Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre

Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre Our mission is to to research, preserve, and share the natural and built heritage of South Etobicoke!

Students were blooming in the classroom with the Retail Floriculture Program.Perfect for plant lovers, Humber’s Retail F...
06/04/2026

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

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

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

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

Photos from the Humber Archives

Over the past 6 years, the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre has joyfully hosted the New Toronto Holiday Market annu...
06/02/2026

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

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

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

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

Thank you,

The LGIC and NTHM Teams

Do you know the difference between edible and non-edible foods? At one point, students at Humber were taught how to diff...
06/01/2026

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

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

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

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

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

Photos from the Humber Archives

Strike a pose! Humber students were model students in the Fashion Modelling program.Humber’s Fashion Modelling program o...
05/25/2026

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

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

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

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

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

Photos from the Humber Archives

Join us on Saturday May 23 from 10am-2pm in Colonel Samuel Smith Park for the 17th annual Spring Bird Festival!There wil...
05/20/2026

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

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

Hope to see you there!

The art of mixing the perfect drink was just one part of Bartending courses. The Bartending, or Mixology course, began i...
05/19/2026

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

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

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

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

Photos from the Humber Archives

The May long weekend is almost here! Victoria Day weekend is often the marker of the beginning of the summer season. Loo...
05/13/2026

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

Did you know Humber used to offer an Equine Studies program? Humber has been home to many unique programs over the years...
05/11/2026

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

Did you know Sabrina Carpenter has been at Humber? Sabrina, along with Liza Koshy, filmed the 2020 dance comedy "Work It...
05/07/2026

Did you know Sabrina Carpenter has been at Humber?

Sabrina, along with Liza Koshy, filmed the 2020 dance comedy "Work It" in L Building at Humber's Lakeshore Campus during the summer of 2019. Sabrina Carpenter is not the only Hollywood star that has been on campus. Robert De Niro and Rick Moranis have appeared in movies filmed on Humber's grounds.

Want to see where these movies were filmed? Swipe through this post to see a flashback to the filming locations and see if you can spot where each took place!

Interested in learning more? Join us on our public Film History Tour on May 14 at 6pm to learn about all of these productions and many more!

This week is Mental Health Week 2026. Initiated by the Canadian Mental Health Association, this year's theme is focused ...
05/05/2026

This week is Mental Health Week 2026. Initiated by the Canadian Mental Health Association, this year's theme is focused on community connections to help ease isolation and improve mental wellbeing.

To recognize this week, a pop-up of "Grace: One Story of Thousands" will be on display in the lobby of the Student Welcome and Resource Centre (next to our main exhibition space). Visit the exhibition from 10:00am-2:00pm Monday through Friday.

For CMHA resources and materials visit the link in our bio.

Address

2 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive
Toronto, ON
M8V4B6

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 6:30pm
Thursday 10am - 4:30pm
Friday 10am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+14166756622

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