ShiftKey Labs

ShiftKey x WiTS: Breaking Barriers Hackathon
2025-06-28 - 2025-06-29 | Nova Scotia
On June 28th and 29th, join ShiftKey and WiTS for the ShiftKey x WiTS: Breaking Barriers Hackathon! 👩‍🦱🧔‍♀️🧑👩
Through using tech, explore how to combat systemic barriers faced by women and nonbinary individuals in the workforce across Canada. You can build apps, webpages, or anything else you desire!
This hackathon is open to all who identify as a woman or nonbinary. No tech background is required, and you can come by yourself or create a team.
Why you should come:
✨ Win fantastic prizes
✨ Connect with other women and nonbinary students from Nova Scotia
✨ Develop your tech skills
📅 Dates: June 28th-29th (starts at 9 am each day).
📌 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building
💰 Cost: FREE!
Sign up here: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

FAQ
Who can participate?
Anyone identifying as a woman or non-binary individual, or allies passionate about gender equity in tech and social change.
Do I need to know how to code?
No! There will be both technical and non-technical tracks. Bring your creativity and passion.
Can I come without a team?
Absolutely. We will help with team formation and have a Discord server to connect.
How much does it cost?
Free! Food, swag, and resources are covered thanks to our collaborators.
Schedule

Academy UP: Intro to Algorithmic Problem Solving (4/4)
2025-06-26 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Ready to kickstart your technical interview preparation and enhance your algorithmic thinking?
This four-week program with Yuhan Fu covers essential topics including fundamental data structures, time and space complexity analysis, sorting and recursion, graph theory, greedy strategies, and dynamic programming.
Each week combines algorithmic logic analysis with hands-on, Leetcode-style challenges to help you apply concepts through practical problem-solving.
By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills to design, analyze, and optimize algorithms to tackle a wide range of algorithmic problems effectively.
Prerequisites:

Knowledge of at least one programming language

Thank you to Cognizant for supporting the ShiftKey Academy UP program, making these courses possible.

📅 Dates: June 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📌 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building Room 127
💰 Cost: FREE!
Register Here: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Note: Attendance is required for 3 sessions to earn certification, as well as successful completion of assessment.

Academy UP: Intro to Algorithmic Problem Solving (3/4)
2025-06-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada

Academy UP: Intro to Algorithmic Problem Solving (2/4)
2025-06-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada

Academy UP: Intro to Algorithmic Problem Solving (1/4)
2025-06-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada

Ocean of Data: AI in Action, featuring Building Bridges
2025-06-03 18:00 - 2025-06-17 23:59 | Virtual
Join this special edition of the Ocean of Data Challenge, featuring Building Bridges. Hosted by DeepSense, COVE, and ShiftKey Labs, this exciting challenge offers a unique opportunity to collaborate and develop innovative ideas! The free event kicks off on Tuesday, June 3rd at 6 pm AST 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 AST on Tuesday, June 17th. Judges will review submissions over the following two weeks, and winners will be announced on Thursday, July 3rd.
Who should participate?
Great ideas often emerge from diverse perspectives, so we encourage students from all disciplines to participate – whether that be computer science, engineering, biology, sustainability, business, or any other program! Participants must be current students (full-time or part-time) or recent graduates (within the past 12 months) of a post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada. You can choose to work solo or collaborate with a team of up to five members. Please make sure to review the Official Rules below.
The Rules

Competitors must either own the rights to all software used in their project or have written permission from the owner.
Submissions can be as simple as an infographic or as complex as a machine learning model for predictions. Surprise us! Projects will be judged on their clarity, creativity, and potential impact.
Competitors can participate individually or in teams of up to 5 members.
Submissions must not include any confidential information.
Each project must be based on data from the CIOOS Data Portal, with the source clearly cited in the presentation, infographic, visual, or slides (additional data sources can be used to supplement CIOOS data).
Competitors must currently live in Canada and have an active Canadian bank account.
Competitors must be a current part-time or full-time student at a post-secondary institution in Canada OR have graduated from one of these institutions within the past 12 months.

For more information, visit https://deepsense.ca/ocean-of-data-challenge/. If you have any questions regarding eligibility, reach out to info@deepsense.ca.

Build Fast / Ship Fast Workshop
2025-05-30 17:30 - 19:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Want to turn ideas into real projects in hours, not weeks? At the Build Fast / Ship Fast Workshop, you’ll learn how to quickly set up everything your app needs, from auth to analytics, so you can focus on building features and getting feedback fast.
This workshop is all about adopting a modern, lean approach to software development: validating ideas early 💡, iterating quickly 🔁, and using automation and AI 🤖 to move faster without sacrificing quality. Whether you’re hacking on a side project or launching a startup, this is your guide to building smart and shipping with confidence.
You will learn:
NextJS,
Shadcn,
Clerk,
Supabase,
Resend,
Posthog,
Cursor,
Github CoPilot
📍 Room 134, Goldberg Computer Science Building
🕠 5:30 to 7:00 PM
Registration open now: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Academy UP: Fundamentals of Cloud Administration with Azure (4/4)
2025-05-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Take your Azure expertise to the next level with our deep-dive course on Microsoft Azure! This four-week program explores key cloud concepts, including identity and access management with Entra ID, scalable storage and compute solutions, and network architecture best practices. You’ll also learn how to automate infrastructure deployment and optimize monitoring, alerting, and compliance. Perfect for those with foundational Azure knowledge looking to expand their skills, this hands-on course will equip you with practical insights to design and manage Azure environments effectively.
Prerequisites:

Knowledge of Cloud Foundations , a Cloud Computing course at a university or equivalent. Basic familiarity with Bash and the command line.
Before Day 1: Students must decide on “pay-as-you-go subscription” (take the free course to set up their subscription) or do labs in Microsoft’s sandbox.

Thank you to Cognizant for supporting the ShiftKey Academy UP program, making these courses possible.

📅 Dates: May 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📌 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building, Room 143
💰 Cost: FREE!
Register Here: https://airtable.com/appkB4tLGaUIf7rIf/shrRXVDaYwEt6eTGg
Note: Attendance is required for 3 sessions to earn certification, as well as successful completion of assessment.

Industry Showcase: Volta
2025-05-29 16:00 - 17:30 | Volta, 1800 Argyle St Unit 801, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 3N8, Canada
📅 Date: May 29th, 2025
By Application Only

Academy UP: Machine Learning Basics (4/4)
2025-05-28 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Discover the Power of Machine Learning with ACENET!
Curious about Machine Learning (ML) and how it transforms industries? Join our engaging series of four sessions where you’ll explore the core concepts behind automation and intelligent decision-making, including some hands-on examples.
● Understand Key ML Principles – Learn about supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning and their real-world applications.
● Explore Essential Algorithms – Gain insights into Naive Bayes, Regression, Decision Trees, Support Vector Machines, and Neural Networks.
● Learn the Fundamentals of Neural Networks and Deep Learning – Understand core concepts behind neural networks and deep learning, their components, and how to build a simple neural network.
● Explore Large Language Models – Build foundational knowledge of transformer architectures including types of LLMs and their evolution, pre-training vs. fine-tuning, and practical considerations.
Perfect for beginners and professionals alike, this series will equip you with the fundamentals to navigate the world of machine learning with confidence.
Register now and start your ML journey today!
Thank you to Cognizant for supporting the ShiftKey Academy UP program, making these courses possible.
📅 Dates: May 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th
⏰ Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📌 Location: Virtual
💰 Cost: FREE!
Register Here: https://bit.ly/4jh8b7E

Note: Attendance is required for 3 sessions to earn certification, as well as successful completion of assessment.

Academy UP: Fundamentals of Cloud Administration with Azure (3/4)
2025-05-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada

Encryption Foundations Workshop
2025-05-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
(Now at 6-8pm!)
Dive into the essentials of data security with our Encryption Foundations Workshop! Master AES, RSA, SHA encryption, and Bcrypt, plus experience hands-on practice with CyberChef. Whether you’re new to encryption or looking to deepen your skills, this workshop will give you the tools to protect sensitive data effectively. Join us and take your cybersecurity knowledge to the next level.
🔗 Register Now: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Academy UP: Machine Learning Basics (3/4)
2025-05-21 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual

Academy UP: Fundamentals of Cloud Administration with Azure (2/4)
2025-05-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada

Academy UP: Machine Learning Basics (2/4)
2025-05-14 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual

Here We Code: Networking Mixer
2025-05-13 17:00 - 20:00 | The PIER, 1209 Marginal Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Calling all students who want to begin their careers in tech!
Join us on May 13th at the PIER for the Here We Code: Networking Mixer from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.
Lower and upper-year students, connect about your experiences and careers, and also get to know industry professionals in the tech field! Discuss your career and academic goals, listen to a panel of upper year students, alumni, and industry professionals, and much more.
Don’t miss this chance to connect, network, explore your options, and get to know the tech industry! 🧑‍💻🎓🤝
Thanks to Digital Nova Scotia and SuperNOVA for their ongoing support for the Here We Code initiative!
Click here to register: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Summit for Women in Future Technology
2025-05-10 09:00 - 17:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Are you ready to take charge of your path in tech?
🚀 The Summit for Women in Future Technology (SWIFT) is created by CS students for CS students, with one goal in mind: to empower you with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to succeed in the tech industry.
👩‍💻 Open to all women and gender-diverse individuals, this summit offers a full day of hands-on workshops and interactive sessions led by experienced professionals and industry leaders.
✨ Join us for an experience designed to elevate your voice, your skills, and your future!
Presented by the Leacross Foundation and Tech@RBC.
Schedule:

Register Here: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Academy UP: Fundamentals of Cloud Administration with Azure (1/4)
2025-05-08 18:00 - 20:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada

Academy UP: Machine Learning Basics (1/4)
2025-05-07 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual

Internet of Things: A Beginner Workshop
2025-05-06 16:30 - 19:30 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Smart homes, wearable tech, and connected cities all run on IoT. Want to know how? Join us for this beginner-friendly workshop where you’ll learn how IoT works and build your own smart device. We’ll walk you through the basics using Arduino or Raspberry Pi in a fun, collaborative setting. Perfect for beginners from all academic backgrounds.
Prerequisites
Bring a laptop (if possible)
Some exposure to programming (e.g., Python or C++) is a bonus but not required
Curiosity and a willingness to learn!
📅 Date: May 6th, 2025
⏰ Time: 4:30pm-7:30pm
📌 Location: The Goldberg Computer Science Building Room 134
🔗 Register Here: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Academy UP: Practical CyberSecurity (4/4)
2025-03-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
The Practical CyberSecurity Course by ShiftKey Academy UP, led by Aman Bhalla, is your gateway to the world of cybersecurity. Designed for students eager to learn the basics of ethical hacking, threat protection, and more! This course is open to participants from all disciplines and skill levels.
Thank you to Cognizant for supporting the ShiftKey Academy UP program, making these courses possible.
📅 Dates: March 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📌 Location: Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, Room 1020
💰 Cost: FREE!
Register now: https://bit.ly/4jOZdPz

Note: Attendance is required for 3 sessions to earn certification, as well as successful completion of assessment.

Alumni Speaks: Andres Collart
2025-03-24 16:00 - 17:30 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
📅 Date: March 24, 2025
⏰ Time: 4:00PM-5:30PM
📌 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building

Consulting 101 Workshop with Cognizant
2025-03-22 13:00 - 17:00 | Nova Scotia
Ever wondered what a career in consulting looks like? Or the skills you need to break into the industry?
Join us for an engaging workshop with Cognizant, one of the largest consulting firms in the world! By the end of the workshop, you’ll gain a better understanding of the consulting world and develop some fundamental consulting skills. And did we mention there’ll be some door prizes and lunch? 🙌
Take a well-deserved break from your studies on March 22.
Sign up here: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Speech Craft Workshop
2025-03-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Knowing how to confidently speak in front of an audience is a crucial life skill during and after university. Come to the Speech Craft Workshop on March 20th to learn how to command a room and the best tips and tricks to make your voice heard.
In this event you’ll:
💬 Discover tips and strategies to improve your confidence and on-stage presence.
💬 Practice pitches for tech conferences and showcases.
💬 Compete for a chance to win an UberEATS gift card
💬 Have an evening meal provided!
See you there!
Register here: https://lnkd.in/e3ftEFaR

Academy UP: Practical CyberSecurity (3/4)
2025-03-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada

ShiftKey Lounge: Fintech
2025-03-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Curious about what it’s really like working in the fintech industry? Come hear from senior students who’ve recently stepped into the field! They’ll share their experiences, the skills that matter most in fintech, and tips for breaking into the industry. Whether you’re aiming for a career in fintech or just curious about the journey, this session will give you the insights you need to navigate this fast-growing industry. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from those who are already diving in!

📅 Date: March 18th
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📌 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building, Room 430
💰 Cost: FREE!
Register now: https://linktr.ee/shiftkeylabs

Snowball Awards 2025
2025-03-15 17:00 - 23:30 | The Westin Nova Scotian, 1181 Hollis Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 2P6, Canada
CSS SNOWBALL 2025 is here❄️⭐️
Every year since 1997, the Computer Science Society (CSS) hosts Snowball Gala, an event that brings students, staff, faculty and individuals from the IT industry together to applaud student achievements in and out of the classroom.
This year was no different as we come together on March 15, 2025 to celebrate accomplishments that vary from student academic successes and teaching to community engagement and leadership.
We have limited seats available, so get your tickets as early as possible!
📅 Date: March 15th, 2025
⏰ Time: 5:00PM-11:30PM
📌 Location: The Westin Nova Scotian
🎟️ Tickets: https://bit.ly/4k78ti7

Industry Showcase: RBC
2025-03-13 16:00 - 17:30 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Benefits of attending:

Network with RBC staff
Learn about upcoming opportunities at RBC
Find out how tech workers can get hired in the banking sector.

📅 Date: March 13th, 2025
⏰ Time: 4:00PM-5:30PM
📌 Location: The Goldberg Computer Science Building Room 430
🔗 Registration Link: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Academy UP: Practical CyberSecurity (2/4)
2025-03-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada

Industry Showcase: Avanade
2025-03-12 16:00 - 17:30 | Goldberg Computer Science Building, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1W5, Canada
Join us for an Industry Showcase with Avanade, a Microsoft Global SI Partner, to explore cutting-edge technology trends and career opportunities in cloud computing, AI, and DevOps. This is your chance to connect with Avanade professionals, gain insights into the future of tech, and learn about internships and full-time roles available to students.
About the session:
Avanade experts will share their experiences in GenAI, cloud-based data solutions, DevOps, and full-stack development, giving you a first-hand look at the exciting projects shaping the industry.
Key takeaways from the session:

Network with Avanade staff
Find out more about Avanade, a Microsoft Global SI Partner
Learn about upcoming opportunities at Avanade

About the Speakers:

Limysh Kalapala – Data Engineer, Avanade
Limysh is a Data Engineer working on GenAI projects and cloud-based data solutions at Avanade. With Azure and AWS certifications and expertise in Java, Spring Boot, and Python, he brings a strong technical background. Limysh holds a Master of Applied Computer Science from Dalhousie University and has over a year of experience at Avanade, where he leads knowledge-sharing sessions and is co-developing a learning roadmap to empower colleagues in GenAI and emerging technologies.

Jenna Cogswell – Analyst Full Stack Developer, Avanade
Jenna is an Analyst Full Stack Developer at Avanade Engineering Hubs, where she has been working full-time since August 2024 after completing a summer internship in 2023. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Dalhousie University and has worked on a Microsoft project improving ETL processes. Jenna has experience in Cloud Computing, Web Development, and Software Development, and as a former TA at Dalhousie, she applies her problem-solving and communication skills in her role.

Cornell Skyers – Manager & City Lead, Avanade Halifax Engineering Hub
Cornell is a Manager and City Lead at Avanade’s Halifax Engineering Hub with a passion for DevOps, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing. He has worked as a consultant and application developer for major Canadian banking organizations. Cornell is also an instructor at St. Mary’s University, where he teaches DevOps theory, advocating for how DevOps can build confidence in code, improve collaboration, and create positive cultural change in the IT industry.
📅 Date: March 12th, 2025
⏰ Time: 4:00PM-5:30PM
📌 Location: The Goldberg Computer Science Building Room 430
🔗 Registration Link: https://bit.ly/41UrPzP
