Data Engineers in Toronto

Data Engineers in Toronto July 2026 Semimonthly Meeting

Topic: Introduction to PySpark in Microsoft Fabric

Abstract:
With all of the engineering features in Microsoft Fabric, which medium should you use to move and transform data? Low-code data flows and pipelines? Good old relational SQL? What about this newfangled PySpark everyone is buzzing about?

If the last option piques your curiosity and you haven't tried it, this is the session for you. I'll cover basic Python principles that will make even complicated Python easy to read. Then I will explain important topics to understand when managing your Spark environment. Finally, I'll showcase Fabric features and community content that can support your next steps in learning to implement PySpark in Fabric.

Speaker: Jared Kuehn, Data Engineer

Speaker Profile:
For over a decade, Jared has been a data engineering consultant implementing Microsoft products. For more than three decades, he has been honing his skills in theater and other performing arts. As a speaker, Jared marries these two disciplines together, creating dynamic presentations that add entertainment to education. This symbiotic relationship can improve presentation engagement, support attendees in knowledge retention, and foster a culture of passion for the data industry.

As a speaker, Jared has spoken at events such as:
-Fabcon Vegas (Microsoft Fabric Community Conference)
-DataCon Seattle (Microsoft Data Conference)
-PASS Summit
-SQL Saturdays, Multiple
-Microsoft Fabric Global Online Conference
-Future Data Driven Summit
-GroupBy Conference
-and more!

He also runs the YouTube channel DataBard, focused on making Data fun and teaching techniques along the way.

Technically-speaking, Jared has multiple Microsoft certifications in both on-prem and cloud technologies. He has extensive knowledge in:
-Microsoft Fabric
-SQL Query Development and Performance tuning
-Kimball Data Modeling
-ETL design patterns
-Azure SQL DB and Azure SQL MI

In his spare time, he continues to perform in community theater productions, as well as musically for his church. Upon request, he would be happy to assist with more theatrical portions of events, such as performing musical numbers.

Data Engineers in Toronto July 2026 Semimonthly Meeting

Topic: Stop Guessing: Solve SQL Performance Problems with Query Store

Abstract:
When query performance suddenly changes, finding the root cause isn't always easy. Execution plans can change over time, and the plan cache often provides only a limited view of what happened.
Query Store helps by capturing query history, execution plans, and runtime statistics, giving you the visibility needed to identify regressions, compare plans, and maintain consistent performance.

In this session, you'll learn how to use Query Store to monitor query behavior, investigate performance issues, manage execution plans, and leverage built-in tuning capabilities in SQL Server and Azure SQL Database.

Key topics:
Query Store fundamentals
Query and plan history analysis
Performance regression detection
Query Store reports and insights
Plan forcing and plan management
Automatic tuning and best practices
Through live demos, you'll see how Query Store makes performance troubleshooting faster, simpler, and more reliable.

Speaker: Deepthi Goguri, SQL Database Administrator

Speaker Profile:
Deepthi is a SQL Server Database Administrator with several years of experience in Administering SQL Servers. She is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Microsoft certified trainer and Microsoft certified professional with an Associate and Expert level Certification in Data Management and Analytics. Deepthi blogs for DBANuggets.com.

Deepthi is a Co-Organizer for Microsoft Data and AI South Florida user group, Data TGIF, Cloud Data Driven User Group, Future Data Driven Summit, Databash Conference and Data Platform Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Virtual Group. She is also DEI Steering Committee member for PASS Data Community Summit. She is a Redgate Community Ambassador. Along with this, Deepthi loves arts and crafts. You can contact her on Twitter @dbanuggets.

Data Engineers in Toronto August 2026 Semimonthly Meeting

Topic: Running GitHub Actions Offline: Debug CI/CD workflows right from your local machine

Abstract:
Ever wanted to try out your GitHub Actions without waiting for the cloud to spin up the runners? Well, you can! Testing GitHub Actions locally lets you build, test, and debug your CI/CD workflows right from your machine. Through a tool such as act, you can simulate GitHub’s environment for your workflows locally using Docker. This means no more pushes of dozens of commits just to see if your syntax in the YAML file is wrong. You can make changes, execute, and validate your automation as many times as you want, even on a plane where there's no Wi-Fi. Just install Docker, install act, load your secrets locally, and run commands like act push to test your events in the workflows. That's faster, lightweight, and the greatest productivity booster. Taking GitHub Actions offline is not about isolation; it's about freedom and control over your automation pipeline.

Speaker: Steve Yonkeu, Software Engineer & Microsoft MVP

Speaker Profile:
Steve Yonkeu is a backend software engineer dedicated to delivering excellence in architecture, performance, and modularity. For over 5 years he has been leading teams and projects and open source communities worldwide. Steve is also the founder of Django Cameroon and Python Cameroon communities today. He is also an organizer at PyCon Africa and speaker at PyConUS.

Data Engineers in Toronto September 2026 Semimonthly Meeting

Topic: Building Collaborative AI Agents Using AI Foundry Agent Service

Abstract:
As enterprise AI adoption grows, many real-world scenarios can no longer be solved by a single conversational agent. Instead, they require multiple specialized agents that collaborate, share context, and delegate responsibilities intelligently. This session focuses on how to design and implement multi-agent architectures using Azure AI Foundry’s Agent Service.

We’ll start by breaking down when and why multi-agent systems make sense, then walk through a practical scenario where agents are assigned clear roles such as data retrieval, reasoning, and action execution. Using AI Foundry Agent Service, you’ll see how these agents are created, connected, and orchestrated to work together while maintaining context and control.

Rather than focusing on theory, the session emphasizes practical design patterns, architecture decisions, and implementation considerations, including agent boundaries, communication flows, and scaling agent-based solutions safely in enterprise environments.

By the end of the session, attendees will have a solid understanding of how to move from a single-agent approach to a collaborative, multi-agent model and how to apply these patterns using AI Foundry in their own solutions.

Key Takeaways:
- Understand when multi-agent architectures are the right choice
- Learn how to design role-based agents using AI Foundry Agent Service
- Explore real-world coordination and orchestration patterns
- Gain practical guidance for scaling and governing multi-agent systems
- Leave with a reusable architecture blueprint for enterprise AI agents

Speaker: Mitul Tailor, Snr. Data & AI Engineer

Speaker Profile:
am a Senior Data & AI Engineer at Long View Systems, specializing in Azure services, data engineering, and AI-driven solutions. With expertise in Azure Data Factory, Fabric, Copilot Studio, and data migration, I have successfully delivered scalable and efficient data solutions.

I hold a Post Graduate Certificate in Generative AI, a PG Diploma in ML & AI, and a Bachelor's in Computer Science. I am DP-600 & AI-102 certified, demonstrating my expertise in Microsoft Azure Enterprise Data Analyst solutions. Additionally, I have a strong understanding of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) AI and Azure AI Foundry, exploring how these technologies can be leveraged for intelligent automation and data-driven insights.

Recognized by clients for my clear and precise development work, I am passionate about automation, AI, and robotics. Outside of work, I love to travel and have a deep interest in cars.