Intro to Godot Workshop
2026-01-20 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Halifax) | 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
🎮 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

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, 2026-02-22 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

ShiftKey Academy Up: Databases After Graduation (2/4)
2026-02-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia

ShiftKey Academy Up: Databases After Graduation (3/4)
2026-02-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia

Tech Forum: Beyond the Cloud Hype
2026-02-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Nova Scotia
ShiftKey Labs and the Faculty of Computer Science are excited to invite you to a Tech Forum where we will discuss emerging technologies and lessons learned from industry professionals.
This time, we will explore how real-world cloud systems are actually designed, where they fail, and how architecture is evolving in the age of Generative AI. Harmit Narula, MACS alumnus of the Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University, shares insights from architecting complex cloud-based production systems and lessons learned from solving real industry challenges.
Best suited for developers, students, and tech enthusiasts interested in understanding production-grade cloud architecture, system design, large-scale failures, and how GenAI is reshaping modern system architecture.
📅 Date: Saturday, February 21⏰ Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM📌 Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building Room 430💰 Cost: FREE!
Register here! https://bit.ly/shiftkey-events

Industry Showcase: Trihedral Engineering Limited
2026-02-24 17:30 - 19:00 | 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

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
