Name: DEFCON Halifax February Meet-Up
Start: 2026-02-05T18:30:00-04:00
End: 2026-02-05T20:30:00-04:00
Location: VOLTA

January 2026
UX Research on Mobile Games: What works, what doesn’t

January 28 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm AST

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

Details What is games user research, and what does it look like for mobile games? With Chanel Larche, we'll explore the common misconceptions, practical limitations, and best practices when conducting UX research on mobile games. We'll also discuss together how these lessons translate to user research for other mobile digital products. > Agenda 7:00 PM Doors open, networking time 7:15 PM Introductions from the event hosts, Nata and Ruby 7:20 PM UX Research on Mobile Games: What works, what doesn't with Chanel Larche 7:50 PM Q&A 8:15 PM Networking and wrap-up 8:45 PM Doors close > Speaker Bio Chanel Larche is a Cognitive Neuroscientist and User Researcher with over 10 years of experience researching games. She has led research in responsible gaming and gambling and, more recently, led player research in the videogames industry at Ubisoft Halifax. Her work spans mobile, PC, and console AAA titles, as well as support for indie developers as a freelance user research consultant. Chanel is also an advocate for neurodiversity, accessibility and ethical game design, with her prior research contributing to ethical game design policy in Australia. > How to find us at Volta (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Enter at 1800 Argyle St. Proceed up the stairs or use the accessible ramp to the left […]
2026 Tech Forecast: AI, Upskilling, and Future-Readiness

January 29 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm AST

Online

Dive into the major trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping tech in 2026 across AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and other evolving domains. Use these insights from Pluralsight’s recent 2026 Tech Forecast to inform your strategy, create targeted learning goals, and position your organization for success.
Startup Huddle Halifax Session 3 @ Tribe Network

January 29 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm AST

Tribe Network 1717 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Overview Contribute, collaborate, and connect at the region's Startup Huddle! 🚀 Halifax, it’s time to huddle up! Tribe Network, in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network, is thrilled to bring Startup Huddle to Halifax — a gathering designed to spotlight and support local entrepreneurs, as well as Halifax’s growing startup ecosystem. Each session will feature tech founders who will share their ventures, challenges, and lessons learned to a room full of peers, mentors, and community members who will offer feedback, insights, and encouragement. Why Attend This isn’t just another social or networking event. It’s a chance to: Hear from local founders building tech-enabled ventures right here in Halifax Contribute to problem solving some real-world business challenges Gain lessons and insights that you can apply to your own work Connect with peers, mentors, and potential collaborators Whether you’re a founder, a student, a professional, an investor, or simply curious about the world of startups — this is a space for you. Together, we’re creating a safe, supportive environment for bold ideas to grow. Let’s huddle, learn, and build together. Our events and community spaces are open and welcoming to everyone. We’re committed to ensuring they remain safe, affirming, and respectful for all. Discrimination, harassment, or hateful behaviour […]
Global Game Jam 2026

January 30 @ 5:30 pm - February 1 @ 4:00 pm AST

Shiftkey Labs 426-6050 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Build your own game from scratch in 48 hours! Dive into the world of game development, where creativity meets code, at the Global Game Jam in Nova Scotia! 🎮 Hosted at the Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University by ShiftKey Labs and HCI4Good, join fellow game enthusiasts and developers for an amazing weekend of innovation and creativity. Unleash your imagination, collaborate with like-minded minds, and craft the next gaming masterpiece in the heart of Nova Scotia's gaming community. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a budding storyteller, this jam-packed event promises to be a pixel-perfect adventure where your imagination transforms into interactive realities. 🚀 This event is suitable for all skill-levels, and participants will have access to introductory workshops to help you prepare. Your $5 registration fee will secure your spot, give you access to the entire event as well as the prep workshops, and provide you with lots of food to fuel your designing! Secure your spot by registering now! 🎉 Information about the schedule and more on what to expect will come soon. Feel free to reach out with questions!
Cape Breton – Startup Smarter Bootcamp

January 30 @ 6:00 pm - January 31 @ 4:00 pm AST

500 George Street Sydney, NS B1P 1K6 500 George Street, Sydney, NS, Canada

Come with your idea. Leave with a plan. Starting a business isn’t about luck, passion, or grinding harder. It’s about solving a real problem - for real people - in a way that actually matters. If you’ve got an idea but no clear starting point, this 1.5-day bootcamp is for you. It’s built for early-stage founders, side-hustlers, and soon-to-be entrepreneurs who want to do things right, from day one. Here’s what you’ll walk away with: Why more than 70% of startups fail in their first year - and how to avoid becoming one of them The essential mindset shifts serious entrepreneurs make (and how to train yours) How to use the Business Model Canvas properly - not like a business school assignment A way to test whether your idea solves a real problem (or just sounds good in your head) How to avoid the product-first trap and anchor your business in real customer pain This isn’t a pep talk. It’s a small group (max 8), no-nonsense, hands-on working session grounded in experience with over 200 startups. Expect honest feedback, strategic thinking, and moments of uncomfortable clarity - the kind that moves your idea forward. You’ll leave with a mental roadmap […]
February 2026
Content That Connects: Social Strategy & Short-Form Videos

February 3 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm AST

Cape Breton Business Innovation Centre 500 George Street #suite 200, Sydney, NS, Nova Scotia, Canada

A Lunch & Learn with Elevate Media Social media can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re trying to show up consistently, keep up with trends, and create content that actually supports your business goals. In this Lunch & Learn, Elevate Media will walk you through the fundamentals of social media marketing and how it fits into a bigger, modern marketing strategy. They'll break down common platform terminology, what matters most right now, and how businesses can use social media in a way that feels authentic, intentional, and effective. Then they'll shift into a hands-on demo using CapCut, where you’ll learn how to create a simple short-form video from start to finish — perfect for Reels, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts. What you’ll learn: Key social media terms and platform basics (without the jargon) How social media supports your overall marketing goals What makes content engaging — and why storytelling matters A beginner-friendly intro to CapCut How to create and edit a short-form video/reel step-by-step Who this is for: This session is great for small business owners, staff, entrepreneurs, and anyone managing social media who wants a clearer strategy and practical tools to create content with confidence. What to bring (lunch is provided!): A smartphone […]
Fortinet Cybersecurity Talk

February 3 @ 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm AST

Steele Wheels Motor Museum 66 Otter Lake ct, Halifax, NS, Canada

Join us in Halifax, NS on February 3rd at Steele Wheels Motor Museum! Modern enterprises are moving faster than ever—but attackers, misconfigurations, and SaaS sprawl are moving just as quickly. How do you scale applications, APIs, and cloud services without sacrificing performance, security, or visibility? Join us for a dynamic session that showcases how Fortinet's Application Delivery Controller (FortiADC) and Fortinet's Cloud Access Security Broker (FortiCASB SSPM) work together to deliver unified application delivery, protection, and SaaS governance at any scale. Discover how FortiADC combines high-performance load balancing, integrated WAF, and API security to protect critical applications across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments. Then explore how FortiCASB SSPM shines a light on hidden SaaS risk—automatically discovering shadow IT, eliminating dangerous misconfigurations, and enforcing compliance across hundreds of applications. Walk away with practical strategies to close security gaps, simplify operations, and confidently deliver secure digital experiences—no matter where your apps and data live.
Exclusive Masterclass: Power Your Snapchat Strategy

February 4 @ 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm AST

Online

Snap has become one of the most powerful platforms for fueling creativity, connection, and real performance. For brands, the opportunity goes beyond simply showing up, it’s about unlocking the full potential of what the platform can deliver. Join Dash Social and Snap for an exclusive masterclass designed to help brands elevate their Snapchat strategy in 2026 and beyond. In this webinar, you’ll learn: Snapchat content best practices that drive discovery, engagement, and impact - How to elevate creative performance on Snap using the right formats and workflows - What’s coming on Snap and how to stay ahead - Whether you’re just getting started on Snap or looking to refine your approach, this session will leave you with clear takeaways you can apply immediately
Building with ML: Meetup & Shares

February 4 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm AST

REDSpace 168-1595 Bedford Hwy, Bedford, NS, Canada

REDspace has been hosting internal Building with ML meetups, and they’ve been too good not to share with everyone. So REDspace is inviting folks from the tech community to join them for a FREE fundamentals-first, discussion-driven Machine Learning meetup. No conference talks or pitch decks, this is real conversations about building these systems, observing their behaviour, and learning the art of building them. Expect: • Open discussion, demos, and problem-solving • Core concepts and practical techniques • All experience levels welcome • Lots of curiosity and shared learning Bring something to share; a technique you tried, a model behaviour you noticed, a paper you found interesting, or a project you’re working on. It’s open to the public, all are welcome! Sign-in: 5:00pm – 5:30pm
Moving from Theory to Practice

Featured February 5 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am AST

Online
Science & Sustainability Speed Networking Event

February 5 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm AST

Collaborative Health Education Building (CHEB) 5793 University Ave, Halifax, NS, Canada

Take the opportunity to showcase your organization's impressive work, discuss potential career paths, and inspire fresh talent! Event details Date: February 5th, 2026 Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Location: Collaborative Health Education Building, Room 170 More details will be sent to registrants closer to the event.
DEFCON Halifax February Meet-Up

February 5 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm AST

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

Overview Join DEFCON Halifax on Feb 5th at Volta! Network and hear Jay H talk about Anti-Hate OSINT as an OSINT Case Study: From AI to Job-Seeking DEFCON Halifax – February Meet-Up 📅 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Thursday, February 5th, 2026 🕡 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM 📍 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Volta, Halifax 🎤 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸: Presented by Jay Heisler, a former Voice of America reporter, the only Canada-based reporter at the time, and currently a freelance journalist for London Politica, who has taught citizen journalism remotely to veterans in the US. Jay will present a talk titled 'Anti-Hate OSINT as an OSINT Case Study: From AI to Job-Seeking,' exploring the world of AI through OSINT. 🔍 What’s This All About? DEFCON Halifax is your local hub for hackers, tinkerers, and cybersecurity pros. Whether you're just curious or deep in the field, you're welcome here. Come to learn, connect, and be part of Halifax’s growing infosec community. 💡 Why You Should Come: Meet fellow hackers, makers, and defenders Learn about the latest security trends and best practices Share knowledge in a laid-back, pressure-free environment No sponsors. No sales. Just real people and real conversations 🤝 Community-Powered and Proudly Sponsor-Free DEFCON Halifax aims to create an environment free from sales pitches. We […]

Events

January 2026

February 2026