Stephanie Chartrand

Stephanie's Experience at Humber

Please tell us about your time at Humber Polytechic. What was the best part of it?

My time at Humber Polytechnic was transformative. The Bachelor of Community Development program gave me both the theoretical foundations and hands-on experience to understand what meaningful, equity-driven change looks like in real communities. I particularly appreciated the emphasis on experiential learning—our field placements, collaborative projects, and community-based assignments helped bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and the realities of grassroots organizing. One of the best parts of my experience was learning alongside peers and professors who were deeply engaged in social justice, community building, and systems change. It was a space where I felt supported to ask critical questions, learn through practice, and explore how my Métis identity, values, and lived experience could inform my work. Humber was not just a stepping stone—it shaped my voice and vision as a community educator and advocate.

Please tell us about your experience since graduating.

Since graduating from Humber, I’ve remained deeply committed to community development through roles that centre food justice, student advocacy, and Indigenous community development. My pathway from a Peer Assisted Learning Support (PALS) leader at Humber led me to become an OSSC Advisor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), where I now support graduate students navigating academic life. I currently work for Indigenous Services Canada, contributing to front line work that supports Indigenous communities across Ontario. I also serve on the Board of Directors for the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, helping guide an organization at the heart of urban Indigenous life. At the University of Toronto, I co-founded the UofT Food Coalition—a student-led group focused on food justice, co-learning, and community engagement. Through the coalition, we’ve organized free student meal programs and helped mobilize a sustainable food access model on campus. These experiences have allowed me to build on what I learned at Humber—bridging grassroots organizing with policy, research, and institutional change—and continue to shape my work as a PhD student in Adult Education and Community Development at the University of Toronto.

What do you find most satisfying about your career choice?

What I find most satisfying is the opportunity to support and build community in ways that are relational, imaginative, and rooted in care. Whether it’s mentoring students, co-creating spaces for Indigenous and community knowledge, or researching how food systems can foster belonging, my work allows me to bring my full self into every space I enter. I’ve always believed that education and community work should be about transformation—not just of systems, but of how we relate to one another. This career path allows me to continually ask hard questions, challenge inequities, and help co-create new ways of learning and being that reflect the values I hold dear: reciprocity, justice, and joy. Being in a role that lets me support others while still growing myself is a privilege I don’t take for granted.