Town and Gown Committee

What is the Humber College Town and Gown Committee?

The Humber College Town and Gown Committee is a group that works to maintain a high standard of living for everyone in the community.

Who is on the Town and Gown Committee?

The Humber College Town and Gown Committee includes Humber representatives, students, long standing residents, landlords, and community agencies.

Where is it's focus?

For now, this committee will be focused on North Campus between Finch and Highway 27 and Finch and Humberline Drive. In the future, we may consider a similar committee at the Lakeshore campus.

By forming a Town and Gown Committee, Humber will commit to being an active member of the Town and Gown Association of Ontario. By doing this, we are dedicated to sending a minimum of one delegate to the yearly conference.

Why is there a need for a Town and Gown Committee?

As Humber's student population increases, so does the number of students living, visiting and transporting themselves into the area. Recently, local residents have complained about Humber student conduct around noise volumes, parties with large turnouts, parking, garbage issues and vandalism, among others. Disputes between local residents and Humber students have lead to concerns about safety for both parties. The students feel they are being unjustly blamed for issues that could be caused by anyone and the local residents are quick to blame students. Consequently, there is a strong need to engage all parties in discussion to try to resolve these community issues.

Short term goals:

• Establish and facilitate better communication between all the parties involved
• Host regular town and gown open forums (twice per year, November and March).
• Enhance the role of the community assistant position
• Designate community connection website and newsletter ( Humber) as one of the key sources of communication for both students and the local residents. Also, aim to increase the use of such medium of communication
• Include information package during Orientation sessions detailing what it takes to be a good neighbour
• Create information sheet along with something fun (scarf, Humber paraphernalia etc) for all local residents. Have the police and either HSF or a community assistants deliver message for both students and residents adjacent to the campus
• Invite local community for BBQ, sporting game, etc. with student.

Potential Long Term Priorities:

• Mandate and Objectives
• Accountability
• Establishing strong communication ties
• Safety Audit if warranted

Who are the members?

The following are potential members of the Town and Gown Committee:

1. Two local Residents who are long standing citizens
2. Two students living in area
3. One representative from HSF
4. One community assistant
5. Two Humber staff
6. One local landlord
7. One designate from the 23 rd Police Divison
8. One designate from the City of Toronto: Municipal Licensing and Standards By- Law Officer
9. One designate from the local fire station
10. One representative from Town Council

Quorum: A minimum of 7 of the 13 members must attend the meeting for the purpose of passing motions.

Elections: These will be held during the next meeting to determine/ assign roles of the committee.

At least two times per academic year, the Town and Gown Committee will host an open forum for all other community members to get involved. This would likely happen in November and March.