Annual Canadian Celebration of Women in Computing Conference (CAN-CWiC)

CAN-CWiC is the premiere Canadian computing conference for young women and non-binary people in technology. This annual event has been offered since 2011 and features networking, learning, sharing and mentoring. CAN-CWiC embodies the mission of encouraging curiosity and awareness for the digital innovations that change the community and world around us. Bringing together leaders in research, education and industry from across Canada. Get inspired by stories from women who have been there and done that and how they succeeded.

If you are a student interested in attending contact your department chair as they may coordinate the attendance of a number of students in your department. You can also register yourself via this website registration portal (opens in early spring).

 

The event will be held at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto Airport and Conference Center in Toronto.

Students: 

If your school is participating in CAN-CWiC, it will provide the opportunity to sponsored students to attend the event and will arrange and pay for your transportation (by bus or air) and accommodation (on the 20th).  If you are not a sponsored student, you can still register yourself via the Registration Form and if you are a student in the below noted areas, you will be able to get a seat on the bus. If you are not in one of these areas, then you will then be responsible for your own transportation.

CAN-CWiC is arranging for bus transportation for students from Quebec (leaving from Montreal) and Ontario (outside the GTA – leaving from Ottawa, Kingston, and schools in the Golden Horseshoe, Windsor/Kitchener/Waterloo areas) and the University of Toronto. The buses leave in the morning of the 20th, drop you off at the hotel, and drive you back to your school on the 21st. Your department chair will have information on the bus schedule. If you are from outside Quebec or Ontario, you need to arrange transportation either through your department or by yourself.

Hotel shuttle:

The hotel offers a complimentary 24-hour shuttle bus service.
• From the Hotel: Every 30 minutes at the top and bottom of the hour
• From the Airport: Every 30 minutes at 15 & 45 minutes after the hour
AIRPORT PICK UP LOCATIONS
TERMINAL 1: Ground Level S5
TERMINAL 3 : Ground Level Post 41

CAN-CWiC will arrange and confirm your accommodation at the hotel once you have registered for the conference. Your hotel room will be double occupancy and you will share the room with another female student, and, in most cases, you have an option to be matched up with a person of your choice.

All your food and beverage, including the Friday October 20th CAN-CWIC Banquet, are included in your registration fee.

Not a Student?

A special $159 rate has been secured. Use this link to make your reservation. Deadline for reservations is Friday, October 6, 2023.

 

 

On Friday, October 20th all registered students will have an opportunity to attend the amazing CAN-CWiC reception and banquet. There are fun photo booths and we have some amazing keynote speakers lined up and you will receive a beautiful four course meal. It’s a great opportunity to dress up, mingle, meet other students from across Canada and have fun.

 

CANCWIC 2023 REGISTRATION

Everyone who attends the conference, regardless of whether you are on a free sponsor ticket or your school is paying for you, needs to register for the conference. We need your registration information to create your name badge and have your registration details.

How to register?

Registration is done in two parts; registration via the form below and payment (if required). Once you hit the submit button you will, depending on what option you choose, be taken to the confirmation page or the page where you can purchase your ticket (if required).

What if I represent a sponsor or my school is paying for me?

All sponsor representatives (including those on a free sponsor ticket and any additional representatives) must register using our registration site to ensure we have your representatives’ details. Your sponsor registration does not include your hotel reservation. 

If you are a student and your school is paying for your registration, you are still required to fill in the details and hit the “submit” button to finish the registration process. You will not be asked to pay for your registration.

What if my school is not paying for me?

You can still register yourself. Simply follow the registration link below. See “ticket prices” below for the cost to attend.

What are the ticket prices?

  • Friday night banquet ticket for non-student($100).
  • Student registration without a hotel room or Friday night banquet ($75).
  • Faculty registration without a hotel room or Friday night banquet ($100).
  • Student registration without a hotel room but includes the Friday banquet ($125).
  • Student registration with a hotel room and Friday banquet ($150).
  • Faculty registration without hotel room but includes Friday banquet ($175).
  • Additional sponsor ticket without hotel room but includes Friday banquet ($225).
  • Additional sponsor ticket (Saturday only) without hotel room or Friday night ($125).
  • Industry (non-sponsor) registration without hotel room but includes Friday night banquet ($225).

 

Please read carefully

  • If you are a Student and your ticket is paid for by your school.
  • If you are a sponsor rep whose ticket is paid for by your organization.
  • If you are a Speaker at the conference
  • Student fees are NOT paid for by their school.
  • Sponsor reps whose ticket is NOT paid for by their organization.
  • If you are a faculty member.
  • You would like to purchase a banquet ticket.

Steering Committee

The steering committee provides direction and advice to the co-chairs about the program. Co-chairs are chosen annually and move around from west to east. Co-chairs are responsible for finding and managing local support to run elements of the conference organization.

CO-CHAIRS

OULDOOZ BAGHBAN KARIMI

Lecturer, School of Computing Science
Chair, Computing Science Diversity Committee 
President, Academic Women
Simon Fraser University

Jeremy Bradbury

PhD Associate Professor Computer Science Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University

Steering Committee Members

Joanne Atlee

Professor
Cheriton School of Computer Science
University of Waterloo

Sheila McIlraith

Professor
Department of Computer Science
University of Toronto
Vector Institute, Canada CIFAR AI Chair
Associate Director and Research Lead, Schwartz Reisman Institute

Kate Larson

Professor
Cheriton School of Computer Science
University of Waterloo

 

Program

All events will take place at the Delta Hotel. Information about keynote speakers and parallel sessions will become available over the summer.

Friday, October 20th

12:00 noon – 5:00 pm:  CS-CAN|INFO-CAN Faculty Meeting
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. - Registration
6:30 p.m. – Banquet -  Keynote Speaker:  To be confirmed

Saturday, October 21nd

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. - Breakfast
8:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.  - Registration

8:45 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.
NCWIT Aspirations in Computing National Award  - ​Keynote Speaker: to be confirmed

9:50 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Break

​10:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. - Parallel sessions 
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. -   Lunch and Career Fair 
2:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. - Parallel sessions

3:50 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. Break

4:10 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Panel Session: Moderated by Joanne Atlee, Professor, University of Waterloo

5:30 p.m. End of the program

 

More Information Will Become Available Soon

Lightning Talks

Unveil Your Expertise & Knowledge at Canada's Premier Conference for Emerging Computing Minds!

Do you possess an enthralling academic research endeavour craving a spotlight among fellow burgeoning computer scientists? Brace yourself for the exceptional opportunity that awaits you at the 2023 Canadian Celebration of Women in Computing (CAN-CWiC). This is your stage to illuminate, captivate, and spark dialogues that resonate long after the event.

Why CAN-CWiC is Your Ultimate Canvas

Showcase Brilliance

This is your moment to bring your innovation, hard work, and creativity to the forefront. Share your projects and achievements with a receptive audience that hungers for inspiration.

Energize Discourse

Engage in spirited discussions and steer conversations toward the next horizon of computing. Your input could be the spark that ignites new ideas and collaborations.

Ignite Connections

Forge connections with like-minded minds and potential collaborators. CAN-CWiC is a bustling hub of future computing leaders.

Elevate Your Profile:

Woven into a conference experience that fosters growth, CAN-CWiC provides a unique opportunity to bolster your professional standing. Your contribution will be recognized among the brightest minds in the computing sphere.

Deadline

Applications remain open until the stroke of midnight on October 3, 2023.

Session Length

Each lightning presentation on October 21 is slated for a 5 minute duration.

Seize the Spotlight:

Step forward into the limelight by expressing your interest through the form below. The CAN-CWiC Program Committee will curate an electrifying program that aligns with the conference’s essence, making every effort to accommodate as many remarkable sessions as possible. We will notify you the second week of October if your presentation made it into the program.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Become a beacon of inspiration at the 2023 Canadian Celebration of Women in Computing – where your voice, your insights, and your journey shape the next generation of computing excellence.

Ignite curiosity. Fuel progress. Spark connections. Join us at CAN-CWiC 2023.

For more information contact:

Gina van Dalen, Executive Director, CS-CAN|INFO-CAN

gina_vandalen@cscan-infocan.ca

Unveil Your Expertise & Knowledge at Canada's Premier Conference for Emerging Computing Minds!

Do you possess an enthralling academic research endeavor craving a spotlight among fellow burgeoning computer scientists? Are you eager to unravel a riveting real-world case study from your journey in the corporate or non-profit realms? Brace yourself for the exceptional opportunity that awaits you at the 2023 Canadian Celebration of Women in Computing (CAN-CWiC). This is your stage to illuminate, captivate, and spark dialogues that resonate long after the event.

Our audience, a dynamic assembly of post-secondary students ranging from freshmen to accomplished graduates, is eagerly poised to absorb your insights.

Why CAN-CWiC is Your Ultimate Canvas

Showcase Brilliance

This is your moment to bring your innovation, hard work, and creativity to the forefront. Share your projects and achievements with a receptive audience that hungers for inspiration.

Energize Discourse

Engage in spirited discussions and steer conversations toward the next horizon of computing. Your input could be the spark that ignites new ideas and collaborations.

Ignite Connections

Forge connections with like-minded minds and potential collaborators. CAN-CWiC is a bustling hub of future computing leaders.

Elevate Your Profile:

Woven into a conference experience that fosters growth, CAN-CWiC provides a unique opportunity to bolster your professional standing. Your contribution will be recognized among the brightest minds in the computing sphere.

Deadline

Applications remain open until the stroke of midnight on October 3, 2023.

Session Length

Each parallel presentation on October 21 is slated for an engaging 45-minute duration, allowing ample time for immersive insights and vibrant exchanges.

Note on Participation Compensation:

Participation in this captivating journey is a voluntary endeavor, an investment in your personal growth and in nurturing the future of computing. While monetary compensation isn’t part of the equation, the intrinsic rewards of knowledge sharing and community engagement are boundless.

Seize the Spotlight:

Step forward into the limelight by expressing your interest through the form below. The CAN-CWiC Program Committee will curate an electrifying program that aligns with the conference’s essence, making every effort to accommodate as many remarkable sessions as possible. We will notify you the first week of October if your presentation made it into the program.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Become a beacon of inspiration at the 2023 Canadian Celebration of Women in Computing – where your voice, your insights, and your journey shape the next generation of computing excellence.

Ignite curiosity. Fuel progress. Spark connections. Join us at CAN-CWiC 2023.

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For more information contact:

Gina van Dalen, Executive Director, CS-CAN|INFO-CAN

gina_vandalen@cscan-infocan.ca

Thank you for your interest in the 13th Celebration of Women in Computing Conference (CAN-CWiC)

CAN-CWiC provides an excellent opportunity to connect with hundreds of female computing students from across the country.

Sponsorship Benefits

Statistics from 2022

CAN-CWIC is funded by sponsorship by industry, government and universities/colleges. Becoming a sponsor of the CAN-CWIC affords your organization the opportunity to:

  • Influence and attract tomorrow’s computing professionals
  • Showcase your commitment to diversity
  • Provide opportunities for your technical women to develop leadership, mentor and network
  • Participate in the career fair
  • Promote your organization’s needs
  • Strengthen relationships with participating universities, scope out potential collaborations
  • Support a program that improves the climate for the sector at large
  • Academic Sponsorship – recruit Graduate Students

 

  • 650 attendees
  • Over 35 organizations attended
  • 30+ institution were represented from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia
  • Over 30 sponsors
  • 100% of sponsor funding went towards supporting students allowing them to attend the event.
  • 25 amazing lightning talks
  • 3 awards presented through our partnership with NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award
  • 30 booths at the job fair

CAN-CWiC is 75% funded through sponsorship by industry, government, universities and colleges.

All funds are used to support student participation. Sponsorship allows CAN-CWiC to offer highly-subsidized fees for students to attend all presentations, panels and workshops, participate by giving talks or presenting posters, network with other attendees and attend the career fair and banquet. Thanks to our sponsors, we are also able to provide overnight accommodation, and, in many cases, transportation for students.

 

 

 

 

OUR SPONSORS

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