HUMBER ET CETERA
Food bank use at a record high
Ethan Alcaidinho HumberETC News
Food bank use across Canada has reached unprecedented levels, with the Hunger Count 2024 report from Food Banks Canada showing more than two million visits in March alone — a six per cent increase from last year and a staggering 90 per cent rise since 2019.
This surge in demand is largely driven by the high cost of living, which has left many Canadians struggling to meet basic needs.
One of the most alarming trends highlighted in the report is the growing number of employed relying on food banks.
Eighteen per cent of food bank users are now employed, the highest rate ever recorded.
EXPENSIVE NECESSITIES
Despite holding jobs, many individuals and families find themselves unable to afford necessities like food due to soaring rent and utility costs.
“I use the food bank about once a month. My rent takes up most of my income, so there’s very little left for food,” said Angelica Perez, a food bank user in Mississauga, Ont. “Without the food bank, I would struggle to get by.”
The demographics of food bank users are also shifting. A third of all food bank visits are made by children, with more than 700,000 visits recorded each month — an increase of more than 300,000 monthly visits
since 2019.
Single-person households now account for 42 per cent of visits, reflecting the unique challenges faced by those living alone, including job insecurity and physical or mental health issues.
Patricia Mateja, an office volunteer at The Compass Food Bank and Outreach Centre on Lakeshore Road in Mississauga, said there is sharp rise in demand for food assistance, particularly among families with young children.
“The biggest need we have is for infants and formula,” she said. “Formula is very, very expensive.”
In response, The Compass has adjusted its services to better meet the needs of its clients. The organization now offers a variety of food options for children, including breakfast cereals, snacks, and even backpacks for schoolchildren.
Mateja said food banks must provide not only what they think clients need but also what their clients actually want.
The report also reveals a significant rise in food bank use among seniors, who now represent 7.7 per cent of clients, up from 6.8 per cent in 2019.
Additionally, two-parent families account for 23 per cent of users, a significant increase from 19 per cent just five years ago.
The increase in food bank use has placed immense pressure on these organizations. At The Compass, Mateja described the growing
strain on their resources.
“Our meal demands have gone beyond the numbers we used to experience,” she said, adding they rely heavily on donations and community partnerships to keep up with demand.
One potential solution, she suggested, could be adopting policies similar to those in France, where grocery stores are prohibited from discarding unsold food.
“If we could get fresh food like fruits and vegetables from grocery
stores that would otherwise be thrown away, that would be a great help,” she said. That would provide healthier options for clients, especially during the winter months when the food bank’s garden is not producing.
Humber Et Cetera is the Humber Polytechnic journalism program laboratory newspaper. It is created by journalism students in the Advanced Diploma program. Et Cetera serves to inform the Humber community and give its readers well-rounded coverage on the things that matter to them.
The impact of the food insecurity crisis is clear. According to Food Banks Canada, more than a third of food bank clients are immigrants or newcomers, many of whom face additional challenges in accessing support.
“When the war in Ukraine broke out, we noticed a big increase in people coming to the food bank from Ukraine,” Mateja said. “Even if they’re being sponsored by someone, they still have needs. And again, those needs are food.”
Food Banks Canada has called on policymakers to take action to address the root causes of food insecurity, including the housing crisis, inadequate social assistance programs, and low wages.
They stress the need for a “dual path” approach — one that provides immediate relief through food assistance while also addressing the systemic issues that keep people in poverty.
The rising demand for food assistance highlights the growing crisis faced by many Canadians, and organizations like The Compass are playing a crucial role in offering support. Mateja said long-term solutions require greater government involvement and community support.
“We all need to work together to address food insecurity in the years to come,” she said. “It’s not something that can be solved overnight, but with more support, we can make a difference.”
Volunteers gathered at the Food Banks Canada distribution centre in Toronto to help sort and package essential supplies for those in need.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/CHRIS YOUNG
Food bank user Angelica Perez. HUMBER ETC/ETHAN ALCAIDINHO
Humber hits breast cancer goal
For Tracey Chase, breast cancer advocacy is a mission born from love and resilience.
Having watched her mother face breast cancer at age 39, Chase felt compelled to embrace early screenings and prepare herself for any challenge that might come her way.
EARLY SCREENING
“From the time I was in my 30s, I knew I’d be screening regularly. It brought up some anxiety having seen what cancer does and how it affects people. So, I went for 15 years of doing those screenings,” she said. Eventually, she faced her diagnosis at 45.
Chase is a 50-year-old breast cancer survivor living in Waterloo, Ont. Today, Chase not only survives but thrives, actively giving back as a volunteer with Breast Cancer Canada to raise awareness and support for those on similar journeys.
“This organization has been my connection to a community that understands the physical and mental challenges that come with this disease,” she said.
Humber Polytechnic’s Department of Public Safety rallied to support Breast Cancer Canada during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, launching its first health-related initiative. The initia-
tive surpassed its fundraising goal of $1,000 by raising $1,554, achieving 155 per cent of its target.
The initiative, driven by a combination of student engagement and dedicated outreach tables, aimed to bring breast cancer awareness to campus while raising crucial funds for research.
The overwhelming support earned Humber a spot in Breast Cancer Canada’s top ten fundraising contributors nationwide.
Angela Marlatt, the vice president of Mission and Advocacy at Breast Cancer Canada, emphasized the critical role of partnerships like these in advancing breast cancer research.
“Campaigns like Humber’s enable us to engage more communities and raise awareness on a personal level,” she said.
Marlatt said the reach of these campaigns not only brings awareness but also empowers people to act.
“It’s essential that people recog nize the importance of early detection, especially since advancements now allow more personalized treatment based on the type and stage of breast cancer,” she said.
The funds raised this year will support innovative projects that could transform how breast cancer is detected and treated, particularly for individuals in remote communities who face barriers to access.
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month concluded, both Breast Cancer Canada and Humber Polytechnic look forward to continuing
their collaboration.
The funds raised will go directly toward research efforts in 2025, with new announcements expected in December.
Marlatt expressed deep gratitude to the Humber community, encouraging students and faculty alike to continue supporting awareness and research efforts.
Adnan Salam, assistant manager of Public Safety, said the department’s motivation behind the campaign, noting many within the Humber community have personal connections to breast cancer.
DIAGNOSED
“One of my colleagues was diagnosed recently, and we felt it was essential to bring this cause to campus to support those affected and to help drive forward research that can save lives,” he said.
Marlatt said a new research project funded by Breast Cancer Canada focuses on developing a blood test for early detection, which could save high-risk individuals the long travel times for screening procedures.
The campaign has since become a model for future health initiatives on campus, with plans to expand its reach and impact next year.
For Chase and others, these efforts underscore the value of community support.
Med schools for Canadians: Ford
Satwik Kumar Singh HumberETC News
Ontario Premier Doug Ford plans to ban international students from enrolling at Ontario medical colleges beginning in 2026, although there are only 10 currently in provincial programs. He said the government is prioritizing medical school seats for Ontario students. At least 95 per
cent of all undergraduate seats will be allocated to Ontario residents, while the rest will be allocated to students from the rest of Canada.
Ford said he found out local students are studying in countries like Ireland and the U.S. and are choosing to stay there, while students from around the world come to Ontario, allegedly taking spots that could be assigned to local can-
didates and return to their home countries.
“There were 18 per cent of students from around the world taking our kids’ seats and then not even staying here and going back to their country and it’s just not right. So now it’s gonna be 100 per cent Canadian, 95 per cent Ontario. So, I am glad we are getting this done,” Ford said in a press conference.
STUDENT ENROLEMENT
However, according to Ontario government data, only 10 international students were enrolled in medical schools out of a total of 3,833 students in the 2023-24 school year, less than a percentage point.
School of Medicine at Queen’s University, an Ontario-based research university, said in a statement the recent policy changes apparently don’t reflect the student body.
“A majority of Queen’s current medical students are from Ontario. We look forward to hearing more details from the province about admission changes,” a representative
from Queen’s said.
Queen’s University said its admission statistics for their incoming class show 80 per cent of all the students are from Ontario, 17 per cent of students are from western provinces and territories and only three per cent are from Quebec and eastern provinces.
There is no mention of international students by Queen’s.
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine, a Thunder Bay, Ont., medical school, said it doesn’t have any international students.
“As NOSM University does not accept international students to its undergraduate medical program, we are unable to provide comment on the implication of this policy for us,” a representative from NOSM said.
Amir Qaiser, a second-year Police Foundations student at the Humber Lakeshore campus, wants to make a difference in the community.
Qaiser used to volunteer with the Toronto Police Rovers, a volunteer group with Humber College Scouts Canada and Toronto Police. He is now training to be an auxiliary officer for the Toronto Police Service. He used to work at Bath and Body Works and now serves as a residential worker at a youth open custody and detention facility.
“I wanted to get a job where every day was different and where there would be conflict or something that I could solve and just something where I could interact with a lot of people and make a difference in their life,” Qaiser said.
“There is a youth that I’ve been working with for a couple of months. I got him to open up and after some events where he got mad, I thought we were banging heads,” he said.
“He actually told me the next day, ‘Amir, you inspired me. I’m going to do better at controlling myself,’ and he was telling me about the two schools he wanted to go to, and how he’s thinking about becoming an electrician and stuff,” Qaiser said.
“He’s committed crime. He comes from crime, right? I think me being the reason that he said that he wants to do better makes me so happy every time,” he said.
Luis Miguel S. De Castro HumberETC News
Humber Polytechnic’s Public Safety Department raised over $1,500.
HUMBERETC/LUIS MIGUEL S. DE CASTRO
Youth activists win climate rights appeal
Reet Arora HumberETC News
Ontario’s appeal court ordered a new hearing in a youth-led climate lawsuit against Queen’s Park alleging the province’s low targets in reducing emissions are risking the lives and well-being of its residents.
The provincial government’s argument that its climate actions were not subject to the Charter was rejected by a Court of Appeal tribunal in an Oct. 17 decision. The ruling ordered the case be returned to the Superior Court of Ontario for a new hearing as “the issues raised on the application must be considered afresh and through the correct analytical lens.”
Zoe Keary-Matzner, a volunteer activist for Fridays for Future Toronto, was 12 when she first became involved with environmental law charity Ecojustice because it was “incredibly important” to her as that is when she was becoming more aware of climate change.
“I think it was the year that the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change) released their report saying that we had till 2030 to cut our emissions in half and prevent climate catastrophe,”
Keary-Matzner, 17, said.
She said it causes so much fear and people shy away when there’s a need to act because they don’t know they can achieve something by it.
“It’s caused by government action, fossil fuel industries, by people, and therefore it can be stopped, and those people have to be held accountable,” KearyMatzner said.
She said the Ontario government first tried to dismiss the case as they “can’t even use the law in this case” and called it “silly.”
ACTIVISTS’ IMPACT
But the court said the case was justifiable and this would be the first of a climate lawsuit of its kind and went forward with the case, Keary-Matzner said.
“The court agreed with all the facts, but they did not agree with our legal arguments, so it was essentially a loss (for the activists),” she said.
Keary-Matzner said the youth activists appealed the decision and the decision ruled their legal arguments are sound, and they are going to send it to lower courts for a final decision.
The appellate court overruled the April 14, 2023, decision by
Superior Court of Justice Judge Marie-Andrée Vermette which “indicated that there was insufficient evidence to allow her to address the adverse effects distinction concerning young people’s liberty and future life choices that are being constrained by decisions being made today over which they have no control.”
The tribunal said in its written decision that “this issue may inform the question of whether the Target and Plan are Charter compliant because of the statutory obligation to combat climate change that Ontario has imposed on itself is another question that may require reconsideration at the new hearing.”
Keary-Matzner said this new hearing sets the activists up for success and makes it more likely for them to receive a positive result. The activist said she was in class when she realized they had won.
“We’re trying to get it to go through the courts as fast as possible because, I mean, the legal process takes time, but climate change isn’t really waiting for that,” Keary-Matzner said.
“The sooner we act, the more effective that action will be,” she said.
The Canadian government’s Climate Science 2050 states the climate is warming and will continue to do so in the future, primarily due to human activities. It aims to reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 and implement strong adaptation measures, both within Canada and internationally.
SUCCESS
Reid Gomme, lawyer at Ecojustice Canada, said the question at issue is when Ontario sets a law and a target that aims for specific reductions.
Gomme said the previous government had “somewhat ambitious climate targets that this government repealed and replaced with one single target” and that is what motivated the activists to take that last recourse to court.
He said Ontario tried to strike down the motion by arguing that the case was seeking non-existent rights under the Charter and that it had no chance of success.
The court decided to go ahead with a full hearing to review all the facts of climate change, how Ontario contributes to it and how it could harm young Ontarians and future generations.
“We look at the science behind
what that level of climate inaction, basically arriving at a 30 per cent target which will mean a ‘climate catastrophe,’” he said.
“In fact, it perpetuates this, low kind of targeting and allows a world to exist where you still have a lot of emissions that are being facilitated by such a government policy,” he said.
Gomme said there are emissions from all sorts of sectors and not enough action is being taken.
Ecojustice contends the court’s ruling affirms the Charter applies to Ontario’s climate targets and confirms the government’s actions are harming Ontarians and advanced the law in holding the provincial government to account.
Gomme said Ontario would need to aim for a 52 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 from that 2005 number, not 30 per cent.
“We’re talking about a gap ... where to just be at a minimum level of what the world as a whole needs to do,” he said.
He said the case presented to the court argued people have a right to life and security under Section 7 of the Charter, and have a right to equality in Section 15, both of which would be threatened if emission targets aren’t met.
A group of young people protest that the provincial government’s climate policies fail to protect their future from the escalating and increasingly severe impacts of climate change.
Rogers Stadium to open in Downsview
Adrien Glazer Skedline.com
The newest addition to Toronto’s list of live music venues—Rogers Stadium—was announced this past September and is expected to open in the summer of 2025. However, it’s only the beginning of a larger hub for culture and community in the city at the former Downsview Airport (YZD) site.
Over the next thirty years, the 145-hectare former airport will be transformed into a mixed-use community consisting of seven districts. These districts will include mixed housing, retail spaces, parks, and community facilities.
“We’re really building a city within a city; a mixed-use city within a city,” Mitchell Marcus, the executive director of site activation and programming for Northcrest Developments, said.
The company is overseeing the development of the former Downsview airport.
“Which means it has to be a place that serves great places to live, great places to work, great entertainment, restaurants, retail and amenities. Just a really thoughtful approach to the public realm and the places where people play. We’re kind of building that mini-city with all of those elements.”
The first district in development is the Hangar District, located in the 12 hangars of the former airport. The district is planned to be a pedestrian-centred community, providing over 2,500 new homes with connec-
tions to Downsview Park.
“The history that’s in these buildings captures a whole chapter of Canadian innovation in aerospace engineering. I think that’s really the centrepiece of the first district,
these hangers that have this amazing heritage value are going to be retrofitted and reimagined into new things,” Marcus said. Development of the entire site is expected to be completed over the next few decades, and will use more than 210- hectares of both YZD property and Canada lands.
In the meantime, developers are using the space to hold public events to show Torontonians its potential.
In addition to the construction of Rogers Stadium, the former airport grounds has held a free event called Play on the Runway for the past three years, where the public is encouraged to come down to the grounds and use the expansive space to do exactly what the name suggests: play.
“I had never been to the Downsview Airport before, and there was so much empty space, with the runway stretching across all sides,” Aswin Nair said. He attended Play on the Runway this past summer.
“Finding out more about how they plan on using it, I thought it was a fantastic idea. They have so much empty space sitting idle because there isn’t an operational airport anymore, so the possibility that this area might be converted into a bustling neighbourhood is exciting to hear.”
Downsview hopes Rogers Stadium will bring more opportunity and a sense of community to Toronto.
YZD/NORTHCREST DEVELOPMENTS/LIVE NATION
Trump wins the presidency leading KamalaHarristhanks
supportersinspeech
Harnoor Kaur
Julia-Marie Ilano
Samuel D. Brito Salas
HumberETC News
As the election drew to a close, the future of the United States is increasingly taking on a dauntingly red hue.
Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election marked the end of a historic electoral contest.
Trump delivered his victory speech late last night in Palm Beach, Fla., where he said this election was historic.
“This was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time,” he said. “There’s never been anything like this in this country and maybe beyond.”
He said his win would assure a “golden age” for the U.S.
Trump said his campaign was key and its impact significant for his victory on election night.
“This campaign has been so historic in so many ways,” Trump said. “We’ve built the biggest, the broadest, the most unified coalition.”
He thanked those who worked with him and supported him in the electoral campaign.
Trump also thanked minority groups who voted for him.
“This is also a massive victory for democracy and for freedom,” he said. “we’re going to unlock America’s glorious destiny, and we’re going to achieve the most incredible future for our people.”
He said it’s the right time to unite people again after four years of polarization and division to succeed.
“Success is going to bring us together, and we are going to start by all putting America first,” Trump said. “America’s future will be bigger, better, bolder, richer, safer, and stronger than it has ever been before.”
He said he would keep his word as he did in his previous presidential term.
Vice President Kamala Harris expressed gratitude to the crowds for their trust in her concession speech at Howard University on Nov. 6.
‘’The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for. But hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright’’ she said.
She also congratulated Trump
for his win via a morning call and asked for a ‘’peaceful transfer of power.’’
‘’While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fuelled this campaign.’’
She asked her supporters to stand for American ideals.
‘’This is the time to organize, to mobilize, to stay engaged for the sake of freedom and justice for the sake of the future we will build together,’’ she said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the newly elected president Trump on Wednesday and congratulated him for his second term. The two leaders discussed trade, North American security, global economy and the U.S.Canada partership.
Trudeau re-established the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations on Thursday.
The Commitee will focus on critical Canada-U.S. issues and will be presieded by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland.
Politics professor at Humber Polytechnic, Elinor Bray-Collins said this election would mark a historic event, especially with Trump’s legal accusations.
“Americans are on the precipice of potentially electing a convicted felon for president,” she said. “He’s got a unique type of skin in the game as well.”
Bray-Collins said Trump’s triumph would be a sign of further decline in American democracy.
“He’s a symptom of a system that is sick, not the cause of it,” she said.
Experts such as the Academic Director of Wilson College in McMaster, Don Abelson, said swing states were essential for Democrats to win.
“If Kamala Harris is able to take Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, possibly North Carolina, she will be in a very, very good position to win this,” Abelson said. “If she loses even one of those traditional blue states, things are going to get dicey.”
All of these states voted for Trump. Many academic experts, such as Abelson, echo the worries and disheartening attitudes of many people around the globe.
“Never in my lifetime have I ever seen a more distasteful and disturbing election. Never in my lifetime have I ever seen a former president of the United States maintain that his opponent was
mentally impaired at birth,” Abelson said.
Voter turnout was another reason the election favoured Trump. Data from the Associated Press analyzed the demographics of voters who voted for Trump versus Harris.
Compared to the previous elections, young people had a smaller turnout for Democrats than Republicans.
In the 2020 Biden-Trump election, 61 per cent of voters aged 18 to 29 voted for Biden. However, in the 2024 Harris-Trump election, only 52 per cent of voters in that age bracket voted for Harris.
The AP’s data also shows how Latino and Black men favoured Trump over Harris. In 2020, 90 per cent of Black voters and 63 per cent of Latino voters went to Biden. In 2024, these numbers changed to 80 per cent of Black voters and 56 per cent of Latino voters- who voted for Harris.
Daniel Hambly, a history professor at Humber Polytechnic, said that democratic backsliding patterns are appearing across the world.
‘’There’s been a move globally towards a sort of a decline in political freedoms,’’ he said.
‘’More and more countries
moving away from the democratic norms that have been established in the West for a very long time and towards more authoritarian practices,” Hambly said.
As per Economist Intelligence’s Democracy Index 2023 report, the average global democratic health has fallen to its lowest levels since the index started in 2006.
Less than eight per cent of the world’s population live in a full democracy while almost 40 per
cent live under authoritarian rule, it said. The United States stands in 29th with a ‘‘flawed democracy’’ classification on the list of 167 countries and territories ranked.
‘’Another Trump presidency might see America slide, you know, more towards that system of governing authoritarianism and away from some of the democratic norms that have been established in the United States,’’ Hambly said.
Republican president-elect former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump walk on stage
the U.S. in new uncertain territories
Deon Taylor HumberETC News
Donald J. Trump made an extraordinary political comeback Tuesday as the 47th president of the United States.
This return to power follows the controversies surrounding the 2020 election denial, the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, 34 felony charges and two alleged assassination attempts.
He secured the magic number of 270 Electoral College votes needed to clinch the presidency by winning Wisconsin, adding to earlier victories in North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
Trump’s Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris conceded on Wednesday.
American voters reached by Humber Et Cetera on election day reflected a myriad of feelings about the vote, including feeling their ballots aren’t carrying the weight they should.
“It just doesn’t feel like, we don’t feel like (we) as the people actually have a choice. I just went out and did it just to say I did,” Martieno Johnson, of Cleveland, said.
“I don’t feel like my vote went into the ballots, but hopefully it does matter.”
He was candid about who he supported: “I voted for Donald Trump.”
Ohio voters backed Trump.
“When he was in office first, he ran he ran America like, like the business that it is,” said Johnson, explaining the reasoning behind his vote. “And he made treaties with people that you know, other presidents never even sat down with, you know.”
But Johnson nevertheless did not feel a part of the process. He
said four years ago, canvassers explained the issues better to voters.
He said in 2020, people were handing out pamphlets describing and explaining the issues to voters.
“And they explained it,” Johnson said. “But this year around...they did not. They did not do that. They didn’t explain what we were voting for. They didn’t tell me what issue one was and to vote yes on this.
“They didn’t explain because, like I said regular people are not really into politics like that,” he said. “You know what I’m saying? So, I mean, it’s up to them if they want us to vote for something, it’s up to them to explain it to us.”
Kashious Londell, of New York City, said he didn’t vote because he didn’t think his ballot made a difference.
“I didn’t vote at all by choice,” he said.
New York, a traditionally Democratic state, backed Harris, but pundits said the vote softened in New York City.
“The propaganda, you know, because as, as you may know, one of our candidates seems to be (slammed) more in the media than the others, you know, that, that creates a bias,” Londell said. “That right there plays a role.”
Dwayne Lewis, also of New York City, said his input and that of others appear undervalued and when the effort is placed to go to the polls it is not of any substantial value in the race.
“I feel like propaganda makes me feel like it’s an extravagant thing if you do vote because it does matter,” he said. “But in reality, I don’t think it is, honestly.”
— With files by Annicca Albano
at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6 in West Palm Beach in Florida.
AP PHOTO/EVAN VUCCI
MARTIN
Kamala Harris, left, delivers a concession speech to supporters at Howard University on Nov. 6 in Washington, D.C.
EDITORIAL
No half-measures, progress kills fascism
You can’t outplay Donald Trump by playing a trump card. Vice President Kamala Harris lost an election by strategically swinging to the right and hoping to garner the vote of moderate Americans while retaining the progressive base that came out for her party in 2020.
This has led to a catastrophic loss that should motivate progressive parties within Western countries to listen to their base about policies that will earn them votes rather than take them for granted as the lesser of two evils. Et Cetera contends that journalists and citizens with the right to express themselves need to step up and urge parties not to capitulate to neo-liberal and fascist narratives.
Not only did Harris lose the Electoral College this Tuesday, but she also lost
the popular vote, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished by a Democrat since 1988.
This also comes with her garnering about 10 million fewer votes than current President Joe Biden received in 2020, with Trump garnering about the same in 2020 and 2024 with just more than 70 million votes.
A turnout like this for the House Of Commons would gut Canadians of their rights to bodily and medical autonomy, kill social services and continue to propel housing, price gouging and cost of living issues that “axing the tax” will not solve.
Many Democrats, and Canadian liberals, will angrily wave fists at progressives and blame them for not showing up as they did in 2020 and not turn to criticize Harris for running a campaign that is ideologically closer to George W.H.
Bush and Dick Chaney in 2004 than any campaign that could’ve been run on a progressive base.
Harris’ messaging was not aimed at the progressive base that came out in 2020 at the height of the BLM movement, a movement which President Barack Obama called thugs during the 2015 Baltimore riots after the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray Jr. He died in police custody and the six officers who were charged with later acquitted.
Harris did not address this base and famously told them “I’m speaking” when protesters appeared at her rally to speak out against genocide in the Middle East.
Instead, she focused on trying to appeal to the moderate and undecided vote.
Seventy-eight per cent of respondents to a 2023
Payroll.org survey stated they would find moderate or high amounts of difficulties if they were to miss a paycheque. In 2019 this was 74 per cent.
Voters in a reactionary nation, being goldfish in political nature, are going to look at economic decline, facing bills and debt creating struggles to put food on the table when they decide to vote against the party in power that does not heavily message on how they’ll make it easier for people to feed their family.
While most surveys put Canadians at around 50 per cent compared to the American’s 78 per cent, it is still a pressing issue for Canadians with price gouging putting a steep rise on bills.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called out grocers for their high prices but the idea of a federal consumer
watchdog was tabled by the NDP in 2023, which sits idle waiting to be discussed.
A mobilization is needed.
This is a call to action. We need to step up.
Join organizations and actively push for politicians to adopt progressive policies to earn your vote and prevent lackadaisical politicians and voters willing to accept the “lesser of two evils.”
These politicians are not going to step up and do something to help the electorate unless it demands they must.
Politics is a popularity game. Politicians will only act on things seen as popular. In the wake of Harris hemorrhaging millions of votes, Trudeau, the next Democratic nominee and other Western liberals need to learn this with public outcry being their instructor.
As far right plutocrats gain steam in liberal democractic nations, lines must be drawn to state that those in politics who label themselves as progressive can’t pander to right wing voters.
AP PHOTO/ALESSANDRA TARANTINO
Politicians will not save us, people power will
On Wednesday, a text message from a friend in the Philippines jolted me awake.
“So sorry. Donald Trump is making a comeback,” it read.
Trump’s return to the White House stirs strong emotions, no matter one’s political leaning. To me, however, the sting is haunting.
I am well acquainted with the grief of an imagined women-led future.
Leni Robredo, a human rights lawyer, economist and, at that time, Vice President of the Philippines with an unblemished track record, ran for presidency in 2022. Her campaign was a grassroots
movement filled with the hope of a more compassionate and accountable government.
Filipinos from different walks of life — young people, doctors, lawyers, farmers, entrepreneurs, artists and celebrities — painted streets in pink and roused rallies with inspiring music, even catching the attention of American pop star Ariana Grande.
And yet, Filipinos enabled the Marcos family to return to power after a landslide victory by Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Marcos Jr.’s father was notorious for his 20-year reign of terror marked by corruption, violence and human rights abuses.
Like Trump’s “Make America Great Again,” Marcos Jr.’s campaign ditty Bagong Pilipinas, which translates to New Philippines, capitalized on an assertive nationalism that resonated widely, despite his complex past.
The day after the U.S. presidential election, I got up and went to work as usual.
Trump’s rival Kamala Harris posted on X, formerly Twitter, that she had conceded the election and called for unity.
“I do not concede the fight that fuelled this campaign: The fight
for freedom, for opportunity, and for fairness and the dignity of all people,” she said.
A country’s true triumph lies beyond any one individual, including Trump.
Indeed, in the U.S., more authority is generally given to state and local governments under federalism and the Tenth Amendment.
This is why disaster relief efforts, minimum wage laws and environmental regulations differ depending on where one lives.
Trump will also have to share the federal government’s slice of the pie with 535 lawmakers in Congress and hundreds of federal judges.
Throughout his campaign, Trump was clear with his plans for his second term, such as carrying out mass deportations, keeping “men” out of women’s sports and boosting fossil-fuel production, which will cause lasting harm to the climate of our entire planet.
Political science experts and media professionals have also warned of the social, political and economic implications in Canada.
While Trump’s influence can trickle down, history also shows that communities have the power to withstand and transform these pressures.
Knowing what’s coming has gotten us ready. Independent watchdogs like the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and media literacy organizations such as PolitiFact by The Poynter Institute continue to counter misinformation and monitor the government overreach.
The International Criminal Court prosecutes those accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. It has even probed Marcos Jr.’s predecessor Rodrigo Duterte for his bloody drug war. These organizations work hard; however, they can’t stop abuse of power alone.
Annicca Albano, she/her, is the editor-in-cheif of Humber Et Cetera and covers food and social justice.
Politics has always been there, so keep it in sports
Politics and sports have been synonymous for a long time. There’s no reason to change that now.
For years, the “keep politics out of sports” crowd has kept growing. As events for Pride, Black History Month and other minority groups become normalized, arguing these “political” events should be dropped in favour of just the sporting side.
This line of thinking misunderstands the history between sport and politics. The two have always been intertwined across the world socially and economically.
These comparisons can be something as simple as when teams look to
renovate or build a new stadium. In many cases, team ownership can try to use taxpayer dollars to pay for their construction.
In Canada, stadiums across the country from B.C. Place in Vancouver, BMO Field in Toronto, Rogers Place in Edmonton and many more have had portions of their funding come from taxpayer dollars.
According to a report by the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, taxpayers are on the hook for US$750 million across stadiums built from 2020 to January 2023.
It’s really as simple as that. Politics and sports going together hand in hand. Now, it’s pretty clear these “keep politics out of sports” arguments don’t really care about the economic side of politics.
The focus is a stand against seeing social causes they don’t personally support in the places they enjoy.
But these causes are important, and cause real change. Take, for example, Pride Nights. A 2020 study from Australia’s Monash University and Toronto Metropolitan University found players in the Australian Ice Hockey League were much less likely to use
homophobic slurs when they played for teams who had Pride nights.
The study found 38 per cent of players self-reported using a homophobic slur at least once in a two-week period on teams who hosted a Pride night, in comparison to 61 per cent of players whose teams did not hold a pride night.
These numbers are still far too high, but they show a real sign of progress and change that having these kinds of nights can have.
Keeping politics out of sports, or not holding a Pride night, would’ve kept the door closed on marginalized groups who’ve been discriminated against in sports for so long.
Furthermore, there have been evidence of real political change happening because of sport and athletes.
Take the story of Ivory Coast soccer legend Didier Drogba, who in 2005 led his team in a message after qualifying for the 2006 World Cup to stop the civil war in the nation.
“Men and women of Ivory Coast. From the north, south, centre, and west, we proved today that all Ivorians can coexist and play together with a shared aim–to qualify for the World Cup,”
Drogba said.
“We promised you that the celebrations would unite the people–today we beg you on our knees,” he continued, as the team all dropped to their knees.
“The one country in Africa with so many riches must not descend into war.
Please lay down your weapons and hold elections.”
As the clip of the video was played on networks across the African nation, movement towards a ceasefire in the civil war was signed.
If the Ivorian national team stayed
out of politics, the fate of the nation could have been different.
Politics will remain a key factor in sport as long as sports teams continue being beacons of community for cities and countries worldwide.
Civil movements from these entities with huge followings and influence will continue to bring positive change to society in the future. It’s time to embrace the power of them.
Rory Arthur, he/him, is a sports edirot at Humber Et Cetera covering all things sports on and off campus.
Scan to read the rest of the opinion piece on collective action.
American and international citizens are greiving the Harris loss to Trump.
AP PHOTO/PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS
Annicca Albano
Rory Arthur
GTA restaurants open doors to dogs
Dog-lovers within the GTA are enjoying more and more ways to dine with their furry friends. Certified Chef de Cuisine Mark Jachecki is no stranger to trends in the culinary industry. He’s been a top chef for more than 40 years and has worked in restaurants around the globe. When Canadian first began his career in the late 1980s, he spent most of it in hotels dominated by German, Swiss, and Austrian classical cuisine. However, one experience in Switzerland left a mark on him. Jachecki said it’s common for dogs to dine in restaurants along with their owners in Europe, with many people seeing
the dog as the owner’s responsibility. Dogs were treated like any other customer, and dogs became accustomed to restaurant culture.
“You never understand how badly your ego can be crushed when the dog ordered a steak with sides, the whole meal,” Jachecki said. “The dog would send it back as it wasn’t cooked to their liking.”
Although dogs aren’t sending back steaks in Canada, many restaurants in the GTA have begun to accommodate pets dining with their owners. According to the Health Protection and Promotion Act, every room where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled and sold shall be
free from live birds or animals.
Along with service animals, there are exceptions to this rule that have allowed this newfound fad to thrive. Lazy Cat Café, a café where guests can enjoy meals and play with cats, has locations in Markham and Toronto that allow guests and felines to eat together because the animals are up for adoption. One exception in the act states live animals offered for sale on food premises are allowed, as long as a medical office of health has given written approval for these animals to stay on the premises. Other restaurants, such as the Irish Harp Pub located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, accommodate non-service dogs at an outdoor
patio where cross-contamination is unlikely as they are seated away from food.
Jovie Joki, the owner of the Irish Harp Pub, said the welcoming dog community around the restaurant allows both dog-friendly accommodations and dog merchandise to be sold.
“We always offered bowls of water, and there’s been quite an increase in pet stores and so selling different things,” she said. “We just saw there was a way that can be implemented here. We even sell bandanas for dogs. It’s a doggy world these days.”
Joki said the restaurant has a small, permanent patio up front that seats 12 people, with a tempo-
rary patio in the back that serves 50 to 60 people. However, the back patio will be closing on Nov. 11 until Joki receives a permanent license for the patio. The restaurant’s “Pawdio” dog menu offers prime rib or salmon with brown rice, sticky toffee pudding, and lemon meringue pie
Read more about dog-friendly restaurantmenusbyscanningthis QRcode.
Alessia Cara suprises fans in Toronto
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Canadian singer Alessia Cara held a surprise acoustic session in Toronto on Nov. 1, for her recent single (Isn’t It) Obvious. Cara has been holding these secret sessions in cities around North America and this is the first time in two years since she has performed.
The event was held at AM Coffee Studio, a local coffee shop on Dundas St. W. and was on a first come first serve basis until they reached capacity. AM Coffee Studio gave complimentary lattes to fans in attendance. Taran Sharma says he was waiting in line for an hour to see Cara.
“I heard about the event after receiving an email from UMusic (Universal Music) and I knew I had
to come to see her since I have never been to such a small show before,” says Sharma. He said the last time he saw Cara in concert was in 2017.
“Knowing the stereotype surrounding Toronto and lines, I didn’t think I would be able to see her performance because I had work earlier today but thankfully I made it,” he said.
After the acoustic session, Cara held a meet-and-greet with fans, during which attendees could take pictures and speak with her. Priya Patel, another fan in attendance, says she has never seen Cara perform.
“This was definitely one of the best experiences I’ve had, not only did I get to see her sing live but getting the chance to speak to her was such a surreal experience,” she says.Cara will be releasing her fourth studio album Love&Hyperboleon Feb. 14.
Pancake, a Shih-Tzu Cockerspaniel mix, chows down a plate of fried “chimken” and vegetable slaw, a new offering at Korean restaurant Sarang Kitchen in Toronto on Danforth Avenue.
Preeti Malhi
Julia-Marie Ilano HumberETC Culture
Alessia Cara on stage for Global Citizen Concert 2021 at The Great Lawn
Rise of Indian hate through social media
Simran Preetkaur landed in Canada from her hometown Punjab, India, in 2019 as an 18-year-old woman with dreams of an education, a career and independence from her family.
“I didn’t have any past experience with moving to a different country,” Preetkaur said. “I was quite nervous, excited, and had mixed emotions, to be honest. I was looking forward to coming here and studying, to see how life would be here living all by myself.”
But moving away from Punjab on her own may be fraught with problems. Social media has taken a discriminatory turn towards Indians.
Indians are being urged to go back to their country, they’re being described as dirty people, that they should be deported, and that they have no place in Canada. The racism and discrimination of Indians weren’t something new for Preetkaur. Even while in India, she would scroll online and see discriminating posts about Indians being made.
“I’ve known it before I moved here,” she said. “I didn’t know that it was going to be that bad.”
It wasn’t until Preetkaur settled into her job as a daycare educator at a Toronto centre that she faced discrimination. It was one of her colleagues who had made remarks about her to a parent. She quoted her colleague saying, “I don’t trust her.” Luckily for Preetkaur, the supervisor at the daycare took action and faced the situation head-on.
Karthik Iyyapan, who moved to Canada from India for work in February 2022, said Canada is a country with a reputation for its kindness and acceptance, unlike the weather he faced when he arrived.
“In India, we know that Canadians are the ones who apologize the most,” Iyyapan said.
“They would be sorry for something they haven’t committed.
“In recent days it is not the case, they are just showing hatred towards Indians,” he said. “Canadians are no longer that same way.”
Preetkaur and Iyyapan are among the hundreds of thousands of Indians who have arrived in Canada since 2013. The number of immigrants rose to 139,715 from 32,828, most of them international students, according to the 2024 report by the National Foundation for American Policy.
The same report also notes that 400,521 international students attended Canadian universities in 2021, compared to 62,223 in 2000.
One of the issues Indians are being targeted for on social media is the lack of job opportunities in Toronto.
“There is a big trend going on, to let all the brown people not take over Tim Hortons, cafes, and even security,” Iyyapan said. “They feel like all the brown people have been occupied with that. They want us to go back [home] so that the Canadians can work those jobs,” he said.
Hateful comments are openly displayed on social media. In a video posted on Oct.16, a group of Uber drivers protested wage-related issues and the abundant amount of drivers.
A comment by username Jimboslicecanada, said, “This is perfect. They’re so close to the plane. Just load them up and send them back.”
Another user, gavin_pauls posted “protesting a part-time gig,” with a laughing emoji at the end of his sentence.
Other users seem to share the same point of view, calling for the protesters to get sent back to their country of India to get real jobs. Iyyapan said reading comments like these can affect a person’s emotional and mental health. “You feel like you are causing something to a peaceful country. We feel guilty for something we didn’t do,” Iyyapan said.
Atulya Sharman, a legal representative with the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, said with the way the economy has been declining, people have been taking their frustration out on the South Asian community, particularly Indians.
“At our clinic, we get a lot of phone calls related to hate crimes against the East Indian, South Asian community,” Sharman
said. “There is an enormous increase in workplace discrimination against international students and temporary foreign workers from the South Asian community.”
This is a situation which Sharman calls extremely sad, as immigrants and foreigners were once seen as crucial to society. Now, Sharman said they are being looked at as people who are stealing jobs away from Canadian citizens, and are the cause of the housing crisis.
“It’s really unfortunate that people are falling for these sorts of gimmicks without even getting into the details of what’s going on,” Sharman said. “It’s like this concept of otherness that has crept in over the last few years in the GTA.”
Sharman said the solution to this problem isn’t easy. It does require social media companies to step up.
Humber students celebrate Diwali
Humber North campus came alive on Nov. 1 as the First Year Experience (FYE) team organized a vibrant Diwali celebration for students to connect and share traditions.
Diwali, the festival of lights, brought colour, music and joy to the campus.
Students, staff and faculty gathered to honour one of the most important festivals of South Asian culture at Humber North’s campus cafeteria. The event welcomed students from all backgrounds to celebrate the spirit of Diwali together.
As the campus was filled with the aroma of traditional Indian snacks and the glow of festive decorations, Gurkeerat Kaur, a senior peer mentor with FYE, shared the reason behind organizing the event.
“We wanted to create a place where students, especially those new to Humber, could connect with each other and feel like a home,” Kaur said.
Kaur said that Diwali symbolizes light over darkness and allows students to share cultural traditions, even when far from family.
“Events like this help students feel part of a community,” she said.
The Diwali celebration, organized by FYE’s student-led team, included traditional Indian dance, diya lighting, and henna stations.
People decorated diyas, small clay lamps traditionally used to signify the victory of light over darkness.
“Since fireworks weren’t allowed on campus, we focused on fun activities like diya decorating and henna art to create a traditional atmosphere,” Kaur said.
The event also offered popular Indian snacks, giving many international students a taste of home.
Kaur said between 500 to 600 students were expected, but only 200 to 300 students attended. Despite the smaller turnout, the celebration was lively, with everyone
enjoying the activities.
“Students danced, joined cultural activities, and DJ Spinz kept everyone energized with upbeat music,” she said.
Vishveshgiri Mehta, a sports management student at Humber, the celebration was a comforting reminder of Diwali at home.
“Being away from family during Diwali can be hard, but events like this make Humber feel like a second home,” he said.
Mehta said the sense of community connection the event created helped him stay connected to his culture while studying abroad.
Sangita Patel, a Fashion Arts and Business program student at Humber, said seeing the Diwali spirit celebrated so vibrantly on campus was an amazing experience.
“I felt a deep sense of pride seeing so many students and faculty celebrating a festival of love, light, and hope together,” she said.
“Celebrating Diwali at Humber with
friends and new people was a great experience. It’s comforting to see our culture celebrated so brightly on campus,” Patel said.
Kaur said the event was part of Humber’s effort to build a campus culture that values diversity and inclusion, giving students a chance to share each other’s traditions.
“The FYE team shared hopes to grow Humber’s cultural events in the future, planning to celebrate more festivals and encourage wider participation,” she said.
The event successfully combined culture, fun, and community, leaving students with lasting Diwali memories.
Kaur said these types of celebrations are important in bringing students together and promoting cultural understanding and a sense of belonging.
“As music played and laughter filled the air, it was clear that events like these help students feel at home, no matter where they’re from. The Diwali celebration honoured a cultural tradition and showcased Humber’s vibrant, diverse spirit,” Kaur said.
Parthvi Indravadan Patel HumberETC Culture
Ayesha Barakzai HumberETC Culture
Karthik Iyyapan, who arrived in Canada from India in 2022, hoped to find a welcoming and inclusive society.
HUMBERETC/AYESHA BARAKZAI
Behind the scenes of pro wrestling
Humberfilmstudentchasesdreambyproducingdocumentary
Just three days before his pitch, Anthony Di Maria, a second-year student in Humber’s Bachelor of Film and Media Production program, gathered all the information he felt was needed to pitch his documentary idea and get it approved. Or at least he thought.
Di Maria, a lifelong fan of professional wrestling and judo practitioner under Anthony Carelli, best known as Santino Marella from his time spent with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), planned for his documentary pitch to be centred around Carelli, his career in wrestling and his other ventures into martial arts.
Professional wrestling has always been a major part of Di Maria’s life, with his dad exposing him to it as a kid.
“I’ve probably got over 500 wrestling figures, just from when my dad was young, and now me collecting them since I was a kid. So, it’s always been a part of me,” Di Maria said Little did Di Maria know he was about to get information that would push his story of Carelli to become a necessary tale to tell.
Carelli, of Mississauga, began his career as Johnny Geo
Basco in a bout in Orangeville, Ont., in 2003. He then travelled to Japan as Joe Basko and dabbled in mixed martial arts. After a stint in the Ohio Valley Wrestling circuit, where he fought as Boris Alexiev, he debuted in WWE Raw in Milan as Santino Marella, a fan sitting in the stands.
Marella eventually became U.S. champion, played a heel in bouts and had success in tag-team matches, winning bouts with the Cobra manoeuvre.
The Cobra became Carelli’s signature move, wearing a sock on his right arm with an image of the deadly snake. He now operates a mixed martial arts gym, Battle Arts Academy, on Tomken Road in Mississauga.
The documentary, titled Rise of the Cobra, had always been Di Maria’s dream project. It was obvious to Di Maria this story needed to be told when he found out Carelli got into wrestling as a single father to build contacts to help pave the way for his daughter’s future career in the entertainment industry.
“It didn’t take too much changing, it was just adding it into there, and it made the story that much stronger,” Di Maria said.
When pitching the project for the course, students were asked to provide their title for the documentary, along with pictures, the premise of the story, and why they were specifically the right person to tell the story at hand.
When it came time for Di Maria’s pitch, he knew that while the premise of a single father providing a better life for his daughter, who is now following in her father’s footsteps by making the leap into the WWE was strong, he needed to show it was possible to pull it off.
“I made sure to let them know that I have access to all of this stuff, and I had the ability, and all of it was possible,” Di Maria said.
When his pitch was approved by professors, Di Maria had to make sure he had the right team to be able to tell the story how he saw it best.
“I wanted people who were passionate about this topic as well, and who also could do the job good,” Di Maria said.
“It was basically looking at who my options are and choosing. And everybody so far, they’ve been doing the work, getting stuff done, they’ve been incredible.”
Di Maria’s production team was finalized, with Matthew
HUMBERETC/SCOTT A. BLAIN
Anthony Di Maria has idolized professional wrestler Anthony Carelli his whole life and is using his knowledge and passion to create a documentary about the wrestler’s career.
HUMBERETC/SCOTT A. BLAIN
Scott A. Blain
HumberETC Culture
Sagadore as his cameraman, Kiera Wolfe as producer and Stephanie Johnston on sound. Along with the main squad, Di Maria and his crew have received lots of support to ensure his documentary is as polished as possible. He said the on-location filming process has so far been efficient and collaborative.
“When we’re doing interviews, at the very end, I’ll look at them and ask if there are any questions you think I should add, or do you have any questions for the subject?” Di Maria asked. “It’s been a great process, I love the crew I have, and I’m so happy I got the one I did.”
Then came aligning the pieces of the documentary together, which Di Maria said was rather easy for him to accomplish.
“Carelli is a personal family friend and he coached me,” Di Maria said. “So, I told him this was the story I wanted to tell, this is what I wanted to do. I texted and called him and he said, ‘You just tell me what you wanna do when we’re doing it, and I will make it work.’”
Di Maria then said his connection with Carelli allowed him to get more wrestlers as a part of this project, such as
Damien Sandow, Chris Masters and Beth Phoenix.
“Getting access to Carelli’s house, gym, other people, that was the easy part,” Di Maria said.
For Di Maria, Rise of the Cobra is his dream project, something that as a lifelong fan of wrestling and Carelli, was what he wanted to always do.
When asked about his future with documentaries and professional wrestling, Di Maria said that he’s hopeful for more projects similar to this one, along with future work within the wrestling industry at large.
“If I can get my name and face seen and get my foot in the door, then I’m willing to do that and make this,” Di Maria said.
“I’d love to do a bunch of more documentaries on wrestling and just that world arWound it, and it’s all about when that opportunity comes, and I’m going to try and make those opportunities come, and when that time presents itself, I’m going to try and take it.”
As of now, Di Maria is continuing his work on Rise of the Cobraand continues to navigate his way through a potential future in the pro wrestling business.
Film student Anthony Di Maria works with a production team, which includes professional wrestler Cayden Felix, Matthew Sagadore as his cameraman and Stephanie Johnson on sound.
HUMBERETC/SCOTT A. BLAIN
Anthony Carelli’s career is the focus of the documentary.
ARTS ACADEMY
HUMBERETC/SCOTT A. BLAIN
HUMBERETC/SCOTT A. BLAIN
Humber softball earns OCAA silver
Nina A. Kersnik HumberETC Sports
Everyone on Humber’s softball team pitched in to reach the pinnacle they reached this year. Coach Duaine Bowles says the 19 players turned the team around this season to a provincial powerhouse.
But, they fell short of a gold medal.
The Humber women’s softball team captured its third silver medal at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) finals falling to the Durham Lords 8-0 on Oct. 19 at Babcock Field in Oshawa. The team ranked second in the country when it arrived at the final OCAA game with a record of 19-5 in the regular season.
Shade Hansen, Humber Hawks softball pitcher, said even though the team tried to have fun, stress was still in the back of their minds.
“Especially in provincials, that’s what gets you to the next nationals,” Hansen said.
From the start, Michaela Brown, a second-year pitcher, held the Durham Lords scoreless for the first inning.
The Lords would be too tall of a task for the Hawks as they scored two runs, bringing in Zoe Scougall to pitch by the end of the second.
Scougall said her journey this season has been quite rocky after an ongoing shoulder injury in last year’s OCAA championship.
“We’ve been able to work with athletic therapy to kind of help, but there’s some things that we can’t exactly reverse,” she said.
“Of course, I want to pitch as much as possible but there are a lot of times where I really had to listen
to my body, and not listen to my head as much,” Scougall said. She also was named the OCAA championship All-Star and Scougall said she felt grateful for the recognition.
“I was shocked honestly, there was really no thought in my head of it being me, so when I heard my name I was like, ‘whoa, that’s crazy,’” she said.
This award recognizes a player’s play in the OCAA championship during this tournament.
Over the next two innings, Durham would wrack up another five runs making the score 7-0.
At the top of the fifth Hansen, a second-year pitcher, was brought in to grab some runs for the Hawks.
She kept them scoreless during her first inning of play, but Humber
couldn’t come back.
Before closing it up at the top of the seventh, the Lords gained another run making the final score 8-0.
Hansen said although seeing that score is quite upsetting for anyone to look at, getting a silver medal is still a big accomplishment.
Bowles, in his eighth season, said the team is a complete 180 compared to last year.
“It got to a point where they just didn’t accept anything less, and they weren’t going to. They just, they were so tough this year,” Bowles said.
“It was so incredible to watch because the process has taken us quite a while to get to where we are right now, but getting there, like the payoff was just incredible,” he said.
Bowles said every player on the roster had a moment throughout the season to help them get to this point, and he sees a bright future because of this.
Shade Hansen, a second-year pitcher on Humber’s softball team, had one of these moments earlier in the season when she recorded the second no-hitter of her career against the Lambton Lions on Sept. 14.
Hawks soar high in season home opener
Matthew R. Zinuk HumberETC Sports
The Hawks women’s basketball team showed no mercy or regard for anyone on the Mohawk Mountaineers squad as they came up strong and powerful with the home opener win.
Shooting guard Kia Watt led the charge delivering an incredible 30-point game that solidified the Hawks’ victory on Oct. 30, and electrified the audience. The game was a marked contrast to the team’s 1-2 preseason against university teams. They are now 2-1, losing their Oct. 20 season opener at Niagara. They took their second game at Sheridan.
Reflecting on her performance, Watt credited her teammates.
“I’m excited,” she said. “I’m thankful, especially for my team. I couldn’t have done this without them.”
Watt emphasized the team’s need to maintain defensive intensity.
“We just gotta keep the same intensity on defence that we had this game,” she said.
Watt’s focus on defensive consistency shows her commitment
to growth, which she hopes will guide the Hawks throughout this tough season.
Power forward Tsinat Geremew praised the team’s strong effort and lauded Watt’s contribution.
“Kia’s performance was outstanding,” she said, highlighting Watt’s 30-point game.
“We played really well as a team tonight,” Geremew said. “Dropping 30 points is a tough thing to do, and it really helped seal the win for us.”
The halftime show kept fans energized with a “Make It to Win It” shooting contest, which offered a lucky fan the chance to win $1,000.
adding to the entertainment, the Humber Flight Crew wowed the crowd with their high-energy dance routines, keeping spirits high during the break.
The game was not just a showcase of skill, but an evening of excitement, camaraderie, and engagement for Hawks fans and players alike.
As the Hawks celebrated their big win, their coaching staff reflected on the game’s importance as a foundation for the season.
“A single win doesn’t define a season, but a strong start can establish momentum, confidence, and team cohesion moving forward,” coach Ceejay Nofuente said.
Watt’s leadership and performance have set the tone for the season, and the team is moti -
vated to carry this energy forward. As the Hawks prepare for upcoming games, they remain focused on staying united and resilient, just as they showed in this opener.
The Hawks are committed to constant improvement, sup -
porting one another, and, as Watt said, “keeping that same intensity” in every game.
This strong start has shown that the Hawks are ready to compete with skill, determination, and enthusiasm, aiming for a successful season.
Shade Hansen threw two no-hitters in the 2024 season, leading to a silver medal win in the OCAA playoffs.
HUMBERETC/NINA A. KERSNIK
Shooting guard Kia Watt was able to put up 30 points in Humber’s season home opener against Mohawk.
Men’s soccer qualifies for gold medal game
Samuel D. Brito Salas HumberETC Sports
The Humber men’s soccer team qualified for the gold medal game of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) championship after defeating the North Alberta Institute of Technology Ooks on Nov. 7 by a 3-0 score.
A perfect first half for the Hawks gave Humber the win and the qualification to the final thanks to two goals from Jacob Ball and a third from Marcus Riviere.
The team, which won the gold medal at the provincial championship on Oct, 26, is waiting for a rival in the final, either the Algonquin Wolves or the Langara Falcons.
The final will be at 3 p.m. AST, or 2 p.m. Toronto time, on Nov. 9 looking for its 10th national title.
The team secured its place in the CCAA semifinal in Fredericton after defeating the University of King’s College Blue Devils in a 3-0 rout on Nov. 6.
With goals from players Luca Pinto and Franz Mella in the first half and Jacob Bal in the second, the team secured its spot in the next round of the championship.
The team, which won the gold
medal at the provincial championship on Oct, 26.
The Ooks, current champions of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC), defeated Winnipeg’s Les Rouges de Saint-Boniface to qualify for the semifinal.
The Hawk’s path to the Nationals began when it snagged its 16th gold medal at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) finals on Oct. 26, beating the Algonquin Wolves 2-0 at Esther Shiner Civic Stadium in North York.
The team walked onto the field for the final OCAA game after ending the regular season undefeated with a 9-1-0 record and a 35-goal differential. They’re also ranked number one nationally.
The team defeated Centennial Colts by 5-1 in the quarter-finals, qualifying for the final four in the provincial championship.
The OCAA’s first semifinal pitted the Hawks against Seneca Sting for a place in the final last Friday.
The first half offered the Hawks more scoring chances while Seneca defended near their goalkeeper and tried to mount a counterattack.
The Hawks opened the scoring at the 48-minute mark thanks to
forward Christian Keshishian but were unable to add to the score.
Around the 85th minute, the Sting tied with a fantastic goal by midfielder Jackson Drewanz, sending the match to overtime.
Midfielder Tomas Joseph secured Humber’s win and qualification to the final after scoring the definitive goal in the 99th minute in the first overtime.
Joseph, who started the game on the bench, said after the match he felt emotionally down when he missed two clear chances in regulation time.
“My head was really down,” Joseph said. “I was in a dark place.”
He said the team didn’t stop supporting and cheering him on afterwards, which helped him to redeem himself and score the decisive goal in overtime.
The Hawks then faced Algonquin, which defeated Sheridan Bruins by 3-2 in the second semifinal.
Around 40 minutes before the final, Humber defender Isaiah Noel said the team was prepared and feeling good about their chances.
“We are high in energy,” he said. “We’re ready and prepared.”
Humber showed its best side and effectiveness early in the Saturday final.
Forward Jacob Ball scored the first goal for the Hawks in the eighth minute during a counterattack. It was a great individual play where he dribbled past three defenders.
In the 32nd minute, the Wolves defence lost possession on their side of the pitch, leaving Ball faceto-face with goalkeeper Oliver Langlois.
The kick put the ball to the right side of the goalie and into the centre of the net, making it 2-0 for the Hawks at halftime.
During the second half, the Hawks were solid defensively, not allowing the Wolves to have clear scoring chances, securing the gold.
For Humber Hawks head coach Michael Aquino, it’s his eighth OCAA championship, tying Humber Hall of Fame coach Germain Sanchez on the number of provincial titles.
“It’s a great testament to what we’ve done all season,” Aquino said. “I’m very happy for the team and for everybody.”
He said the team would rest a few days before starting to prepare
for the CCAA championship. Humber’s Ball expressed his happiness after the final provincial game of the season.
“I was happy I could do my job today and score,” Ball said. “Just proud of what we’ve done so far this season.”
He said he knows the team has many achievements this season, but the job is not done yet, with the new goal now being the national championship.
Humber Hawks right back, captain and championship MVP Matthew Laic said the key to winning the final was to remain calm, and disciplined and capitalize on their chances.
“We were more nervous (during the semifinal) than we were today,” he said. “It’s a dream come true and a great performance for all the guys.”
Laic said this win is a relief for him and the team after losing last year’s final 3-0 against the Condors.
Humber’s history at the CCAA includes nine titles, the most with the last being in 2022 when they defeated Seneca. They also won one silver medal and three bronze medals.
Humber captured OCAA gold on Oct. 27, qualiying the team for the national tournament. The team has won both games by identical 3-0 scores en route to the final on Saturday.
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HUMBER ET CETERA SPORTS
HAWKS CONQUER MOUNTAINEERS
