ShiftKey Labs

Academy UP Course: Foundations of Full Stack Development (2/4)
2025-11-10 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | 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

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
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

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

AI2Market Launch Info Session
2026-01-14 18:00 - 19:00 | Nova Scotia
Interested in learning how the AI2Market Launch program can help you build the skills and confidence to lead an AI-driven enterprise?

Launch is a three-month, full-time experience focused on execution: developing robust business and financial models, creating a go-to-market strategy, and iterating an AI-based product. This info session is an opportunity to learn more about the program, understand what to expect, and ask any questions you may have.

Date: January 14, 2026
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/info-session-ai2market-launch-tickets-1975697280751?aff=oddtdtcreator

ShiftKey Academy UP: Game Dev - Unreal Engine (2/4)
2026-01-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia

*Postponed* Industry Showcase: Ateko (formerly CloudKettle)
2026-01-20 17:30 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
The Industry Showcase with Ateko (formerly CloudKettle) has been postponed.
Date: Tuesday January 20
Time: 5:30pm – 8:00pm
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

Intro to Godot Workshop
2026-01-20 18:00 - 21:00 | Nova Scotia
🎮 Take your first steps into game development with Godot! Join Daniel Nascimento for a hands-on beginner-friendly workshop where you’ll learn the fundamentals of Godot, explore GDScript, and build a simple 3D platforming game from scratch.
By the end of the session, you’ll have a playable game and practical skills to help you feel more prepared for Game Jam.
📅 January 20 | ⏰ 6–9 PM | 📍 Room 224, Student Union Building
Led by Daniel Nascimento, a full-time indie game developer with over 15 commercial game releases.
Registration is now open! Click here to secure your spot!

ShiftKey Academy UP: Game Dev - Unreal Engine (3/4)
2026-01-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia

How to Hackathon Workshop
2026-01-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
A hands-on workshop designed for students who are interested in participating in hackathons and want to feel more confident going into their first event—or level up their approach for future ones.
In this one-time session, participants will be guided through what to expect at a hackathon and how to work effectively under pressure. The workshop will cover key topics such as design methodologies, efficient task delegation, deadline management, and how to approach challenge statements with a problem-solving mindset.
Participants will also learn strategies for building efficiently as a team and crafting a clear, compelling pitch, helping them make the most of their time and ideas during a hackathon.
This workshop is ideal for learners who want a practical, structured introduction to hackathons and are looking for tips to compete smarter and collaborate more effectively.
📅 Date: January 23, 2026⏰ Time: 6:00–7:30 PM📌 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building, Room 127💰 Cost: FREE
Registration is now open: https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Cybersecurity in Gaming, Keeping Your Players Safe!
2026-01-27 16:00 - 18:00 | Nova Scotia
🛡️ As games become more connected, keeping players safe matters more than ever. Join Dr. Julia Silva Weber for a focused workshop on cybersecurity in gaming, where you’ll explore the challenges game developers face and the strategies used to protect players in online and multiplayer environments.
This session is a valuable addition for anyone preparing for Game Jam, helping you think beyond gameplay to build safer, more resilient games.
📆 Tuesday, January 27 | ⏰ 4–6 PM | 📍 Room 134
Led by Dr. Julia Silva Weber, a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Dalhousie University with a Ph.D. in Computer Science, specializing in network security, IoT, and interactive games.
Registration is now open! https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

*New Date!* Tinkering with Unity
2026-01-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
*New Date!*
A hands-on workshop designed for participants who already have some familiarity with programming and want to explore how games are built using Unity.
In this one-time session, participants will be guided through the core features of the Unity game engine using a pre-built game created by Sophie. The workshop will unpack how Unity works behind the scenes—from placing assets and moving a main character, to tracking objectives and understanding the programming logic that makes the game run.
Participants will then have the opportunity to remix the game by experimenting with existing assets and mechanics, encouraging creativity while reinforcing key Unity and programming concepts.
This workshop is ideal for learners who are not absolute beginners and are comfortable exploring code in a guided, hands-on environment.
Prerequisites:

Some programming experience required
Please install Unity prior to the session

📅 Date: January 27⏰ Time: 6:00–8:00 PM📌 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building, Room 134💰 Cost: FREE

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

The Lessons I Wish I Learned Before Doing 16 Game Jams
2026-01-28 16:00 - 18:00 | Nova Scotia
🧠 Game Jams are fast, intense, and incredibly rewarding—but they come with lessons you usually learn the hard way. Join Trent Baker as he shares insights from nearly a decade and 16 Game Jams, covering collaboration under pressure, managing time and balance, and finding success even when a project isn’t fully finished.
This session is designed to help you head into Game Jam 2026 with practical tools, realistic expectations, and a stronger jamming mindset.
📆 Wednesday, January 28 | ⏰ 4–6 PM | 📍 Room 430
Led by Trent Baker, Junior Programmer at Gamemode One and former Dalhousie Computer Science student, with experience across gameplay programming, design, and creative collaboration.
Registration is now open! Click here to register ✅

ShiftKey Academy UP: Game Dev - Unreal Engine (4/4)
2026-01-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia

Global Game Jam 2026
2026-01-30 - 2026-02-01 | Nova Scotia
Are You Ready to Jam?
The Global Game Jam 2026 is here! Dive into a weekend of creativity, collaboration, and game-making magic hosted by ShiftKey Labs.
Sign up Here: Global Game Jam 2026 – Halifax, N.S. Tickets, Fri, Jan 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite
🎯 Build a game from scratch
🤝 Connect with fellow creators
💡 Discover new ideas and skills
This non-competitive event is perfect for anyone curious about gaming, whether you’re an artist, programmer, or dreamer.
📅 Jan 30 – Feb 1, 2026
📍 Dalhousie University
Don’t just play games — create them!

ShiftKey Academy Up: Databases After Graduation (1/4)
2026-02-04 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

Collect. @ ShiftKey
2026-02-08 13:00 - 16:30 | Nova Scotia
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.

Industry Showcase: Global Relay
2026-02-09 16:00 - 17:30 | Nova Scotia
The Industry Showcase with Global Relay
Date: Monday February 9, 2026
Time: 4:00pm – 5:30pm
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
