Modern Architecture and Design

**Midtown Toronto Chi Gong** **Chi Gong Master Teresa's Inner-Chi Qi Gong:** **Two classes each evening** (1) 6:30 PM : Introductory Eye Qi Gong & Qi Gong for Overall Health (2) 7:30 PM: Advanced Eye Qi Gong & Longevity Qi Gong **Fee: $30 a class (6.30-7.30pm)** Find out more information on Eventbrite and how to choose classes. **Eventbrite**: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1976757771708 **Location:** We will send you the direction to our private meeting room on payment.

**Monthly Wellness Art Workshop for Newcomers** Join our monthly *Wellness Art Hub* designed especially for you- immigrants and newcomers to Canada. This is a welcoming space where you can explore different creative art activities, connect with others, and support your mental well-being through artistic expression—no experience necessary! Each session offers a new activity and a chance to relax, create, and build community. Come as you are, take a break, and enjoy some creative time together! **Group Details** * **Name:** Wellness Art Hub * **Date:** Third Thursday of each month (Upcoming session: June 19, 2025) * **Sessions:** 10 sessions. New members are welcome anytime! * **Time:** 4 - 6PM(EST) * **Format:** In-person (At CultureLink's main office) * **Address:** Suite 301, 2340 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6P 4A9 * **Eligibility:** Immigrant who are permanent residents or convention refugees, aged 15 or above * **Language:** English **What to Expect** It’s not about creating perfect art. It’s about having fun and being in the moment. We invite you to relax, focus on what you’re doing, and enjoy the creative process. You might even notice yourself feeling calmer and in a better mood by the end! Below are the tentative topics for the first three sessions: * Jun 19: Mandala drawing * Jul 17: Paper quiling art (tentative) * Aug 21: Water color painting (tentative) * *The topic of remaining sessions will be announced later* **Does it charge?** No. The monthly Wellness Art Hub is free of charge. **Sign up now** at [https://forms.office.com/r/gHEGH7i2BB](https://forms.office.com/r/gHEGH7i2BB "https://forms.office.com/r/gHEGH7i2BB") If you can't open the link, please scan the QR code on the event banner at the top of this page to register. **Contact** If you need help on more information or registration, please contact Trista at LLi@culturelink.ca

\*\*\*PLEASE READ\*\*\* This listing is for information purposes only. To reserve a spot, sign up here: https://www.woodforsheep.ca/pages/event-scheduling What is DDAL? The D&D Adventurers League is an ongoing official organized play campaign for Dungeons & Dragons. It uses the fifth edition of the Dungeons & Dragons rules, and features the Forgotten Realms setting. You can play D&D Adventurers League games at any place that features adventures bearing the D&D Adventurers League logo. You can create a character and bring that character to games anywhere D&D Adventurers League is supported. More details: https://dnd.wizards.com/playevents/players Sitting fees apply.

The silence is broken. **We are officially relaunching DEF CON Toronto (DC416) on Jan 15.** We’re kicking off this new era at 6:30 PM at 100 Queens Quay St. It’s free for everyone, but capacity is limited. RSVP to lock in your spot. To find upcoming events, updates and stay involved as we grow, visit our revamped site [https://defcontoronto.ca](https://defcontoronto.ca/) **Talk:** Syndicate: Inside the life of a Ransomware Operator **What you’ll learn:** A deep dive into how ransomware affiliates rise through the ranks, build trust, and operate inside the dark web ecosystem. **Speaker:** Tammy Harper (Senior Threat Intelligence Researcher @ Flare) **About the Speaker:** Tammy Harper is a Senior Threat Intelligence Researcher at Flare, specializing in dark web ecosystems, ransomware affiliate operations, and adversary psychology. Her work combines technical analysis with narrative and sociological approaches to understand how modern cybercriminals think, organize, and operate.

Beginner class from 6-7:30 pm $35 per month For more info please email David at davidjdebelle@gmail.com \*\*New level starting Nov 6, 2025\*\* 4 months cycle. [https://www.canadiantaichiacademy.org/main_academy.html](https://www.canadiantaichiacademy.org/main_academy.html) email: oakville@canadiantaichiacademy.org phone: 289-379-7699 Continuing Tai Chi: Intermediate class from 7:30-9 pm is ongoing All the instructors are volunteers members of the Canadian Tai Chi Academy.

Join us for an evening of French conversation at B Espresso Bar in the atrium of the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music (near St. George station)!
We welcome all levels of French, and it's free\*.
Venez pratiquer votre français! \*While there is no fee to attend this event, guests are expected to purchase something from B Espresso Bar, in accordance with RCM's restrictions on usage of the cafe atrium space. **Building location:** The Royal Conservatory is at 273 Bloor St W, between Varsity Stadium and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). There are entrances off Bloor St. and Philosopher's Walk. If you enter from Bloor St through the large glass doors, follow the hallway on the left beside the staircase and turn left at the end. (Closest TTC: St. George) **Notes and restrictions:** The host may or may not attend this event. Attendees are encouraged to seat themselves at two or more adjacent tables, as needed. Please form groups of 6 people at each table; do not rearrange chairs and tables to accommodate more people, as this obstructs the narrow walking space. Guests are expected to order something from the cafe, and are asked to please refrain from bringing outside food or drink. Attendees must leave the building at 8pm when the cafe stops serving. **Contributions:** If you are a regular with us and would like to support the group, please send any contributions by e-transfer to [diskutomeetup@gmail.com.](http://diskutomeetup@gmail.com.) The yearly donation goal and amounts received year-to-date will be tracked anonymously on [this google sheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18GfqYsis8Cf2XGg4KsKQJsY_0Fv3bsSQHwJAxvC1Km8/edit?usp=sharing). Thank you so much for your support.

## Details * Details * \#\# About the event \- tickets are only available on our website at [https://www.wtpg.ngo/event-details/65-boxing-week-sale-fire-effect-wtpg-signature-series-art-and-form-shutter-dragging-and-multi-flash-setup](https://www.wtpg.ngo/event-details/65-boxing-week-sale-fire-effect-wtpg-signature-series-art-and-form-shutter-dragging-and-multi-flash-setup) 7pm-8:30pm A flame - The flame dances only for a moment as it strains to perform its story to the audience We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Fire effect - Art and form lighting workshop, the technique to combine shutter dragging and multiple flashes in a single frame . Join us for this exciting opportunity to explore some epic show stopping Dramatic studio lighting setups and create some beautiful ethereal looks to enhance your photography portfolio and skills set. **Workshop Details:** Are you passionate about photography? Do you aspire to learn the secrets of beautiful and creative lighting techniques? We are dedicated to lighting and sharing our photographic knowledge with you. Our small, intimate workshop with professional instructors is designed to cater to your interests. Throughout the workshop, we will discuss the specific lighting setups for each scenario, explaining the choice of modifiers and angles to effectively illuminate the subject and accessories. Instructor - Phil Sutherland Model - Kallopsia - an amazing professional art nude model from Toronto Assistant - TBD **Techniques:** During the workshop, we will focus on various framing techniques, including: * Shutter dragging * multiple flashes in a single frame * planning the exposure and movement * colour gels and exposure \*\*Instructor:\*\*Phil Sutherland \*\*Assistant:\*\*TBD **Model:** TBD To ensure a high-quality experience for participants, we are limiting the workshop to a maximum of six participants. As an indigenous-run, not-for-profit arts group, we are dedicated to serving the artistic community and advocating for the photographic arts. At our core, we believe in sharing knowledge and the joy of photography with the community. We strive to make art accessible to everyone and work hard to bring arts programming to the community. **Workshop Details:** * Maximum Participants: 6 * Workshop Fee: CAD$95 plus hst and vendor fee (boxing day sale through our website only $65 plus hst and vendor fee) **Items to Bring:** * Camera/Lenses of choice (DSLR, medium format, or mirrorless) * Fully charged battery * Freshly formatted memory card(s) * General lenses * Pen and paper (if you wish to take notes)

[Summary] This meetup is for those who are interested in code, web development, design, cloud, or AI. All levels are welcome, so feel free to bring your laptop and discuss what you are working on or what you are learning. You can share your projects and ideas with other participants freely. There are outlets and WiFi, drinks are about $5 for tea, they take card only. [Price] Attendance is FREE. But you need to buy something from the venue. [Policies] \- We do not tolerate harassment of our members \- We remind users that that this meetup is intended for networking and hobby development\, and any attempts at using this meetup event as a dating platform will not be not be tolerated Further information: https://torontostack.exchange/

*Unwind, get creative, and connect with cool people.* Looking for a calm space to do some art, have meaningful (or silly) convos, and meet new friends in the city? This is your spot. I’ll be bringing **colouring pages and markers** for anyone who just wants to show up and relax. You're also totally welcome to bring whatever creative activity helps *you* unwind — think **sketchpads, mini canvases and paint, journals, clay sculpting, wire bending, model building kits, and collage supplies**. We’ll hang out, make art, and enjoy chill conversations in a cozy, no-pressure environment. No experience or talent required — just bring yourself and whatever helps you feel creative and calm. **✦ What to Bring (optional):** * Any relaxing art or activity you enjoy **✦ I’ll provide:** * Colouring pages, markers, and good vibes **Where to Meet (MADO Cafe at the Food Hall inside The Well):** * The easiest way to get to the venue is to make your way to La Plume restaurant or The Dorset restaurant and turn towards the statue then take the stairs to the lower level. * Shoppers will be on the right and across from Shoppers will be an entrance to The Well's food court. * Make a left and you should see the long tables and MADO cafe. * **We'll meet at the long tables in front of MADO Cafe** Come solo or bring a friend — this is all about slowing down, making connections, and enjoying a creative evening together ✨

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** In 1923 the Village of Forest Hill was incorporated after 2,100 area residents voted for separation from York Township. The Village's boundaries were Briar Hill Avenue on the north, Marlee Avenue and Bathurst Street on the west, Lonsdale Road on the south and Oriole Parkway on the east. It was known as Spadina Heights. The first important job was to come up with a new name. The new Village's name of Forest Hill was taken from the summer residence of John Wickson. The property and mansion of Forest Hill was built in 1860 near Eglinton and Bathurst. The Village of Forest Hill became part of the new municipality of Metropolitan Toronto in 1953, and it was amalgamated with the City of Toronto in 1967, and the rest, as they say, is history. Forest Hill has always had an interesting relationship with the rest of Toronto! Its residents, or upper mobility residents, shall we say, and the demographics over the last 100 years, have played a part in Forest Hill being on the fringe of Toronto. A village that wanted to be separate, but together with the rest of Toronto at the same time, as changeable as the wind on a summer afternoon. And that continues to this day. This walking tour begins at the **southeast corner** of Spadina Road and St. Clair Avenue West in Sir Winston Churchill Park. The tour returns to the starting point after the walk. On some apps, the address gives the location as the middle of the park. Please meet at the corner of **Spadina Avenue and St. Clair Avenue West.** This walking tour is for all walking levels. Please dress for the season, and hope to see you there. The price of this tour is $15.00 per person \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

Hi everyone! We're doing an afternoon impromptu hangout at the MaRS Building food court tables- Enter MaRS from Collage Street where the statue of two men are sitting by the glass doors. Turn left and head down the escalator. Turn left at the bottom of the escalator and head down the hall past another escalator and Foosball table the event will be held at the far end of the food court. **First time meeting us and still not sure about the vibe?** Check out photos from **[past in-person events of 2023](https://www.meetup.com/artsrecto/photos/34212927/)** Bring your art supplies (mainly dry medium or small watercolour set), and order a warm drink and snacks. \*Note the food court is closed but there are a couple of coffee shops in the area at street level. **Where to meet exactly?** MaRS Discovery District at 2pm **How to get there?** \- Public transit \- get off at Queens Park subway station\, walk East along Collage you should see glass doors with a statue of two men sitting at a table outside\. Instructions stated above Looking forward to meeting you all :) === ================ **Support This Group 🥰🤩** We hope you're enjoying the Arts & Rec events! If you'd like to give support, please consider making a small Ko-fi donation of $5-10 USD at [https://www.ko-fi.com/artsnrectoronto](https://www.ko-fi.com/artsnrectoronto.) . This helps cover meetup and miscellaneous expenses with hosting events! For more inquiries, please PM me for more info! Thank you all so much!

*Show & Tell – This Saturday* Hey everyone! We’re doing another Show & Tell this Saturday. For those new or haven’t been to one yet, here’s the idea: Bring something you’re working on, something you’ve created, or even just something meaningful to you. Could be anything – a project you’re building, something you found beautiful, something collecting dust that you want to dust off. *What people have shared before:* • Stories or books they’re writing • Drawings, paintings, watercolor techniques • Woodwork, crochet, knitting • 3D prints and designs • Figurines they’ve crafted • Academic work or thesis projects • Lucky coins (objects with a story) It’s about how an ordinary object becomes extraordinary when you share its story. What looks like just a coin to someone else carries this whole journey, and suddenly everyone’s delighting in it with you. That’s what happens when we share what’s personal and meaningful. It creates this cross-pollination – you see someone’s woodwork and remember that instrument you’ve been meaning to pick back up. Someone shares their writing and it sparks something in you. We inspire each other, motivate each other, appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship we’re all cultivating. It’s a way of coming back to what matters, what actually nurtures us rather than exhausts us. Bring your craft, your lucky coin, or just yourself. All levels welcome – budding, aspiring, or seasoned.

Gaming, AdTech, EdTech, Media Streaming, and FinTech are just a few of the workloads where high-availability cloud infrastructure matters. Whether you’re doing battle daily in one of these spaces or are just curious about ways to improve performance, meet us in Reston for an in-person discussion on bare metal cloud architecture. You’ll meet our product lead, James MacKenzie, who will walk through how modern bare metal serves as a control plane for hybrid and private cloud architectures. **What we will cover** * Ways to leverage bare metal, containers, and orchestration for better performance and predictable economics; * Real-world hybrid, disaster recovery, and data-intensive architectures; * Our approach to eliminating ingress and egress fees. **Who should attend** * Cloud architects and platform engineers; * DevOps professionals and infrastructure leads; * FinOps stakeholders managing data-heavy or hybrid workloads. **Why attend** This is a technical, architecture-first conversation. You will leave with a clearer understanding of high-availability cloud infrastructure and how organizations are scaling cost-effectively. Food and drinks will be provided. Space is limited to keep the discussion interactive.

**NEW ADDITIONAL LOCATION – Join us in Virginia for the Arts of Life: A meditative, creative journey with local artist Nancy Burbridge.** Join us every third Friday of the month in Virginia from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM for an afternoon of creativity, relaxation, and self-discovery. In this interactive session, you will learn how to draw, paint, and explore the beauty within, cultivating the best version of yourself in a serene and supportive environment. Come experience the magic of art and meditation as tools for self-expression and inner growth. All materials are provided, and no prior experience is necessary. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to explore! We can't wait to see you there! Fri., Jan. 16th, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Held at the Brahma Kumaris Center, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/JNzf4](https://shorturl.at/JNzf4)

**The Test Tribe 2nd Washington Meetup – Designing a Modern QA Organization: Structure, Skills, and Shared Ownership** AI is accelerating software delivery at an unprecedented pace-but speed without structure introduces serious risk. In today’s landscape, the traditional “testing bottleneck” isn’t just a delay-it’s a business liability. This session explores how Quality Engineering must evolve from a siloed function into a strategic, distributed capability-one that balances rapid AI adoption with strong human oversight. Moving beyond basic automation, this talk introduces the concept of Distributed Quality Governance, where quality becomes a shared responsibility across engineering, product, and leadership. Expect a practical, leadership-focused discussion that cuts through AI hype and addresses the real challenges of testing complex, AI-assisted systems-while ensuring accountability, trust, and long-term resilience. **Event Details** * **Date: 21st January 2026 (Wednesday)** * **Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT** * **Location: 1501 Langston Blvd. Arlington, Virginia** **Session: Designing a Modern QA Organization: Structure, Skills, and Shared Ownership** **Speaker: Alekhya Guduri** **About the Session** In an era where AI-generated code is accelerating delivery, quality can no longer be treated as a final checkpoint. Instead, it must be embedded, intentional, and governed. In this session, Alekhya Guduri presents a blueprint for building a modern QA organization that operates as a strategic business function. You’ll learn how to shift from centralized testing teams to shared ownership models, while introducing guardrails that ensure responsible AI use across the delivery pipeline. From defining a Materiality Matrix to identify where AI risks are too high to ignore, to implementing Human-in-the-Loop frameworks, this talk provides actionable guidance for leaders navigating AI-driven engineering environments. **Key Takeaways** * The Materiality Matrix: How to objectively prioritize AI risks based on business impact and technical complexity * Distributed Governance: Transitioning from centralized QA to shared ownership in AI-driven CI/CD pipelines * Responsible AI Guardrails: Practical Human-in-the-Loop frameworks to prevent bias, hallucinations, and silent failures **About the Speaker** Alekhya Guduri is a seasoned technology leader whose career sits at the intersection of engineering execution, operational excellence, and innovation. As Director of Engineering at Indeed, she focuses on building high-performing organizations that treat quality as a strategic advantage, not a last-mile activity. With deep experience scaling complex systems and leading cross-functional teams, Alekhya works at the forefront of shaping how AI and human judgment coexist within modern software delivery. She is a strong advocate for distributed governance, responsible AI practices, and the evolution of Quality Engineering into a trusted business partnership. **Why You Should Attend** * Learn how to design QA organizations for AI-driven delivery * Understand how to balance speed with responsibility in modern pipelines * Gain leadership frameworks for shared ownership of quality * Move beyond AI hype to practical, defensible testing strategies * Connect with Washington-area QA, engineering, and tech leaders **About The Test Tribe** **The Test Tribe** is the world’s largest software testing community, empowering testers globally since 2018. With 7**00+ events** and **150K+ members** across **130+ countries**, we bring testers together to learn, grow, and connect through meetups, conferences, cohorts, masterclasses, and more. By RSVPing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and consent to be contacted by The Test Tribe and our event partners.

**Happiness is a Decision** Happiness does not come from outside, it comes from inside, and when you radiate a happy energy, you'll be amazed by what it attracts into your life. Wed., Jan. 21st, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl., Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. Free event - Register at: [https://shorturl.at/9BR5y](https://shorturl.at/9BR5y)

Whether you're new to Insight meditation or an advanced practitioner looking for like-minded people to sit with, you're welcome to join us at our Sunday morning drop-in group, sponsored by the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. Insight meditation cultivates our natural wisdom and compassion. Meditation practice develops concentration, which allows us to calm and steady the mind. This class includes a 30-minute lightly-guided meditation, followed by a short talk and time for questions and discussion. The size of the group usually runs somewhere between 25-40 people in-person and between 12-25 online. Chairs are provided, or you may bring a sitting cushion or bench. You may also use the blankets and bolsters offered by the yoga studio. **We offer both in-person and online attendance.** To learn more about our topics and teachers, view our videos or **get the Zoom link**, visit our [class page](https://imcw.org/event/?eventId=735&utm_source=MeetUp&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=vienna-drop-in).

Members of the public are invited to view the wonders of the universe through the telescopes of NOVAC volunteers at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. You do not need to be a member of the club or own any astronomical equipment to attend. Telescopes will be provided by the Smithsonian and pre-approved members of the NOVAC. No other personal telescopes are permitted at the event. The event will take place on the bus parking lot of the museum. **Please park your vehicle at the south end of the main visitors lot and follow signs and red lights to the observing site. As a reminder, parking during the event is free.** Have a cosmic question? One of NOVAC's astronomers or museum staff will be happy to help you. As the sky gets dark, be prepared to enjoy the wonders of the night sky! Don't forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast. For lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (the darker the better). Bring along water to keep hydrated. Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.

Let’s hang out and journal together, trade stationary and stickers, and have a good time! Please note, we do not have a reservationtion, so we will do our best to find some good spots when we get there. The address is: