ShiftKey Labs

Industry Showcase: Trihedral Engineering Limited
2026-02-24 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Halifax) | Nova Scotia
The Industry Showcase with Trihedral Engineering Limited
Date: Tuesday February 24, 2026
Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Location: Room 430 Slonim Conference Room, Goldberg Computer Science Building
Registration: Click here to register
Benefits of attending:

Learn about the organization’s operations
Discover upcoming job and training opportunities
Learn about a Halifax based company

ShiftKey Academy Up: Databases After Graduation (4/4)
2026-02-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
🗄️ Ready to take your database skills beyond the classroom? Databases After Graduation is a practical course designed to bridge the gap between basic SQL and how databases are actually used in real-world backend systems. You’ll explore how design decisions impact performance, reliability, and scalability skills companies look for on the job and in technical interviews.

Across four sessions, you’ll dive into data modeling, production-level SQL, databases behind APIs, and the principles of concurrency and consistency that power modern systems.

📆 Wednesdays in February (Feb 4, 11, 18 & 25) | ⏰ 6–8 PM | 📍 Room 143

This course is ideal for students with basic SQL knowledge and introductory programming experience who want to build confidence working with real database systems.

Led by Narges, a PhD candidate in Computer Science at Dalhousie University and researcher at the MYTech Lab, with extensive experience in database-driven and data-intensive systems.

Registration is now open! https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Academy UP: Core Cybersecurity (1/5)
2026-03-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
🔐 Ready to explore the world of cybersecurity?
Join the Core Cybersecurity Course by ShiftKey Academy UP, led by Aman Bhalla and Kaitlyn Woodworth. This hands-on course introduces key areas like Information Security, Threat Assessments, and Cloud Infrastructure Security—helping you build practical skills to assess risks, safeguard data, and navigate real cybersecurity frameworks.
💻 Open to all disciplines and skill levels—no prior experience required!
📅 Tuesdays in March (March 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31)
⏰ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Goldberg Room 127 (March 10 will be held in Room 143)
Thank you to Cognizant for supporting the ShiftKey Academy UP program and making these opportunities possible.
Registration is now open: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Canadian Medical Datathon: From Zero to Data-Ready
2026-03-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
New to healthcare data or AI? This beginner-friendly session breaks down the basics with no coding experience needed!

Learn how healthcare data is structured, what machine learning models do, how to understand metrics like accuracy and F1 score, and how teams turn raw datasets into real clinical insights. You’ll leave ready to confidently contribute at the upcoming datathon!

Led by Dorsa Soleymani (MCS, Dalhousie University), the winner of the 2025 National Canadian Medical Datathon!

📅 March 4, 2026
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Online (Microsoft Teams)

🔗 Register here! https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Industry Showcase: Rakuten Kobo
2026-03-05 17:30 - 19:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Industry Showcase with Rakuten Kobo
Interested in careers in tech and digital publishing? Join us to hear directly from the team at Rakuten Kobo and explore what it’s like to work at a global tech company.
Benefits of attending:
• Learn about Rakuten Kobo and what they do
• Discover career opportunities within the organization
• Find out about salary information, hiring processes, and employee benefits
• Network with recruiters and staff
📅 March 5, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
🎟️ Register here! https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Women's Excellence Gala 2026
2026-03-06 18:00 - 22:00 | Nova Scotia
Get ready for an exciting & inspiring evening to celebrate the achievements of women and non-binary in tech at the Women’s Excellence Gala 2026!✨

The Women in Technology Society (WiTS) is hosting the 2nd Annual Women’s Excellence Gala—a special evening dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women and non-binary individuals in tech and related fields💖. This celebratory event brings together students, faculty, and industry professionals for a night of inspiration, recognition, and celebration🪩.

Be part of this exciting moment as we honour outstanding individuals, share inspiring stories, and celebrate success🏆. Enjoy a delicious dinner, dance the night away, and explore innovative ideas that showcase talent and creativity.

Date: March 6th, 2026
Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: McInnes Room, Dalhousie Student Union Building

✨Join us for an evening of celebration, inspiration, and fun! Click here to get your ticket today!🎟️

National Canadian Medical Datathon
2026-03-07 - 2026-03-08 | Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub, 1625 Grafton St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J0E8, Canada
The National Canadian Medical Datathon is a two-day, beginner-friendly innovation sprint where students from medicine, computer science, engineering, business, public health, and more team up to solve healthcare problems using data.

What happens:

You’ll work in an interdisciplinary team on a healthcare challenge using a provided dataset.
Apply your skillset (coding, analytics, design, strategy, research, communication) to explore the data, build models/solutions, and turn findings into something useful.
Mentors support you throughout (approach selection, troubleshooting, interpretation, and presentation).
You’ll finish by presenting what you built with a chance to compete against other schools!

Why it matters:

Healthcare is one of the biggest, fastest-moving spaces for technology and data— nd it needs people who can build, evaluate, and communicate solutions responsibly. This event is designed to help you build confidence in:

working with real-world health datasets + constraints
applying technical methods (analytics/ML) to messy problems
translating results into clear, decision-ready takeaways
collaborating across disciplines (clinical + technical + operational)

Who should join:

Any post-secondary student who’s curious about healthcare, data, AI/ML, product, design, or innovation
Beginners welcome (and supported) + experienced folks who want a meaningful problem space

No prior health background required. Coding helps, but it’s not mandatory there are roles for every skillset.

Sign up here: Registration Form

Academy UP: Core Cybersecurity (2/5)
2026-03-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Ready to explore the world of cybersecurity?
Join the Core Cybersecurity Course by ShiftKey Academy UP, led by Aman Bhalla and Kaitlyn Woodworth. This hands-on course introduces key areas like Information Security, Threat Assessments, and Cloud Infrastructure Security—helping you build practical skills to assess risks, safeguard data, and navigate real cybersecurity frameworks.
Open to all disciplines and skill levels—no prior experience required!
Tuesdays in March (March 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Goldberg Room 127 (March 10 will be held in Room 143)
Thank you to Cognizant for supporting the ShiftKey Academy UP program and making these opportunities possible.
Registration is now open: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Industry Showcase with Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
2026-03-12 16:30 - 18:00 | Nova Scotia
Industry Showcase with Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
Interested in exploring careers in finance, tech, and innovation? Join us to connect with the team at RBC and learn what it’s like to work at one of Canada’s leading financial institutions.
Benefits of attending:• Learn about career opportunities at RBC• Gain insight into roles across business, technology, and more• Discover what RBC looks for in candidates• Network directly with staff and recruiters
📅 March 12, 2026⏰ 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM📍 Room 430, Goldberg Computer Science Building🎟️ Register here! https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

From Proofs to Programs: How Abstract Math Becomes Real Software
2026-03-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
Mathematics is the foundation of computer science, but its role is not always visible. This workshop brings together faculty researchers and an industry consultant to explore how abstract mathematical ideas turn into algorithms, software, and real-world applications. The session concludes with a hands-on Python segment led by Sahil Chawla, a Solutions Consultant at GSTS, showing how mathematical thinking directly translates into code used in industry.
📅 Date: March 16th, 2026⏰ Time: 6:00-8:00PM📌 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building Room 430
Register now!: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Academy UP: Core Cybersecurity (3/5)
2026-03-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada

Anti Money Laundering Panel with RBC
2026-03-19 16:00 - 17:30 | Nova Scotia
Meet with experts in the anti money laundering field and learn about this unique career pathway!

March 5, 2026
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Register here! https://shiftkeylabs.ca/register

DHS: Hack to the Future
2026-03-22 09:00 - 17:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Hack to the Future — Hackathon Hosted by Dalhousie Hacker Society
The Dalhousie Hacker Society is excited to host its first-ever hackathon, bringing together students who are curious about technology, innovation, and building things that matter.
With support from Digital Nova Scotia and ShiftKey Labs, this event will give participants the chance to collaborate, experiment, and create alongside a community of makers, developers, designers, and problem-solvers. Whether you’re an experienced coder or completely new to hackathons, this event is designed to be welcoming, creative, and hands-on.
Over the course of this one-day challenge, participants will form teams, explore new ideas, and build projects from scratch with guidance from mentors and industry professionals.
Event Details
📅 Date: March 22, 2026
📍 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building
⏰ Time: 9:00AM-5:00PM
Register now: https://shiftkeylabs.ca/register

Academy UP: Core Cybersecurity (4/5)
2026-03-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada

Industry Showcase: Avanade
2026-03-25 17:30 - 19:00 | Nova Scotia
Industry Showcase with Avanade
Interested in careers in consulting, technology, and digital transformation? Join us to hear directly from the team at Avanade and explore what it’s like to work at a global professional services company focused on Microsoft technologies.
Benefits of attending:• Learn about Avanade and the work they do• Discover career opportunities within the organization• Gain insight into hiring processes and growth pathways• Network with professionals and recruiters
📅 March 25, 2026⏰ 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM📍 Room W305, 3rd floor, Weldon Law Building, 6061 University Avenue, Halifax (in-person only)🎟️ Register here! https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

ML Model Debugging: Visualization is the Key!
2026-03-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
Want to understand why machine learning models fail — and how to fix them? This hands-on session dives into practical ML debugging using visualization-driven techniques.
Learn how to diagnose hidden model failure patterns, interpret learning curves and confusion matrices, analyze ROC performance, and investigate error patterns before changing model architecture. You’ll build a stronger, more systematic approach to developing reliable ML systems.
Led by Sheida Majouni, PhD Candidate in Computer Science at Dalhousie University and AI/ML Lead at DeepSense.
📅 March 26, 2026⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM📍 Room 143💰 FREE

Register here! https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Summit for Women in Future Technologies (SWIFT)
2026-03-28 10:00 - 17:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
This full-day experience is designed by the women of the Faculty of Computer Science, for the women of the Faculty of Computer Science, and will be packed with inspiring conversations, practical insights, and opportunities to grow within a supportive community.
SWIFT brings together students, alumni, faculty, and industry professionals for a day of engaging workshops, panel discussions, and interactive sessions focused on empowering women and gender-diverse people to thrive in the technology sector. Whether you are exploring career possibilities, building new skills, or looking to connect with others who share your ambitions, SWIFT offers a welcoming space to learn, network, and celebrate the impact of women in technology.
Thanks to the generous support of the Leacross Foundation and ShiftKey Academy, attendance is completely free, and lunch, snacks, and refreshments will be provided throughout the day. Join us for a Saturday dedicated to empowerment, inspiration, and community growth — and be part of a movement shaping the future of technology.
Date: March 28, 2026
Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building
Registration: https://shiftkeylabs.ca/register

Academy UP: Core Cybersecurity (5/5)
2026-03-31 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada

ShiftKey Academy Up: AI Agents & Chatbots
2026-04-01 18:00 - 19:30 | Nova Scotia
Curious about how AI chatbots like ChatGPT actually work—and how organizations are building powerful AI agents to automate real-world tasks?
Join us for AI Agents & Chatbots Course, led by Kavya Bhojani, a 6-week, hands-on course designed for professionals who want to move beyond the hype and understand how modern AI systems really function. You’ll explore everything from how large language models generate responses to how AI agents connect with tools, APIs, and trusted data to deliver reliable results.
This course is hybrid, with both in-person sessions and a fully supported online option—so you can participate in the way that works best for you.
Along the way, you’ll design and build your own simple chatbot or agent workflow, gaining practical experience you can apply right away. Whether you’re looking to automate workflows, improve decision-making, or simply stay ahead in a rapidly evolving field, this course will give you the foundation to get started.
Spots are limited—register now and start building with AI 🚀
Wednesdays (April 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, and May 6th)
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Hybrid (April 1 and May 6 will be held in Room 143 the rest of the sessions are online)
Register here! https://shiftkeylabs.ca/register

ShiftKey Academy Up: AI Agents & Chatbots (2/6)
2026-04-08 18:00 - 19:30 | Nova Scotia

ShiftKey Academy Up: AI Agents & Chatbots (3/6)
2026-04-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Nova Scotia

ShiftKey Academy Up: AI Agents & Chatbots (4/6)
2026-04-22 18:00 - 19:30 | Nova Scotia

ShiftKey Academy Up: AI Agents & Chatbots (5/6)
2026-04-29 18:00 - 19:30 | Nova Scotia

ShiftKey Academy Up: AI Agents & Chatbots (6/6)
2026-05-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Nova Scotia

Coding With Claude - ShiftKey Academy Up (1/4)
2026-05-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
Coding With Claude – Staying In The Drivers Seat
Core topics in four bullet points (matching the four classes of the course):

Understand how Claude reads. Read and write functions.
Learn how to creating and edit specific commands
Explore Agents vs an assistant – when to use what?
Gain industry focused insight and best practices

Prerequisites:

Working knowledge of coding in any language
Basic experience coding with AI agents

Course Structure:

Session 1: Claude reads — contexts, it understands your project
Session 2: Claude acts — breaking down the thinking process, words → actions
Session 3: Claude decides — it chains actions together without you directing each step
Session 4: Claude deployments — it operates in a real environment with real constraints/industry level applications

Tuesdays (May 12th, 19th, 26th, & June 2nd)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Room 127
Register here! https://shiftkeylabs.ca/register

Coding With Claude - ShiftKey Academy Up (2/4)
2026-05-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia

Coding With Claude - ShiftKey Academy Up (3/4)
2026-05-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia

Coding With Claude - ShiftKey Academy Up (4/4)
2026-06-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
