Meetups

Name: From Savannas to Spreadsheets: Data Visualization for Humans
Start: 2025-05-29T18:00:00-03:00
End: 2025-05-29T20:00:00-03:00
Location: VOLTA

February 2025
February 5 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm AST

“Can you fix our UX?”

VOLTA 1800 Argyle Street #Unit 801, Halifax, NS, Canada

It's a question that inspired the name 20/20 Digital—and one with no simple answer. Join Jamie Gerrard, founder of 20/20 Digital, as he shares what it takes to improve people's interactions with digital products and services. With 24 years of experience in digital product strategy and design, Jamie reveals why UX success goes far beyond quick fixes or flashy design updates—it's about understanding how organizations work from the inside out. Drawing on real-world projects, Jamie will examine the three critical elements every successful UX initiative needs, explain why "it depends" is often the most thoughtful answer and share practical strategies for building digital experiences that stand the test of time. Whether you're a product leader, designer, or simply curious about creating better digital products and services, this talk offers candid insights and actionable takeaways to help you strengthen your UX approach. AGENDA 7:00 PM Doors open, networking time 7:15 PM Introductions from Nata and Ruby 7:20 PM "Can you fix our UX" with Jamie Gerrard 7:50 PM Q&A 8:15 PM Networking and wrap-up 8:30 PM Doors close
February 19 @ 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm AST Recurring

Third Wednesday

Atlantica Hotel Halifax 1980 Robie St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Join us at Third Wednesday! Pop by and chat with Halifax's tech/media/marketing community at the Atlantica Hotel. Introduce yourself during the 30-second intro/opportunity spots, and meet a great group of interesting people to chat with. All welcome, no need to register!
February 27 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm AST

Expanding Your Influence: A UX Leader’s Journey

1800 Argyle Street 801 Halifax, NS B3J 3N8 Nova Scotia, Canada

Moving into UX leadership requires more than just great design skills — it's about influence, relationships, and strategic thinking. In this talk, Angela Duggan will share her journey from an individual contributor to VP, including key actions that helped her grow her career. She explores common fears and imposter syndrome, offering strategies to overcome them. Angela will also share practical tips on preparing for leadership, building strong professional relationships, and leveraging mentorship to support career growth. This session offers real-world insights for anyone looking to take the next step in their UX career. Agenda 7:00 PM Doors open, networking time 7:15 PM Introductions from Nata and Ruby 7:20 PM Expanding Your Influence: A UX Leader's Journey with Angela Duggan 7:50 PM Q&A 8:15 PM Networking and wrap-up 8:30 PM Doors close Speaker Bio Angela Duggan is a user experience expert with over 20 years of experience in the IT industry. Starting as a web developer, she quickly moved into UX, specializing in B2B applications across web, desktop, and mobile. As the VP of User Experience at BeyondTrust, Angela grew the UX team from 3 to 30, driving a shift from siloed product teams to a unified, research-driven design culture. Passionate about UX advocacy and leadership, Angela excels at building strong […]
March 2025
March 19 @ 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm ADT Recurring

Third Wednesday

Atlantica Hotel Halifax 1980 Robie St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Join us at Third Wednesday! Pop by and chat with Halifax's tech/media/marketing community at the Atlantica Hotel. Introduce yourself during the 30-second intro/opportunity spots, and meet a great group of interesting people to chat with. All welcome, no need to register!
April 2025
April 16 @ 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm ADT Recurring

Third Wednesday

Atlantica Hotel Halifax 1980 Robie St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Join us at Third Wednesday! Pop by and chat with Halifax's tech/media/marketing community at the Atlantica Hotel. Introduce yourself during the 30-second intro/opportunity spots, and meet a great group of interesting people to chat with. All welcome, no need to register!
April 29 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm ADT

Propel X Lake City Cider Networking Event

Lake City Cider 35 Portland Street, Dartmouth, NS, Canada

Meet and mingle with fellow entrepreneurs and connect with Propel Coaches and team members for a networking event at Lake City Cider in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Designed to connect entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals it's an event to put on your calendar this spring. Whether you're launching a new venture, curious about the startup scene, or eager to exchange ideas with like-minded innovators, this event is the perfect opportunity to expand your network and gain valuable insights. Enjoy engaging conversations, discover potential collaborations, and get inspired by success stories from fellow founders. Don’t miss out on this chance to build meaningful connections that could take your startup to the next level.

Free
May 2025
Featured May 8 @ 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm ADT

Member Mixer with BeyondTrust

BeyondTrust - Bedford Office Suite 208, 1595 Bedford Hwy, Bedford, Nova Scotia

Join DNS and BeyondTrust for an exclusive member mixer! Whether you're looking to expand your network, share insights, or discover new opportunities, this event is the perfect space to foster connections in our local tech community. BeyondTrust is the global cybersecurity leader protecting Paths to Privilege™ with an identity-centric approach. We are leading the charge in transforming identity security and are trusted by 20,000 customers, including 75 of the Fortune 100, and our global ecosystem of partners. Learn more at www.beyondtrust.com Parking: Main mall parking lot Accessibility: Elevators are located on the main floor under the 2nd floor walkway. *This event is open to Digital Nova Scotia Members with a Professional Membership level or higher. To learn more about joining or upgrading, contact Caitlin at caitlin@digitalnovascotia.com Event Code of Conduct
May 8 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm ADT

Vibe Coding Meetup

1800 Argyle Street #Unit 801 Halifax, NS B3J 3N8 Nova Scotia, Canada

Description: Join us for our inaugural Vibe Coding session - a community-powered night of collaboration for Atlantic Canada’s AI builders. This first meetup will be led by Matt Cooper, CEO of Volta, and features special guest Sam Silver - one of our community’s rising stars. Come ready to code, connect, and spark ideas that could shape what’s next. Agenda Intros Share about current projects / demos Q&A Who Should Join Early‑stage founders prototyping ideas Developers working with AI/ML toolchains Designers and product folks curious about code and data Anyone who thrives on collaborative energy and hands‑on learning Bring: Your laptop (with your preferred dev environment) An idea, snippet, or tool you want feedback on How to RSVP Space is limited so be sure to secure your spot by registering here before capacity fills. You’ll receive full venue details and a short pre‑meetup survey to tailor the evening’s challenges. NOTE: If you are unable to attend any of our events please take a minute and cancel your ticket. This allows our team to better prepare for every event. By attending this event, you agree to be photographed and/or filmed and give permission to Volta to use your image in promotional and/or […]

Free
May 21 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm ADT

Fintech Drinks Halifax

VOLTA 1800 Argyle Street #Unit 801, Halifax, NS, Canada

Ticket includes 2 drinks and canapes. ✨ Spark new exchanges with fintech enthusiasts during our Fintech Drinks. ✨ Welcoming Newcomers & Embracing New Perspectives: The Future of Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Fintech Canada’s fintech sector has always seen new demographics as an essential market, highlighting their potential and contributions. As immigration policies evolve, we find ourselves in a shifting landscape that brings new opportunities and challenges. Many newcomers are bravely launching their own businesses to fill the gaps in financial services that they experienced in their home countries. This raises an important question: How can we genuinely foster and support the innovation driven by immigrant entrepreneurs to grow the fintech sector?

$20 – $30
May 21 @ 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm ADT Recurring

Third Wednesday

Atlantica Hotel Halifax 1980 Robie St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Join us at Third Wednesday! Pop by and chat with Halifax's tech/media/marketing community at the Atlantica Hotel. Introduce yourself during the 30-second intro/opportunity spots, and meet a great group of interesting people to chat with. All welcome, no need to register!
May 29 @ 9:00 am - 2:30 pm ADT

Symposium on Growing Exports in Nova Scotia

Dalhousie University, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building. 6100 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Join and share your insights at the Spring 2025 edition of the Symposium on Growing Exports in Nova Scotia, which will take place on May 29, 2025, from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, at Dalhousie University, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building. This event is organized by the Canadian International Council (CIC) – Halifax branch, the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University and the Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University and is proudly supported by Halifax Partnership, Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance and the Government of Nova Scotia. The symposium will include a networking opportunity, a business panel discussion and facilitated group discussions focused on the key question: How Can We Grow Exports from Nova Scotia? The symposium aims to bridge the gap between business practice, academic research and economic development activities to enhance the export capabilities of businesses in Nova Scotia. The event will bring together business leaders, academics and public sector experts to discuss actionable strategies for export growth. Key Outcomes: Strengthen connections between business leaders, academics, policymakers and economic developers to build long-term partnerships that drive export growth. Facilitate knowledge exchange to help Nova Scotia businesses grow exports. Provide a platform for participants to meet, share experiences, and establish professional relationships that […]
May 29 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm ADT

From Savannas to Spreadsheets: Data Visualization for Humans

VOLTA 1800 Argyle Street #Unit 801, Halifax, NS, Canada

Our visual system evolved to spot predators in grasslands, not interpret stacked bar charts in boardrooms. Data visualization is a clever hack, re-purposing ancient visual processing mechanisms to communicate abstract numerical concepts our brains weren’t designed to grasp. This evolutionary mismatch explains our struggle with visualizations and vulnerability to optical illusions, scale distortions, and poor visual channel selections. This talk explores how understanding human visual perception can transform how we create effective visualizations. You’ll learn which visual channels (color, position, size, etc.) best match specific data types and practical techniques that work with rather than against our visual cognition. For analysts, scientists, and executives alike, these evidence-based principles will help you craft visualizations that bypass confusion and foster genuine understanding.

Events

February 2025

March 2025

April 2025

May 2025