Humber Polytechnic

• 1. Founding And Early Expansion

  ›

  The first new section of Humber opened on Monday, the 11th of September 1967. It operated out of James S. Bell Elementary School on Lake Shore Boulevard West. Gordon Wragg served as the founding President during these initial years. The Lakeshore Campus began with manpower retraining programs on Queen Elizabeth Way in Etobicoke. In November 1968, North Campus officially opened under the leadership of Mayor Edward A. Horton and Mayor Jack Moulton. Student enrolment increased rapidly throughout the early 1970s. This growth forced the college to expand its business and technology programs at both locations. Humber eventually held the largest group of business students in the entire province. Three-year co-op programs were developed for a range of technology and business studies. By the mid-1980s, the institution had become Canada's largest college. It enrolled over 27,000 full-time learners and 50,000 part-time learners.

• 2. Campus Development And Infrastructure

  ›

  On the 18th of April 2015, Humber opened the Humber Learning Resource Commons building. This 264,000-square-foot structure cost $79 million to construct. B+H Architects designed the facility which features six floors of student services. The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities funded $74.5 million of the project costs. The campus sits adjacent to the Humber River in Etobicoke. Approximately 20,000 full-time students attend classes there today. Another major addition arrived as the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation. This 93,000 square foot centre cost about $27 million. The Barrett Family Foundation contributed $10 million toward its construction. Government funding from Canada and Ontario covered another $17 million. The Lakeshore Campus occupies grounds formerly used by the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital. A new L-Building opened at this location in 2011. Artist Harley Valentine installed a sculpture named Persephone in May 2013. The Queensway 1 Campus closed its doors in 1989 after operating since 1968.

• 3. Academic Programs And Innovation

  ›

  Humber offers more than 200 programs across 17 areas of interest. These include bachelor's degrees, diplomas, certificates, and apprenticeship tracks. The institution serves over 86,000 learners annually. It also provides Bridging Programs for internationally trained professionals in engineering fields. Flexible manufacturing was introduced as one of the early technology innovations. The Lakeshore Campus became the first college to offer a solar technology program. This initiative responded directly to industry demands during that growing period. By 1987, Humber developed the largest international program among all Canadian colleges. The college worked with the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Canada. They introduced responsive tertiary education concepts to countries throughout Africa and Asia. In the fall of 1980, building F hosted filming for The Last Chase film. The campus later served as a location for the first Police Academy movie released in 1984. On the 2nd of February 2009, students made contact with astronaut Sandra Magnus aboard the International Space Station. They used an apparatus built and operated within a lab room at the Rexdale campus.

• 4. Media Production Facilities

  ›

  The Digital Broadcast Centre houses Humber TV and Radio Humber operations. This facility manages all newspaper, magazine, and web production activities. Humber holds the only CRTC campus instructional license granted to any GTA College. A fully operational radio station broadcasts on frequency 96.9 FM. The Arts and Media Studio opened in 2010 inside the old Lakeshore Lions Arena. This venue sits at 300 Birmingham Street within the Lakeshore Campus grounds. The Centre for Urban Ecology features a LEED gold certified green roof system. It includes passive solar heating and a biofilter system for water management. This facility stands as the only Platinum EcoCentre in Ontario. These specialized spaces support practical training for media studies and applied technology programs. Students gain hands-on experience using professional-grade equipment daily.

• 5. Rebranding To Polytechnic Status

  ›

  On the 29th of August 2024, Humber College announced a name change to Humber Polytechnic. This strategic decision aimed to better reflect their education model combining theory with practice. The new title emphasizes fostering employability rather than just employment for graduates. However, the college's official legal name remains Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. The institution also launched a new International Graduate School in downtown Toronto. This initiative replaced the Orangeville campus which closed its doors in June 2021. The rebranding process marked a significant shift in how the public perceives the school. It signals a commitment to deep theoretical learning alongside applied hands-on experience.

• 6. Notable Alumni And Achievements

  ›

  Doug Ford served as Premier of Ontario after attending classes for two months at the institution. Adam Copeland, known professionally as Edge, studied Radio Broadcasting before becoming a WWE wrestler. George Stroumboulopoulos attended from 1994 and later hosted CBC News: The Hour. Herbert L. Becker won a Juno Award while studying Applied and Creative Arts Theatre music in 1975. Sid Seixeiro co-hosts Breakfast Television following his time at the college. Franice Villeneuve became the first female Canadian thoroughbred jockey to win 1,000 races. Elias Theodorou currently competes as a professional mixed martial artist for the UFC. K. Trevor Wilson works as a comedian after graduating from the program. These individuals represent diverse fields ranging from politics to entertainment and sports. Their achievements highlight the practical impact of the college's training programs on real-world careers.