and take care of each other.” Bangild said seeing how the organization is giving back to the community and the community is filled with pride strongly motivates him. “I love the fact that we are giving back, and we can see the pride in people’s faces who are here, that are assisting knowing what they’re doing is giving back to the community,” he said. Scott said everyone has smiles on their faces and supports one another.
ETC
OCT 9, 2026
FEATURES - 13
HUMBERETC/OLIVIA MASZTALERZ
Steven Moffat gathers the community members for a speech to thank all volunteers for taking time out of their morning to help out with the event and with lots of cheering and clapping.
pers for families
happy to give back “There’s definitely some feeling of joy and happiness that you feel because you see other people doing the same thing you are, and having that commonality of being supportive,” he said, emphasizing that giving is better than receiving. Scott said getting involved in a program like the Breakfast Club helps not only the community but those who contribute. “You feel the void or something that’s missing that you have, well you’re actually helping someone else so it replaces that void that you feel with being able to give and it feels like you’re being given,” he said. Akande said it’s the empathy that she likes to see in this event. “I like to see people who are concerned about others. I like to see those who are trying to help those who have a rough time, and we encourage them and help them out,” Akande said. She said to be involved you need to keep your ears and eyes opened to know what’s happening so you can help. Scott said he comes back to this event as the feeling you get after knowing that you help out with others who have the same interest is
the greatest feeling. Fazeli encourages everyone to find time to volunteer and feel good about themselves. “As busy as you are, even if you spend half an hour here or an hour there, even if you give an hour or two a month, you’re making a contribution to the community that we all live in,” Fazeli said.
HUMBERETC/OLIVIA MASZTALERZ
The event organizer and vice president of finance for North American Produce Steven Moffat with volunteers.
HUMBERETC/OLIVIA MASZTALERZ
Inspector Jeff Bangild, of Toronto Police’s 22 Division, came with fellow officers to support the Saturday event. He said giving back to the community is important to him.
ETC
14 - NEWS
OCT 9, 2026
Electronic scams still a threat to students
Anna Shevchenko HumberETCNews
Students should be wary of scammers on campus after Humber College’s Department of Public Safety issued an alert warning about a con pressuring students into trading cash for electronics. Security officials say students are approached at both the North and Lakeshore campuses. Humber’s Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management Rob Kilfoyle said the suspects use high-pressure sales tactics to convince students they are getting a good deal on an electronic device such as a TV by asking for $1,000, with the promise of a higher resale value. “Unfortunately, in this particular instance, the student did lose about $1,000. So it gave over money to these individuals. And of course, the TV is not worth anything,” said Kilfoyle. “The students are usually alone, they social engineer their way sort of into gaining their trust,” said Kilfoyle. “In some cases, like they’ve targeted international students.” “People who are new to the country who don’t necessarily know what the laws are, what the rules are,
what the customs,” he said. Kilfoyle said people walking and staring at their phones while not paying attention to their surroundings are prime targets for this type of scam. It is not the first time for this type of scam on campus. There have been different versions of it. “We had a rash of them last year as well, where they’ll actually drive a student to their bank, to the bank machine, and get them to take the money out of the bank machine,” said Kilfoyle. Another situation where a driver with a fake taxi sign pulls over, and a passenger gets out beside a student, pretending to panic because their card does not work. “And the person will be like, ‘Ah, geez, my bank card’s not working. Would you mind, if I gave you cash, would you mind using your bank card to pay for my taxi?” Kilfoyle said, “When they take the card, they steal the card, hand back a fake card. And then now they have access to that person’s bank account. “And by all means, you know, something sounds too good to be true. It usually is, he said. Kilfoyle said Humber keeps an eye on them. “We have video surveillance of
them,” Kilfoyle said. “They often look like students themselves. We have the Humber Guardian app, so at Humber we have that, and there’s a number of safety features built into that app,” he said. Adnan Salam, Assistant Manager, Security Operations at Humber, said students should call police if
they are a victim of a scam and get in touch with campus security. “For the student’s safety, we connect them with some resources on and off campus. For example, on campus we have care coordinators; they’re not only for academic purposes only, but they can help them navigate whatever issues they’re going through on campus,” he said.
“We do multiple things to make our community aware, so that they don’t get victimized by these scams,” said Salam. For more information, contact the Humber Public Safety 24/7 line at 416-675-8500, the emergency line at 416-675-4008, or the emergency email at emergency.management@ humber.ca.
HUMBERETC/ANNA SHEVCHENKO
Public Safety and Emergency Management Director Rob Kilfoyle says to be aware of your surroundings.
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ETC
OCT 9, 2026
NEWS - 15
HUMBERETC/MARIE PASCUAL
Alex, who gave only his first name, joined Friday’s Critical Mass demonstration on foot. He said protected bike lanes make driving less stressful. separating cyclists from motor traffic.
Toronto cyclists protest bike lanes removal
Marie Pascual
HumberETC News
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efore the ride began, cycling lawyer David Shellnutt stood on a bench addressing the crowd as families adjusted helmets and riders prepared their bikes. He reminded volunteer marshals to keep motorists out of the group and told riders that once the procession moved through an intersection, they would stay together. A chorus of bicycle bells signaled the start of the ride as cyclists, families, e-bikes and a handful of electric scooters and longboards moved west along Bloor Street. Within the first half-hour of the Friday ride, friction emerged between riders and drivers trying to enter Bloor from side streets. “You know, it’s really hard to empathize with you guys with this kinda stuff going on,” a driver told one of the volunteer marshals along the route. “I know,” the marshal replied. “But we have to do something, right?” The exchange captured a tension running through the ride: cyclists were trying to make their numbers and opposition visible, even as doing so disrupted motorists travelling through the same streets. Critical Mass is an informal group
ride in which cyclists travel together through city streets. Friday’s ride came as the province moves ahead with plans to restore motor vehicle lanes on several major Toronto streets, requiring changes to existing protected bike lanes. The group travelled roughly 10 kilometres along Bloor Street West, riding from High Park toward Royal York Road and back. For Shellnutt, who helped promote the ride, that disruption is part of a broader effort to turn visibility into political pressure. Shellnutt said the August ride came in response to the Ontario Court of Appeal overturning a lower court decision that had blocked the province’s bike-lane removals. “This is about engaging people power,” Shellnutt said. “It’s about showing elected officials that there are many people who are affected by this and that are upset by it.” Shellnutt said the demonstrations are also meant to mobilize cyclists beyond the ride, including contacting elected officials and taking part in further action. Riders carried homemade signs ranging from handwritten placards to glowing LED displays, while one cyclist pedalled along playing a saxophone. Halfway through the ride, cyclists chanted “every bike is one less car,”
“bike lanes save lives” and “blame Doug Ford” as the procession continued west along Bloor Street. The fight over bike lanes has also become an issue in Toronto’s municipal election. An August Liaison Strategies poll found 65 per cent of respondents said a candidate’s position on bike lanes would be important to their vote. However, voters were split on whether the city should build more lanes, keep roughly the current number or remove some. Families moved through the procession with children riding beside them or tucked into bike trailers, bringing the protest through the everyday traffic of Bloor Street West. Among them were Damian Maddalena and his 12-year-old son Thearon, who rely on Bloor Street West’s protected bike lanes to get around the city. The lanes make it possible for the pair to use cycling as transportation, Maddalena said. Thearon, who has been biking in Toronto for about two years, said he would not feel as comfortable riding without them. After decades of cycling, Maddalena said he is comfortable riding in traffic. But he doesn’t feel the same way about riding with his son outside protected bike lanes.
“I would not be comfortable with him because he doesn’t have that confidence or knowledge of the road to be able to do that,” Maddalena said. At Runnymede Road, a driver waiting to turn left through the procession leaned out of his Honda CR-V “I’ve been riding my bike in this city for 20 years,” he shouted toward the riders. “You guys are the ones who are getting the bike lanes removed.” Not every driver along the route saw protected bike lanes as the problem. Alex, who identified himself as a motorist, joined the demonstration on foot. “If you remove the bike lanes, these cyclists aren’t going anywhere. They’re just going to be in my way,” said Alex, who gave only his first name and has attended Critical Mass several times. Alex said he hopes more drivers will speak out against the removals, arguing the province’s plan is intended to appeal to motorists. “I am a driver, and I can tell you this will not benefit me at all,” he said. At one red light, a young girl walking with her parents asked another girl riding with her father what the group was doing.
“What are you guys doing?” “We’re protesting the bike lane removals.” “That’s silly.” “No, it’s not.”
HUMBERETC/MARIE PASCUAL
A young girl riding her bike during the protest. She was among the hundreds who protested in the tearing out of Toronto's bike. Demoliton begins Oct. 13.
ETC
16 - CULTURE
OCT 9, 2026
HUMBERETC/HUE PHAM
A display titled Lady of Justice created by Humber student Joshua Hon was showcased at this year’s Nuit Blanche hosted by the Humber Lakeshore on Oct. 3 and 4 at Kipling Avenue.
All-night festival highlights art talent
Hue Pham
HumberETC Culture Humber students looked toward the future through recalling artistic memories for the 20th anniversary of Nuit Blanche on Oct. 3 and 4. The art spans different media, including audiovisual projects and art installations from students in different programs including interactive media, digital arts, and electromechanical engineering. Loreanne Larbi recently graduated from the postgraduate program in Interactive Media Management – Creative Technologies. Her capstone project for the program is featured for this year’s Nuit Blanche at Lakeshore campus. “Graduating out of the program, I didn’t feel confident enough or competent enough to be able to execute projects,” she said. “So signing up, being accepted, being able to execute it, and having it done suc-
cessfully created a milestone.” Larbi said her project explores the changes in the community since the development of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. She saw the changes to the neighbourhood she grew up in. She said she wanted to look back at the community, and she realized how hard it was to source historical images. The images she projects onto a screen are from the Little Jamaica BIA, including an image from 2026 and another of the same place prior to the LRT development. “I created this piece to live in different communities for the purpose of being able to document the history and also do it from the narrative of people that live there,” Larbi said. This is her first art installation being featured. Another Humber graduate celebrated her second year at Nuit
Blanche with her art installation “Secret Trees.” Kelsey Wolff Power said her installation explores the theme of butterflies as a messenger of the gods in many cultures, and wanted to use trees in her art. The installation allows participants to speak personal secrets into a metal tin can connected to lights, representing butterflies. The lights dazzle to the sound of the speaker, and move through the tree it’s attached to and dissipate. “The idea is that you are able to unburden yourself of your secrets, which can actually weigh us down quite a lot,” Wolff Power said. Wolff Power graduated from the Visual and Digital Arts program at Humber Polytechnic and volunteered for Nuit Blanche as a student and later became a part of the Nuit Blanche Fellowship, having her art featured last year.
Joshua Hon is also featured at Nuit Blanche this year, with this 3D artwork of a statue of Lady Justice taking on many different pieces held together by a central spine, and its pieces can rotate around. He said the inspiration comes from his background in Hong Kong, where political strife remains. He notes he uses plastic instead of the typical bronze or metals that the statue of Lady Justice is made of, to convey a lack of quality. Participants are welcome to move the pieces around throughout the night. “If you want to rebuild it or put it back to its original position, it takes time,” he said. “So it’s very easy to destroy something- including systems.” Hon is currently completing his degree in electromechanical engineering technology at North Campus to learn more about how to
incorporate technology into his art. Other artwork by Humber graduates includes Liam Sawyers, whose work featured more than 60 videos on a projector that visitors were able to control from a central machine they’re welcome to use. Humber Polytechnic also celebrated its fifth anniversary showcasing Nuit Blanche art installations. It featured 10 installations this year at Lakeshore campus, including from faculty, alumni, current students and Arts Etobicoke and Lakeshore Arts. Nuit Blanche also celebrates its 20th anniversary and explored its history with its theme “Tomorrow’s Memories,” inviting back artwork from previous years. A few of the installations have been extended until Oct. 10, including UFO, I Miss You: T.Dot Memories, and Networked Growth.
“I know it’s irritating but it really makes this so much cooler for me,”she said. Concertgoer Elizabeth Cady said the phone-free policy was part of the appeal of attending the concert. “It was actually the main reason I wanted to go,” she said. Outside the venue, fans gathered around digital screens displaying messages connected to the tour. One screen read, “I took this photo before I saw Phoebe Bridgers’ The Lost Tour 2026 at Scotiabank Arena.” Upon entry, staff asked guests whether they had smart watches, headphones or digital cameras before securing the pouch with a magnetic lock.
Guests kept possession of their phones throughout the concert, but could only access them in designated phone-use areas. The pouches were unlocked by staff after the performance. Cady said she had never attended a phone-free concert before and expected the experience to be more immersive. “I think that having a show be phone-free, especially a concert, is going to be such an immersive experience and such a moment where everybody feels so present,” she said. The arena appeared full when the stage lights moved over the audience. Colours associated with Bridgers’ albums shifted throughout the performance.
Fans pulled out lighters during “Kill Me,” one of the show’s early songs and then again during several of the slower songs. Julia Krurnowski, who had previously only seen Bridgers perform at a music festival, said she wanted the phone-free format to make the arena feel smaller. “I wanted an intimate feel. Even though it’s technically a big venue,” Krurnowski said. That intimacy was particularly noticeable when Bridgers moved to a smaller stage in the middle of the arena. She sat cross-legged on the floor and played the keyboard while the audience watched from the surrounding seats. The crowd remained visibly
engaged throughout the show. For the duration of the show, the arena was full of people and completely free of screens. The concert still ended with a cheering crowd. “I’d never heard applause that loud,” Krurnowski said.
Phone-free at Phoebe Bridgers concert
Carly Mirrlees
HumberETC Culture Sold out across both nights, almost 40,000 fans put their phones away for Phoebe Bridgers’ The Lost Tour on Oct. 2 and 3. At all shows, fans are required to place their phones inside Yondr pouches before entering the arena. Yondr pouches are smart-phone sized bags that are locked magnetically for the duration of the show. Designated areas in the concourse were available for those who needed to use their phones. The phone-free experience began before the music did. Bridgers thanked the crowd for putting away their phones when she got on stage.
COURTESY/INSTAGRAM
Folk singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers didn’t allow fans to use phones at her recent concert.
ETC
SEPT 28, 2026
Humber Rock ‘n’ Art opens new semester
CULTURE - 17
Humber students enjoy music, snacks
Grace MacInerney HumberETC Culture The beats of DJ Stryfe, the smell of popping corn, free juice, candy, chocolate, and the chance to take a break and paint a rock helped students kick back and relax between classes at North campus ‘ E Concourse. The Spiritual Wellness Centre and First Year Experience partnered with Humber Esports to bring Rock N’ Art to Humber’s North Campus on Oct 1. DJ Stryfe, whose other name is Calvin Bissoon, said while his father was a DJ, he didn’t intend to follow in his footsteps until 2008, when Stryfe needed to make a mix for his breakdance group for a school talent
show. He said he liked mixing the music more than dancing. By the end of high school, in 2014, Stryfe said he was DJing professionally with a friend. He said he had the turntables, and his friend had the mixer. Stryfe said they worked gigs DJing for all kinds of audiences. His favourite mix is “Euro 2022,” which he said is a happy 80s driving mix. Stryfe often DJs Humber events and used to work in Humber’s IT department. Sadiya Chowdhury, Student Life Coordinator for First Year Experience, encouraged students over the speakers to scan a QR code upon entry. She said the QR code is to
track attendance and gauge interest in running Rock N’ Art again. Tables laid with rocks and art supplies filled with students across programs. Beside the DJ booth, Sunny Singh, Humber Esports Event Coordinator, connected with students at a booth with a Humber Esports jersey, stickers, and a TV, connected to a Nintendo Switch, where they could play video games. Singh said DJ Stryfe has been supporting Humber events for over a year and is “very community focused,” hosting intro-to-DJ workshops alongside other community engagement. Stryfe said he expects to be back at Humber soon.
HUMBERETC/GRACE MACLERNEY
Calvin Bissoon, above, known as DJ Stryfe, brings beats to Rock ‘n’ Art event. Top right, Sara Adan showing off her painted rock. Bottom right, a student enjoy painting a rock at the event.
ETC
18 - CULTURE
OCT 9, 2026
“WHEN YOU CROSS THE FINISH LINE TODAY, YOU WILL HAVE COMPLETED A HUGE MILESTONE THAT MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE.” - Dr. John Irish
HUMBERETC/JOE MCRAE
Thousands run to defeat breast cancer
Runners across Canada, dressed in pink, gather at University of Toronto downtown campus on Oct. 4 for CIBC Run for the Cure and raised an estimate $18 million for breast cancer survivors
Communities in Toronto gather to raise funds for survivors
Jo Mcrae
HumberETC Culture A sea of people dressed in pink flooded Toronto’s subways. They were on their way to raise more than $2.9 million to fight breast cancer. Runners across the country raised an estimated $18 million, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. Dr. John Irish of the Canadian Cancer Society thanked the crowd of 10,000 gathered at the University of Toronto’s downtown campus for the local CIBC Run for the Cure on Sunday, Oct. 4. “When you cross the finish line today, you will have completed a huge milestone that means something different for everyone. But for us at the Canadian Cancer Society,
the end of the run is just the begin- 12 years ago as a supporter. diagnosed and had a double mastecning,” Irish said. “Seven years ago, that changed tomy. He said there are more cancer when I graduated to a pink shirt, Rossetti said she was “beyond survivors now than any grateful to share” other time in history. that both she and “Tomorrow we will conher sister are now in “BUT FOR US CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY, remission. tinue to fund life-saving science, continue to fund “Whether you’re THE END OF THE RUN clinical trials that bring currently battling, new hope, continue suprecently diagnosed, IS JUST THE BEGINNING ” porting people affected by carry the gene, are - Dr. John Irish walking for someone breast cancer every step of the way, and push for public who has passed, or policies for more effective celebrating survivorand accessible screening,” Irish said. a milestone no one wishes for,” she ship, we are stronger together,” she He led the thousands in a brief said. said. moment of silence. Rossetti said she had no sympRossetti urged the crowd to get Karen Rossetti said she was toms or family history when she was tested and to advocate for their “humbled and honoured” to stand diagnosed after a routine checkup. health. before the crowd. She said that 18 months after her She said her team, Team BelRossetti said she originally joined diagnosis, her sister Laurie was also letti, raised a lifetime total of nearly
$54,000. “Thank you to all our family and friends. Thank you for being on our team. You are the best medicine all of us breast cancer survivors could have asked for. Thank you,” Rossetti said. Jelena Alexander ran the five-kilometre run with her husband, and said it was wonderful to see such a crowd. “Especially the ranges of ages. They were running, these little kids, whizzing by us.” Alexander said the event was for a good cause. “Everyone’s touched by cancer. We lost a really close family member a few months ago to cancer. We’ll support it any way we can,” Alexander said.
ETC
SEPT 28, 2026
CULTURE - 19
Sober living now becoming the high life Thomas McKenzie
HumberETC Culture For generations, turning 19 came with a familiar rite of passage: going to a bar and ordering your first legal drink. However, businesses and restaurants are now expanding their non-alcoholic options to meet demand for zero-proof drinks. The percentage of Canadian post-secondary students who reported drinking alcohol in the previous year dropped from 84.3 per cent in 2019-20 to 74.9 per cent in 2024-25, according to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Statistics Canada also reported an increase in Canadians who don’t drink. The proportion of Canadians aged 12 and older who reported no alcohol consumption in the previous year increased from 23 per cent in 2015 to 29 per cent in 2024. For second-year University of Guelph-Humber student Jennifer Ashley, the price of drinks at bars and clubs means she and her friends often drink before going out.
“If we’re going out, we’ll usually of alcohol-free drinks shouldn’t non-alcoholic products is becoming get drinks from the LCBO and pre- necessarily be interpreted as people more mainstream. drink because buying drinks at a giving up alcohol completely. The Sobr Market sells alcohol-free bar all night is just too expensive,” “I would dare say the majority beer, wine, spirits and ready-toAshley said. “Once we actually get of people are consuming alcohol,” drink beverages and works with there, I might only buy one drink or Lynch said. “What they’re saying restaurants and other businesses not buy one at all.” is, you’re mindfully consuming looking to expand their non-alcoBarbara Chiechi, a second-year alcohol. So we’re not going to drink holic offerings. University of Guelph student, said alcohol every day. We’re not going to “We are finding this is becoming she also usually drinks more and more mainstream. before going out. People want these options,” “THE FOUNDATION OF ALL “I usually pregame Halliburton said. “People before going out, so I want to be able to go for THAT IS MINDFULNESS. don’t really buy drinks dinner, or go to an event and once I’m going out,” not be stuck with pop and WE ARE MINDFULLY DRINKING ” Chiechi said. “Maybe - Jesse Halliburton water.” I’ll buy one or two, but Halliburton said younger it really just depends customers tend to gravion the night.” be excessive.” tate toward convenient options, Businesses in the non-alcoholic ZERO isn’t marketed specifically including ready-to-drink cocktails, beverage industry say consumers toward people who are sober. Lynch non-alcoholic beer and functional are also looking for more options. said the goal is to give people who beverages. Gail Lynch, CEO and experience aren’t drinking the same experience “So many people are still looking designer of ZERO Cocktail Bar in as someone ordering alcohol. for, in some way, the effects of Toronto, has been alcohol-free for “If I can have an alcoholic alcohol, but without the negative more than 10 years. Lynch created Negroni, the other person should impacts of alcohol,” Halliburton ZERO after experimenting with be able to have a non-alcoholic said. non-alcoholic cocktails during the Negroni,” Lynch said. Non-alcoholic options are not pandemic. Jesse Halliburton, co-founder of necessarily cheaper. Halliburton However, Lynch said the growth The Sobr Market, said demand for said some zero-proof spirits and
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dealcoholized wines can cost as much as or more than their alcoholic counterparts because of the ingredients and production involved. “A lot of people put value on a beverage having alcohol, and they shouldn’t,” Halliburton said. “It really should be the care and craft that goes into it.” Lynch said ZERO’s cocktails are similarly priced to traditional cocktails because they require comparable ingredients, preparation and expertise. “You have to recognize that a cocktail is the crafting of flavours, not the introduction of alcohol,” Lynch said. Halliburton said restaurants and bars are increasingly looking to add zero-proof drinks to their menus, with some designing cocktails as non-alcoholic by default and allowing customers to add alcohol. For Lynch, the shift is less about eliminating alcohol and more about having a choice. “The foundation of all of that is mindfulness,” Lynch said. “We are mindfully drinking.”
20 - SPORTS
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OCT 9, 2026
ETC
OCT 9, 2026
SPORTS - 21
HUMBERETC/PETER BHAGOUTIE
Hawks wing Joshua Vivero (#9) winds up a pass through Royals midfielder Zach Swackhammer (#9), as Humber cruised to a 11-0 thrashing of Redeemer Sept. 30, ranking third in the nation.
Stars shine in 11-0 rout over Redeemer Peter Bhagoutie HumberETC Sports
The Redeemer Royals didn’t live up to their name against the Humber Hawks men’s soccer team in a rematch in Vaughan on Sept. 30. The Hawks scored a season high 11 goals en route to their triumphant victory against the Royals Sept. 30. This was the second Humber victory over the Royals in 2026, previously winning 5-0 in their second game of the season Sept. 17. Early in the game, the Hawks kept the Royals on the defensive, with Hawks defender Luca Pinto breaking through 13 minutes into the game. Royals’ goalkeeper Bernardo Nichele stopped the first shot, but Pinto headed the rebound off the crossbar, allowing midfielder Michael Crocco to clean up with the first goal of the match. Pinto gave the Royals no time to breathe, as four minutes later, fourth-year midfielder Franz Mella drove through the Royals defenders to square an assist, giving Pinto his first goal of the match. Humber continued to pour on more offence, taking shots every chance they got, taking four more before fourth-year midfielder Tariq Joseph got the Hawks’ third goal of the game, with Mella earning his second assist of the game. “Earlier this season there were
some nerves, but once we got through our first match, it just clicked,” Joseph said. The Pinto and Mella connection came through once again for Humber, as Mella’s screamer from the top of the box extended the Hawks lead to 4-0. Joseph struck once more when fifth-year midfielder Matthew Smith sent a low cross for Joseph, pouring on more offence to make it 5-0 before the end of the first half. Hawks Head coach Jason Mesa made substitutions going into the second half, bringing out midfielder Cisco Thomas, who scored seven minutes in with another assist from Mella. Humber winger Terique Mohammad was taken down by Redeemer defender Denver Packalen from behind, resulting in a penalty kick. Mella took the penalty opportunity and delivered another goal, his sixth of the season. As the Hawks continued to run up the scoreboard, the Royals looked tired and disheartened on the field. Humber overwhelmed every play and stopped any attempts of retaliation from the Royals. “At some point [the Royals] just started playing for fun,” Joseph said, “I know some of those guys and they could’ve done better.” Hawks defender Adrian Anthony
and Mella scored two more goals, nearly three minutes apart, before giving Mella a break and subbing him off in favour of getting Joseph back in the game. That substitution paid off, as Joseph would be the one to push the Hawks into double digits, leading 10-0. One more penalty from winger Joshua Vivero would be the final nail in the coffin for the Royals, ending in 11-0. The Hawks moved to 5-0 on the
season after the win, however suffered their first loss against the undefeated Fanshawe Falcons Oct. 4, losing 4-0. It was the program’s first loss in almost a calendar year, with their last defeat coming in the OCAA gold medal match Oct. 26, 2025 against the Conestoga Condors. After their first loss of the season, the Hawks dropped to third in the OCAA’s national rankings, passed by the Algonquin Wolves as the highest nationally-ranked Ontario squad.
Despite the loss, the Hawks still look to build off of their national title from last season, building on the previous success of the program. “We are definitely a team, and the program has been built around being successful. We build a team together so we’re in a position to win every game,” said Coach Mesa after their win over the Royals. The Hawks’ next home match is Friday, Oct. 9, against Lambton, looking for a rebound after their loss to Fanshawe earlier in the week.
HUMBERETC/PETER BHAGOUTIE
Humber seniors Franz Mella (left) and Terique Mohammed (right) celebrate after Franz’s goal to extend the lead.
ETC
10 - SPORTS
OCT 9, 2026
Women’s soccer blanks Royals in victory
HUMBERETC/PETER BHAGOUTIE
Hawks forward Kaylese Callender celebrates with her team after putting the Hawks up 2-0 in the route to a win.
Peter Bhagoutie HumberETCSports
The Hawks women’s soccer team won 2-0 against the Royals on a cloudy fall Wednesday. The victory is the second one for the Hawks against the Royals this
season. Humber won 1-0 in a previous matchup against the Hamilton team on Sept. 17. In this second game, the Royals were on the defensive back foot throughout the first half, as the Hawks kept up the aggressive
offence. That early aggression paid off for the Hawks as forward Chantel Spalla lined up a shot in the box. The shot was deflected by Redeemer goalkeeper Jasmine DeBoer, only to be hit back with the follow-up
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by forward Kaitlynn Russell who scored the first goal for the Hawks at the end of the seventh minute. Humber kept up the offensive, as Spalla kept finding opportunities between a very contentious midfield. The Hawks kept the Royals goalkeeper busy with 19 shots made in the half by Humber, and none yet from the Redeemers, ending the half at 1-0 for the Hawks. The Royals picked up the pace in the second half, giving the Hawks a real challenge as the Redeemers started to feel more comfortable playing more offensively. “I thought we had a good first half, but our last two games were more successful with the ball movement being faster,” said Hawks Head Coach Marcelo Capozzolo after the match. ”I was challenging them for the second half to move the ball quicker. We say let the ball flow and I think they did a better job in the second half.” The Royals tried to fight back in their offensive, but it was too little too late as the Hawks fought every enemy offensive back in their favour
with an iron defense. “My main goal was just to keep the middle together and win as much balls as I can,” midfielder Micayla Santaguida said. “Keeping the middle is the most important thing. If you lose the middle, it’s tough.” Entering the 70th minute, Hawks’ forward Layah Haye threaded a pass to forward Kaylese Callender, who got past the Royals goalkeeper and defence before tapping the ball in for her fifth goal this season. “I think we brought the intensity up a little bit in the second half,” Santaguida said. After the match, Capozzolo spoke about the match and his confidence in the women’s team this season. “It’s always exciting to come for our Humber games but I think we have a really deep roster, and we should be able to do good things this season,” Capozzolo said. With a 4-1 win on the road against the Fanshawe Falcons on Oct. 4, Humber moved to 5-1 on the season and sit in the OCAA’s west division. The Hawks will look to extend their winning streak to six games Oct. 9 with a match against the Lambton Lions.
ETC
OCT 9, 2026
SPORTS - 11
HUMBERETC/SHARUJAN VIYAYASINGHABAGU
Hawks softball sweeps St.Clair at home Womens softball defeats St.Clair in a double header game
Sharujan Viyayasinghabagu HumberETCSports
the Humber softball team continued its strong season against the St. Clair Saints during a double-header on Sunday, Oct. 4. The Hawks won both games, with the first game 4-3, and the second game 8-0 at Connorvale Park in Toronto. The two teams last met in September, when the Hawks survived a late near comeback against the Saints 7-6 In the last game Hawks played, they fell to the Fanshawe Falcons in Hamilton. St. Clair ended the month of September with a win against the Sheridan Bruins Hawks coach Duaine Bowles turned to fifth-year right-hander Makayla Benz to be the starting pitcher for the Hawks in Game 1. Right-fielder Rilee Rothwell tripled to center field and shortstop Jessica Benz singled to shortstop to give Humber its first lead of the day making it 2-0. In the top of the third inning, St. Clair got on the scoreboard, when catcher Kamryn Coombs singled to center field, earning an RBI. Humber would increase its lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Centre-fielder Claire McKay
walked with an RBI. St. Clair rallied back into the game in the top of the fifth inning, with Coombs reaching first on an error, and third-baseman Ashley Marchand singled but advanced to second on another error to make the score tied 3-3. In the bottom of the sixth inning, pinch-runner Jessica La Ronde replaced first-baseman Chantal Carriere, after a double to center field. La Ronde would end up stealing third base to put herself in scoring position. Third-baseman Reese Velocci was the hero of game one as she hit the game-winning sacrifice bunt to get the Hawks back in the lead 4-3. In the top of the seventh inning, fourth-year pitcher Shade Hansen replaced Benz, ending her afternoon with eight strikeouts. Hansen earned a save and struck out two Saints players to give the Hawks their first win of the doubleheader. The second game of the doubleheader wasn’t a contest. Hansen made the start for Game 2. Humber began its offence with a three-run double by catcher Blair Naughton, and left-fielder Karsyn Wilkes would add another run with a double to make the lead 4-0 in the bottom of the second inning.
The offence would continue in the next inning, with a sacrifice fly from first-baseman Chantal Carriere, and a single to left field from second-baseman Peyton Fitzgerald, to make the score 6-0. Designated hitter Maddy Friesen would increase the lead 7-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, with a single. To cap off the offense, Velocci continued her dominant performance by hitting a home run to seal the second victory of the doubleheader. Velocci ended the day with three hits, two runs, two RBIs, and one home run. She said that the team really contributed and helped them throughout the day. “I feel like we just feed off each other with the energy.” “It keeps us each other motivated.” Rilee Rothwell said that it was good to win these games. “We’ve been struggling for the past couple games,” said Rothwell. “Being able to win both games, that was really big for us today.” Rothwell ended the doubleheader with three hits, two runs, and an RBI. The Hawks look to play another doubleheader against the Sheridan Bruins at Connorvale Park on Thursday, Oct. 15. The last time both teams played
each other was in September in Kitchener. The Hawks came away with the victory. Rothwell said that the team will
be okay and ready to go up against Sheridan. “I think we just have to bring the energy, and everyone will be okay.”
HUMBERETC/SHARUJAN VIYAYASINGHABAGU
Pitcher Shade Hansen congratulating her teammates after the game 1 win on the home field at Connorvale park, (3) Karsyn Wilkes and (9) Maddy Friesen.
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HUMBER’S AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER
OCTOBER 9, 2026 | VOL.72 NO.2
MEN’S SOCCER SHUTS OUT REDEEMER P. 21
WOMEN’S SOCCER WIN IN STYLE P. 22
HAWKS SOFTBALL SWEEP P. 23