ShiftKey Labs

Dal WiTS: Public Speaking in the Workplace: For Women and Non-Binary People
2025-10-08 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Halifax) | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Note: This event is for Dalhousie Faculty of Computer Science students only
Speaking in the workplace can be kind of scary, especially when you’re underrepresented in your field! Join us as Kewoba Carter (Industry Engagement & Career Development Manager) leads us through a workshop on how to speak in the workplace for female and non-binary identifying people. We will be discussing different scenarios and how to handle them.
Date📆: October 8th, 2025
Time⏰: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Location📍: Room 430, Goldberg Computer Science Building (Slonim Room)
Register here: https://foul-plant-424.notion.site/26afbdcc77178066a83cf6383be684ba

Salesforce Workshop: Launch Your First App in Under 60 Minutes
2025-10-09 17:30 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
This is a beginner workshop designed to help students and aspiring tech professionals experience the power of Salesforce. No prior experience is needed. In just one hour, participants will build and deploy their first custom app, gaining practical skills and confidence to explore the Salesforce ecosystem further. Perfect for those curious about low-code platforms, CRM or career in Salesforce.

Register here

📅 Date: October 9th
⏰ Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
📌 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building Room 143
💰 Cost: FREE!

ShiftKey Academy UP: Network Cybersecurity (3/5)
2025-10-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
The Network Cybersecurity Course by ShiftKey Academy UP, led by Aman Bhalla, is your path to the world of cybersecurity. Designed for students eager to explore the intricacies of network security, this course covers the in-depth topics such as Networking Protocols & Tools, Networking Policies, Intrusion Defence methods along with the benefit of getting experience for building a live project. The course will help you prepare to confidently pursue the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) and the CompTIA Security+ certifications. Expect in-depth theory on networking fundamentals in lectures, experiential learning through projects and preparation for certifications through an assessment. There will also be a guest lecture during the course where participants are encouraged to attend to hear from industry experts.
This course is open to participants from all disciplines and mainly requires prior basic networking knowledge.
Thank you to Cognizant for supporting the ShiftKey Academy UP program, making these courses possible.
Registration is now open: https://main.d19nes5tbeksbp.amplifyapp.com/

📅 Date: October 15th
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📌 Location: Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building Room 1020
💰 Cost: FREE!

RBC HubHacks
2025-10-16 - 2025-10-18 | Nova Scotia
You must have registered and attended the RBC Hub Hacks Team Building event to be eligible to join.

📅 Date: October 16th-October 18th
⏰ Time: All Day
📌 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building
💰 Cost: FREE!

Ocean of Data Challenge: Our Living Ocean
2025-10-16 - 2025-11-03 | Virtual
Join Ocean of Data Challenge Kickoff, featuring Ocean Tracking Network. Hosted by DeepSense, COVE, and ShiftKey Labs, this exciting challenge offers a unique opportunity to collaborate and develop innovative solutions to current ocean challenges by using real-world data! The free event kicks off on Thursday, October 16th, at 6 pm ADT with an introduction to the challenge, expert presentations, and a Q&A session to help fuel your creativity. Participants must submit video entries by 11:59 pm ADT on Monday, November 3rd. Judges will review submissions over the following week, and winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 12th.
Dive into the challenge, innovate with your unique approach, and develop bold solutions to advance the ocean sector! Oh, and in case you missed it, win cash prizes!
Register here
📅 Date: October 16th-November 3rd
⏰ Time: All 2 Weeks
📌 Location: Virtual
💰 Cost: FREE!

Industry Showcase: CSE
2025-10-20 16:00 - 17:30 | Nova Scotia
Details coming soon!

📅 Date: October 20th
⏰ Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
📌 Location: TBD
💰 Cost: FREE!

ShiftKey Academy UP: Network Cybersecurity (4/5)
2025-10-22 17:00 - 19:00 | Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
The Network Cybersecurity Course by ShiftKey Academy UP, led by Aman Bhalla, is your path to the world of cybersecurity. Designed for students eager to explore the intricacies of network security, this course covers the in-depth topics such as Networking Protocols & Tools, Networking Policies, Intrusion Defence methods along with the benefit of getting experience for building a live project. The course will help you prepare to confidently pursue the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) and the CompTIA Security+ certifications. Expect in-depth theory on networking fundamentals in lectures, experiential learning through projects and preparation for certifications through an assessment. There will also be a guest lecture during the course where participants are encouraged to attend to hear from industry experts.
This course is open to participants from all disciplines and mainly requires prior basic networking knowledge.
Thank you to Cognizant for supporting the ShiftKey Academy UP program, making these courses possible.
Registration is now open: https://main.d19nes5tbeksbp.amplifyapp.com/

📅 Date: October 22nd
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📌 Location: Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building Room 1020
💰 Cost: FREE!

ShiftKey and Dal CTF Workshop: Hacking Into Memory
2025-10-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
In this workshop we will show how Return Oriented Programming (ROP) works and how hackers can manipulate and corrupt memory from programs to achieve total control of the program execution! We will show, with practical examples, how to achieve this memory corruption and what tools to use. Note: this is an advanced workshop, so we are assuming you have some basic understanding of how memory allocation works.

📅 Date: October 23rd
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📌 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building Room 143
💰 Cost: FREE!

Register here

Mission Accepted! Space Hackathon
2025-10-24 - 2025-10-26 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Join us for the Mission Accepted Space Hackathon, where students and early-career professionals are invited to create innovative solutions using Canadian satellite data. Over the course of 2 full days, teams will dive into challenges focused on space technology, satellite data, earth observation, data processing, and sustainability.
Participants will have access to both open- and closed-source Canadian datasets, mentorship from industry experts, and technical guidance to bring innovative solutions to life. This is your chance to make an impact, learn new skills, and connect with Canada’s space innovation community. This event is open to everyone, but you’ll get the most out of it if you have basic coding skills.
This event is proudly co-hosted by ShiftKey Labs and MDA Space, with the participation of the Canadian Space Agency.
All that’s left to say is — Mission Accepted!
✏️ Register Here

Schedule:

ShiftKey Academy UP: Network Cybersecurity (5/5)
2025-10-29 17:00 - 19:00 | Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
The Network Cybersecurity Course by ShiftKey Academy UP, led by Aman Bhalla, is your path to the world of cybersecurity. Designed for students eager to explore the intricacies of network security, this course covers the in-depth topics such as Networking Protocols & Tools, Networking Policies, Intrusion Defence methods along with the benefit of getting experience for building a live project. The course will help you prepare to confidently pursue the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) and the CompTIA Security+ certifications. Expect in-depth theory on networking fundamentals in lectures, experiential learning through projects and preparation for certifications through an assessment. There will also be a guest lecture during the course where participants are encouraged to attend to hear from industry experts.
This course is open to participants from all disciplines and mainly requires prior basic networking knowledge.
Thank you to Cognizant for supporting the ShiftKey Academy UP program, making these courses possible.
Registration is now open: https://main.d19nes5tbeksbp.amplifyapp.com/

📅 Date: October 29th
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📌 Location: Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building Room 1020
💰 Cost: FREE!

Dalhousie University Open House: Build Your Own AI Chatbot with ShiftKey Labs
2025-11-01 10:00 - 10:45 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Join us at Dalhousie’s Open House on Friday, Nov 1 and explore the world of technology and innovation! Whether you’re into coding, solving big problems, or seeing how CS connects with science, business, or the environment, there’s a session for you.
On the lineup:
• Intro to Computer Science – Hear from students and profs about life in CS at Dal and the career paths it opens.
• Build Your Own AI Chatbot – No coding needed! Get hands-on with AI and create your own chatbot with ShiftKey Labs.
• Interactive Cybersecurity Lab Tour – Try an interactive challenge with Prof. Srini Sampalli.
• Crack the Code with Capture the Flag Society – Test your problem-solving and hacking skills in this hands-on coding challenge.
• Ocean Tech with DeepSense – Discover how CS and data are driving innovation in ocean research and sustainability.
Space is limited – pre-register now to secure your spot!

Sign up now

Academy UP Course: AWS Cloud AI Practitioner Prep (1/4)
2025-11-03 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
The AWS Cloud AI Practitioner Prep Course by ShiftKey Academy UP is your launchpad into the world of cloud-powered artificial intelligence. Whether you’re curious about AWS, aiming for certification, or exploring how AI tools are built and deployed in real-world systems — this course will get you there.
Designed for learners from all backgrounds, we start with the fundamentals of cloud computing and artificial intelligence before diving into practical AWS services like Bedrock, SageMaker, Amazon Q, and Managed AI tools. Along the way, you’ll explore essential AI concepts like RAG architecture, prompting techniques, fine-tuning, governance, and responsible deployment practices.
Through ten short, self-paced sessions — paired with optional live support — you’ll build the confidence to navigate AWS’s AI ecosystem and prepare for official certification.
No AWS or coding background? No problem — all you need is curiosity and commitment.
Thank you to Cognizant for supporting ShiftKey Academy UP and making this course possible.
Registration link: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Academy UP Course: Foundations of Full Stack Development (1/4)
2025-11-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
🚀 Want to take your web development skills to the next level? Join us this November for Foundations of Full Stack Development — a hands-on course designed to help you understand how modern web apps are built from start to finish. You’ll learn React, Node.js, Express, and Git while creating your own full-stack project to showcase in your portfolio.
📅 Nov 4, 10, 18 & 25 | ⏰ 6–8 PM | 📍 Room 127
No need to be an expert — just bring your curiosity and basic coding skills!
Thank you to Cognizant for supporting the ShiftKey Academy UP program, making these courses possible.
Registration is now open: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Cognizant BrAInstorm Challenge
2025-11-07 - 2025-11-09 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
The Cognizant BrAInstorm Challenge brings together students from diverse disciplines to explore how artificial intelligence can drive sustainable change. Over one high-energy weekend, participants will collaborate to imagine, design, and prototype innovative AI solutions that align with the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Goal 13: Climate Action

The specific challenge statement will be revealed at the event kick-off — but expect to tackle questions at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and community impact.

Event Highlights

Work in teams to develop creative, AI-driven approaches to real-world sustainability issues. Teams must be between 3-5 participants.

Gain guidance and insight from the many Cognizant mentors who will be present.

Compete for cash prizes!

1st place: $1500

2nd place: $1000

3rd place: $500

Strengthen your abilities in AI, data, and design thinking while contributing to meaningful global goals.

Schedule

Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building (6050 University Avenue)
Registration: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Academy UP Course: Foundations of Full Stack Development (2/4)
2025-11-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada

Ocean Crawl
2025-11-12 | Nova Scotia
Details coming soon!

📅 Date: November 12th
⏰ Time: All Day
📌 Location: Off-Campus
💰 Cost: FREE!

BSides Cybersecurity Conference
2025-11-13 09:00 - 17:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
As you may have heard, ShiftKey is hosting the annual BSides Cybersecurity Conference, which will take place on November 13th in the Goldberg Computer Science Building. You can learn more about our event on the BSides website: https://halifaxbsides.ca/.
Thanks to our involvement, we have several free student tickets available!
We are distributing these free tickets by application. If you or anyone you know is interested in applying for a free ticket, please fill in the following form by November 6 at 11:59PM.
https://airtable.com/appkB4tLGaUIf7rIf/pagWxRPtDfWHGtqYi/form
We will review the applications and let folks know if they were the successful recipients by November 9th.

Academy UP Course: AWS Cloud AI Practitioner Prep (2/4)
2025-11-14 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual

Industry Showcase: Ateko (Formally CloudKettle)
2025-11-17 16:00 - 17:30 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Industry Showcase: Ateko (formerly CloudKettle)
Date: Monday November 17
Time: 4-5:30pm
Location: Room 430 Slonim Conference Room, Goldberg Computer Science Building
Registration: Click here to register
Benefits of attending:

Learn about Ateko a Halifax based consultancy
Learn about the organization’s operations, applications and Salesforce ecosystem
Discover upcoming job and training opportunities

Academy UP Course: Foundations of Full Stack Development (3/4)
2025-11-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada

Docker & Containers Workshop
2025-11-19 17:30 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
🚀 Ready to level up your dev skills? Join our Docker & Containers Workshop in Goldberg Room 127 to learn how containers work and how they’re used in real-world projects! You’ll gain the hands-on skills to build and deploy your own apps using Docker. 🐳
💡 Open to anyone with basic programming knowledge (Python, Node, etc.)
💻 Make sure Docker is installed on your machine before the session!
Sign up now: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Collect. @ ShiftKey
2025-11-23 13:00 - 16:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Collect. is bringing its creative and collaborative energy to ShiftKey and creating a space where students who are interested in computer science and tech can focus, create, and connect directly with professionals and innovators already involved in the Collect. community. Whether you’re building a technical project, exploring a startup idea, or diving into a personal passion, this event offers the time, tools, and environment to make meaningful progress, surrounded by people who share your drive. You’ll work through two focused deep-work sessions using the Pomodoro Method, a productivity approach that helps you stay engaged through structured intervals of concentration and rest. Between sessions, you’ll have the chance to meet and collaborate with peers and industry guests from the Collect. network. The event wraps up with an optional showcase where participants can share what they’ve been working on and connect over ideas, feedback, and inspiration.

Schedule:
1:00 PM — Kickoff & Introductions
Share your goals and what you’re working on.
1:15 PM — Deep Work Block #1 (50 min)
Work independently or collaborate with others, followed by a 10-minute break.
2:15 PM — Deep Work Block #2 (50 min)
Continue building momentum, followed by another 10-minute break.
3:15 PM — Demos & Closing
Show your progress and network with others.
Why Attend?

Experience a Collect. event — right here at ShiftKey
Connect with industry professionals and fellow innovators,
Build momentum on projects you care about,
Learn and apply productivity techniques that actually work,
Collaborate, share ideas, and get inspired,

This collaboration is about bridging the community and connecting Collect.’s creative network with students who are passionate about tech.
Come ready to focus, create, and connect

Register now: https://luma.com/lh8i6dtv

Academy UP Course: Foundations of Full Stack Development (4/4)
2025-11-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada

Tech Forum: Building Production-Ready AI Agents
2025-11-25 18:30 - 20:30 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
ShiftKey Labs and the Faculty of Computer Science is excited to invite you to a Tech Forum where we will discuss emerging technologies and lessons learned from industry professionals.
This time, we will learn how production-grade AI agents are actually built and deployed in the real world. Purvesh Rathod, Founding Engineer at Gia , shares how his team ships scalable AI agents using frameworks like CrewAI and LangGraph , plus lessons from bringing Agentic AI to production.
Best suited for developers, students and AI enthusiasts interested in building scalable, reliable agentic systems – from early prototypes to full-scale production.

📌 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building Room 430
💰 Cost: FREE! No registration required!

Academy UP Course: AWS Cloud AI Practitioner Prep (3/4)
2025-11-28 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual

AI2Market Validate: Info Session
2025-12-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Interested in learning how the AI2Market Validate program can help you test and refine a business idea using AI-guided customer discovery and market research?
Validate is an eight-week, part-time experience focused on exploration: testing assumptions, de-risking ideas, and identifying the strongest path forward. This info session is an opportunity to learn more about the program, understand what to expect, and ask any questions you may have.

Location: Virtual (Zoom link will be shared for registered participants)
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/info-session-ai2market-validate-tickets-1975680562747?aff=oddtdtcreator

Academy UP Course: AWS Cloud AI Practitioner Prep (4/4)
2025-12-05 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual

Collect. @ ShiftKey
2025-12-07 13:00 - 16:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Collect. is bringing its creative and collaborative energy to ShiftKey and creating a space where students who are interested in computer science and tech can focus, create, and connect directly with professionals and innovators already involved in the Collect. community. Whether you’re building a technical project, exploring a startup idea, or diving into a personal passion, this event offers the time, tools, and environment to make meaningful progress, surrounded by people who share your drive. You’ll work through two focused deep-work sessions using the Pomodoro Method, a productivity approach that helps you stay engaged through structured intervals of concentration and rest. Between sessions, you’ll have the chance to meet and collaborate with peers and industry guests from the Collect. network. The event wraps up with an optional showcase where participants can share what they’ve been working on and connect over ideas, feedback, and inspiration.
​Schedule:
​1:00 PM — Kickoff & Introductions
Share your goals and what you’re working on.
​1:15 PM — Deep Work Block #1 (50 min)
Work independently or collaborate with others, followed by a 10-minute break.
​2:15 PM — Deep Work Block #2 (50 min)
Continue building momentum, followed by another 10-minute break.
​3:15 PM — Demos & Closing
Show your progress and network with others.
​
​Why Attend?

​Experience a Collect. event — right here at ShiftKey
​Connect with industry professionals and fellow innovators,
​Build momentum on projects you care about,
Learn and apply productivity techniques that actually work,
​Collaborate, share ideas, and get inspired,

​This collaboration is about bridging the community and connecting Collect.’s creative network with students who are passionate about tech.
​
Come ready to focus, create, and connect

Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building, Room 430
Register here: https://luma.com/oqayhn6u

ShiftKey Academy UP: Game Dev - Unreal Engine (1/4)
2026-01-08 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
🎮 Bring your stories and let’s tell them together with Unreal Engine! Join Pedram Safari on a journey to create your first or better video games. This hands-on course covers everything from game design to interactions within Unreal Engine, giving you unique insight into the industry and best practices.
📅 Thursdays: Jan 8, 15, 22 & 29 | ⏰ 6–8 PM | 📍 Room 127
This course leads up to Global Game Jam 26! Get your spots early to form your team for the competition.
Thank you to Cognizant for supporting the ShiftKey Academy UP program, making these courses possible.
Registration is now open: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Workshop: How to Pitch
2026-01-13 17:30 - 19:30 | Nova Scotia
Date: Tuesday January 13
Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: Room 430, Slonim Conference Room. Goldberg Computer Science Building
Registration: Click here to register

Benefits of attending:

Understand the importance of communicating your value
Learn tips and strategies for showcasing yourself to potential employers or judges
Practice your pitch and receive feedback from peers and professionals
