What we’re about
Welcome to Vancouver's leading Data & AI community!
Vancouver is emerging as a global powerhouse in artificial intelligence and data innovation, with world-class research institutions, cutting-edge startups, and forward-thinking enterprises driving breakthrough AI solutions. As Canada's AI capital continues to flourish—from Vector Institute partnerships to enterprise AI transformations—the demand for collaborative expertise in data and artificial intelligence continues to accelerate throughout British Columbia and beyond.
Headquartered right here in Vancouver, Celestial Systems brings over 20 years of proven data and AI transformation leadership to our local community of business leaders, data professionals, AI researchers, and technology innovators. As an ISO 27001 certified partner with our home base in Vancouver and worldwide offices, we're passionate about empowering local professionals to unlock transformative AI opportunities that drive sustainable business growth in the Canadian market.
This community focuses on practical AI implementation—moving beyond research concepts to real-world applications that deliver measurable business impact for Vancouver enterprises and organizations. Whether you're building generative AI solutions, implementing intelligent automation, or designing AI-powered customer experiences for Canadian businesses, our sessions provide hands-on learning with cutting-edge technologies and locally-relevant AI use cases.
What We Offer:
- Local AI expertise from Celestial's Vancouver-based engineering team and regional technology partners including Microsoft
- Interactive workshops featuring live AI demonstrations with real datasets from Pacific Northwest industries
- Industry insights into how Vancouver companies leverage AI across sectors—from clean technology and gaming to healthcare and finance
- Research connections bridging academic AI research from UBC, SFU, and industry applications
- Regional focus addressing unique AI opportunities and regulatory considerations in the Canadian landscape
Our Vancouver AI Goals:
- Build collaborative partnerships with local AI teams, Vancouver enterprises, and BC innovation organizations
- Promote enterprise-grade AI solutions and responsible AI practices tailored for Canadian businesses
- Host practical workshops that translate cutting-edge AI research into competitive business advantages
- Share knowledge of emerging AI trends with focus on Vancouver's key industry applications
- Strengthen Vancouver's position as Canada's premier AI innovation hub and global AI leader
Who Should Join:
- AI Engineers & Data Scientists building production AI systems for Vancouver-based enterprises
- ML Researchers & Graduate Students from UBC, SFU, and local AI research institutions
- Business Leaders & Innovation Teams from BC companies implementing AI-driven digital transformation
- Startup Founders & Product Managers leveraging AI for growth in Canadian and international markets
- Technical Architects & Developers interested in AI integration and intelligent application development
Get Involved:
- Interested in sharing your Vancouver AI success story or research breakthrough? Contact us about local speaking opportunities
- Have an AI challenge specific to Canadian regulations or market needs? Suggest topics for our hands-on workshops
- Looking to volunteer or build local AI partnerships? We'd love to connect with Vancouver's AI talent community
- Interested in hosting or sponsoring AI events in Vancouver? Let's discuss collaboration opportunities
- Building innovative AI solutions for Canadian or global markets? Join our local AI innovation showcase
Featured Focus Areas:
- Generative AI applications for Vancouver's creative industries (film, gaming, media)
- AI-Powered Automation for resource management, logistics, and clean technology
- Microsoft Azure AI and cloud-native AI platforms with Canadian data residency
- Computer Vision AI for forestry monitoring, urban planning, and environmental sustainability
- Natural Language Processing with multilingual Canadian content and regulatory compliance
- Responsible AI practices aligned with Canadian privacy laws and ethical AI frameworks
- AI for Good initiatives addressing Vancouver's social and environmental challenges
Join us to discover how Vancouver enterprises and research institutions leverage artificial intelligence to unlock new opportunities, enhance decision-making capabilities, and maintain competitive advantages in both Canadian and global markets. From strategic AI insights sessions to hands-on technical labs, we welcome both seasoned AI practitioners and curious innovators passionate about Vancouver's role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
Celestial Systems: Proudly headquartered in Vancouver, your trusted local partner for AI-powered digital transformation, combining deep technical expertise with proven success across Canadian enterprises and international markets.
Unlocking Innovation with Microsoft AI: Lessons from Real-World Transformation
Ready to move beyond Microsoft AI theory to real-world results? Join us for an intimate fireside chat where industry veterans share the unvarnished truth about driving measurable business impact with Microsoft's AI ecosystem.
This isn't your typical tech presentation—it's a candid conversation between practitioners who've been in the trenches. Sachin Agrawal (CTO & Board Member, Shiftboard) and Lakshmi Chandra (Senior Solutions Engineer, Celestial Systems) will pull back the curtain on their collaborative journey transforming Shiftboard's data infrastructure using Microsoft Fabric, revealing both the victories and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
Whether you're evaluating Microsoft AI for your organization, struggling with implementation challenges, or looking to optimize existing deployments, this session delivers the insider perspective you need to make informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE FOR APPROVAL: https://luma.com/j0gvl5t0
SPEAKERS
Sachin Agrawal | CTO and Board Member, Shiftboard (A UKG Company)
An accomplished technology executive with over two decades of experience driving innovation in workforce management and high-compliance industries. As CTO at Shiftboard, Sachin has transformed employee scheduling and operations for Fortune 500 companies, delivering mission-critical solutions that improve safety, efficiency, and engagement at enterprise scale.
Former CEO of EDP Software (SchedulePro) and Microsoft Program Manager, Sachin is a named inventor on a US digital rights management patent and brings battle-tested insights from leading digital transformation projects across multiple industries. Graduate of University of Waterloo's prestigious Systems Design Engineering program.
Lakshmi "Lucky" Chandra | Senior Solutions Engineer, Celestial Systems
A dynamic technology leader specializing in AI implementations, data engineering, and financial services automation. Lucky architects end-to-end solutions using Microsoft's advanced platform capabilities and recently led the successful Shiftboard data migration and workflow automation project using Microsoft Fabric. His expertise bridges the gap between Microsoft AI potential and production-ready enterprise solutions.
As a Dataiku partner and Microsoft Azure solutions provider, Celestial Systems enables enterprises to modernize their data infrastructure and accelerate AI/ML deployments with cutting-edge Microsoft AI solutions that deliver measurable business value.
AGENDA
2:00 – 2:15 PM | Welcome & Introductions Meet the Celestial Systems team and connect with fellow technology leaders and Microsoft AI practitioners.
2:15 – 2:45 PM | Fireside Chat: The Shiftboard Story Speakers: Sachin Agrawal & Lakshmi Chandra An inside look at the real-world challenges, decisions, and breakthrough moments during Shiftboard's Microsoft Fabric-powered data transformation project.
2:45 – 3:15 PM | Microsoft AI Deep Dive: What Actually Works
- Microsoft Fabric, Copilot, and Azure OpenAI in production environments
- Integration strategies that scale vs. those that don't
- ROI metrics that matter and how to measure them
3:15 – 3:45 PM | Lessons Learned: The Good, Bad, and Unexpected Honest insights about implementation challenges, budget considerations, team readiness, and the pitfalls most organizations encounter (and how to avoid them).
3:45 – 4:15 PM | Interactive Q&A: Your Toughest Microsoft AI Questions Bring your real-world challenges. Our speakers will provide candid advice based on their hands-on experience with enterprise Microsoft AI deployments.
4:15 – 4:30 PM | Networking & Continued Conversations Connect with industry professionals and continue the discussion over refreshments.
This is your chance to learn from practitioners who've successfully navigated the Microsoft AI landscape—complete with real budgets, real timelines, and real business outcomes.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Tech leaders, solution architects, IT managers, data engineers, and anyone evaluating or implementing Microsoft AI technologies for enterprise digital transformation.
LOCATION
Celestial Systems Inc. 4279 Dawson St #201, Burnaby, BC V5C 3Y5, Canada
Reserve your spot now! RSVP early to secure your place at this exclusive fireside chat. Limited seating available for an intimate, interactive experience.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE FOR APPROVAL: https://luma.com/j0gvl5t0
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Network event3 attendees from 2 groups hosting(IN-PERSON) Unlocking Innovation with Microsoft AI: Real-World TransformationCelestial HQ, Burnaby, BC
Unlocking Innovation with Microsoft AI: Lessons from Real-World Transformation
Ready to move beyond Microsoft AI theory to real-world results? Join us for an intimate fireside chat where industry veterans share the unvarnished truth about driving measurable business impact with Microsoft's AI ecosystem.
This isn't your typical tech presentation—it's a candid conversation between practitioners who've been in the trenches. Sachin Agrawal (CTO & Board Member, Shiftboard) and Lakshmi Chandra (Senior Solutions Engineer, Celestial Systems) will pull back the curtain on their collaborative journey transforming Shiftboard's data infrastructure using Microsoft Fabric, revealing both the victories and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
Whether you're evaluating Microsoft AI for your organization, struggling with implementation challenges, or looking to optimize existing deployments, this session delivers the insider perspective you need to make informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE FOR APPROVAL: https://luma.com/j0gvl5t0
SPEAKERS
Sachin Agrawal | CTO and Board Member, Shiftboard (A UKG Company)
An accomplished technology executive with over two decades of experience driving innovation in workforce management and high-compliance industries. As CTO at Shiftboard, Sachin has transformed employee scheduling and operations for Fortune 500 companies, delivering mission-critical solutions that improve safety, efficiency, and engagement at enterprise scale.Former CEO of EDP Software (SchedulePro) and Microsoft Program Manager, Sachin is a named inventor on a US digital rights management patent and brings battle-tested insights from leading digital transformation projects across multiple industries. Graduate of University of Waterloo's prestigious Systems Design Engineering program.
Lakshmi "Lucky" Chandra | Senior Solutions Engineer, Celestial Systems
A dynamic technology leader specializing in AI implementations, data engineering, and financial services automation. Lucky architects end-to-end solutions using Microsoft's advanced platform capabilities and recently led the successful Shiftboard data migration and workflow automation project using Microsoft Fabric. His expertise bridges the gap between Microsoft AI potential and production-ready enterprise solutions.As a Dataiku partner and Microsoft Azure solutions provider, Celestial Systems enables enterprises to modernize their data infrastructure and accelerate AI/ML deployments with cutting-edge Microsoft AI solutions that deliver measurable business value.
AGENDA
2:00 – 2:15 PM | Welcome & Introductions Meet the Celestial Systems team and connect with fellow technology leaders and Microsoft AI practitioners.
2:15 – 2:45 PM | Fireside Chat: The Shiftboard Story Speakers: Sachin Agrawal & Lakshmi Chandra An inside look at the real-world challenges, decisions, and breakthrough moments during Shiftboard's Microsoft Fabric-powered data transformation project.
2:45 – 3:15 PM | Microsoft AI Deep Dive: What Actually Works- Microsoft Fabric, Copilot, and Azure OpenAI in production environments
- Integration strategies that scale vs. those that don't
- ROI metrics that matter and how to measure them
3:15 – 3:45 PM | Lessons Learned: The Good, Bad, and Unexpected Honest insights about implementation challenges, budget considerations, team readiness, and the pitfalls most organizations encounter (and how to avoid them).
3:45 – 4:15 PM | Interactive Q&A: Your Toughest Microsoft AI Questions Bring your real-world challenges. Our speakers will provide candid advice based on their hands-on experience with enterprise Microsoft AI deployments.
4:15 – 4:30 PM | Networking & Continued Conversations Connect with industry professionals and continue the discussion over refreshments.
This is your chance to learn from practitioners who've successfully navigated the Microsoft AI landscape—complete with real budgets, real timelines, and real business outcomes.WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Tech leaders, solution architects, IT managers, data engineers, and anyone evaluating or implementing Microsoft AI technologies for enterprise digital transformation.LOCATION
Celestial Systems Inc. 4279 Dawson St #201, Burnaby, BC V5C 3Y5, CanadaReserve your spot now! RSVP early to secure your place at this exclusive fireside chat. Limited seating available for an intimate, interactive experience.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE FOR APPROVAL: https://luma.com/j0gvl5t0
Past events (217)
See all- Network event6 attendees from 2 groups hosting(IN-PERSON EVENT) AI That Delivers: From Hype to Real Business ImpactThis event has passed
