Technology

**​The Test Tribe 11th Toronto Meetup** ​ Agentic, generative, and evocative AI is no longer a passing trend-it’s reshaping how software is built, delivered, and trusted. As AI systems become more autonomous, opaque, and influential, the risks extend far beyond bugs and failures. They reach into ethics, bias, accountability, and societal trust. ​In this powerful and provocative keynote, Robert Sabourin challenges testers to rethink their role in an AI-driven world. Testing is no longer just a technical activity-it is an act of social responsibility. As guardians of risk, uncertainty, and quality, testers are uniquely positioned to protect not just products, but people and institutions. ​This is not a talk about fear-it’s a wake-up call, and an invitation to rise. ## ​Event Details ​📅 Date: 4th February 2026 (Wednesday) 🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST 🏢 Location: 125 E Liberty St, Toronto 🗺️ Google Maps:[ https://maps.app.goo.gl/mwJf4zRSkXQa2v9w5](https://maps.app.goo.gl/mwJf4zRSkXQa2v9w5) ## ​Session: Test Transcendence and the AI Apocalypse ​Speaker: Robert Sabourin ## ​About the Session ​AI is redefining what we mean by *products*, *services*, and even *decision-making itself*. Its promise of speed and intelligence is intoxicating-but beneath it lies a rapidly growing landscape of risk. ​In this keynote, Robert Sabourin explores how software testing becomes a critical line of defense in an era where autonomy, bias, and opacity threaten trust itself. Drawing from decades of real-world experience, Rob brings these ideas to life through compelling stories, case studies, and pragmatic strategies for testing agentic and generative AI systems. ​This is a high-energy, reality-grounded session that goes beyond tools and techniques. It’s about purpose. ​As AI systems grow more powerful, testers must transcend traditional roles. The future demands professionals who can model risk, navigate uncertainty, and communicate value to leaders, regulators, and society at large. ​The apocalypse is not a prophecy-it’s a call to action. ## ​Key Takeaways * ​Understand how AI is redefining risk, quality, and assurance in modern socio-technical systems * ​Recognize the ethical and social responsibility of testing in an AI-driven world * ​Learn concrete strategies for testing agentic and generative AI responsibly * ​Discover how testers can evolve from defect finders to trusted advisors and change agents * ​Leave inspired by decades of practical wisdom-and the belief that testing can truly make a positive impact ## ​About the Speaker ​Robert Sabourin has over four decades of experience in software engineering and testing. A globally respected educator, consultant, and keynote speaker, Rob is known for his energetic, story-driven, and deeply thought-provoking presentations. ​He bridges technical excellence with human insight, helping teams around the world elevate quality, accountability, and trust in the software systems that increasingly shape our lives. His work consistently challenges professionals to think bigger-not just about systems, but about their responsibility to society. ## ​Why You Should Attend * ​Gain a rare, big-picture perspective on AI, risk, and trust * ​Learn how testing intersects with ethics, governance, and societal impact * ​Be inspired to elevate your role in an AI-first world * ​Hear from one of the most respected voices in global testing * ​Connect with Toronto’s QA and tech community at the 11th Toronto Meetup ## ​About The Test Tribe ​The Test Tribe is the world’s largest software testing community, empowering testers globally since 2018. With 700+ 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.

(Full title – Breaking the 'Invisible Chains of Slavery': Recognition's Motivational Problem and Frederick Douglass's Abolitionist Politics of Shame) This talk reads Frederick Douglass as a theorist of recognition and examines one of the counterintuitive ways that he navigates what I call the “motivational problem.” Struggles for recognition encounter the motivational problem when there is no clear desire or need on the part of powerful individuals or dominant groups to confer affirmative recognition to those struggling for recognition. While most studies of the political and moral salience of recognition focus exclusively on the misrecognition of the oppressed, Douglass confronts the motivational problem by orienting the attention of his readers and audiences to a form of misrecognition experienced by white slaveholders: a recognition of a humanity that is falsely assumed to remain intact and undistorted as a result of slaveholding. Douglass rhetorically leverages this discrepancy for an abolitionist politics of shame. By demonstrating how slaveholders alienate their humanity, Douglass seeks to not only shame slaveholders but erode their external sources of recognition and persuade his white northern audiences to dis-identify with the slaveholders and thereby implicitly recognize their own misrecognition of the master’s humanity. Douglass sought to make slaveholding appear to white Americans (among others) as unappealing as it is in reality and thereby persuade his white audiences to adopt abolitionist principles. William Gregson https://www.politics.utoronto.ca/people/directories/graduate-students/william-gregson PhD Candidate Department of Political Science University of Toronto **About the Speaker:** I specialize in political theory, especially critical theory and the history of political thought. My dissertation focuses on the relationship between freedom and recognition and explores how intersubjective recognition is vital for achieving freedom even as it has the potential to inculcate new forms of dependence. Through an engagement with Frederick Douglass, Frantz Fanon, and Judith Butler, the dissertation seeks to paint a more complex historical and theoretical picture of how the concept of recognition evolved to become an important modern category. My work on Fanon and recognition can be read in *Political Theory.* Beyond my engagements with debates on recognition, my interests in political theory extend to questions concerning the role of love in a life of human flourishing. I am currently working on a series of co-authored papers with Joshua D. Goldstein that wrestle with the political and philosophical perplexities posed by modern family life and its institutional boundaries, particularly through a critical engagement with G.W.F. Hegel’s political thought. The first of these articles can be found in *The Review of Metaphysics.* **\* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \*** This is a talk with audience Q&A presented by the University of Toronto's Centre for Ethics that is free to attend and open to the public. Free pizza and refreshments will be provided at the event. The talk will also be streamed online with live chat [here](https://youtube.com/live/s82P2HZCFU0). About the Centre for Ethics (http://ethics.utoronto.ca): The Centre for Ethics is an interdisciplinary centre aimed at advancing research and teaching in the field of ethics, broadly defined. The Centre seeks to bring together the theoretical and practical knowledge of diverse scholars, students, public servants and social leaders in order to increase understanding of the ethical dimensions of individual, social, and political life. In pursuit of its interdisciplinary mission, the Centre fosters lines of inquiry such as (1) foundations of ethics, which encompasses the history of ethics and core concepts in the philosophical study of ethics; (2) ethics in action, which relates theory to practice in key domains of social life, including bioethics, business ethics, and ethics in the public sphere; and (3) ethics in translation, which draws upon the rich multiculturalism of the City of Toronto and addresses the ethics of multicultural societies, ethical discourse across religious and cultural boundaries, and the ethics of international society. The Ethics of A.I. Lab at the Centre For Ethics recently appeared on a list of 10 organizations leading the way in ethical A.I.: https://ocean.sagepub.com/blog/10-organizations-leading-the-way-in-ethical-ai

SYSTEM HOUSE OPEN DECKS! This Sunday Feb 8th at the Raven we’re giving back to the community with an open decks 2pm to 10pm for our local house artists! With the system label launching soon and our new venture into house curation, we want to find the local house artists that would be a great fit to spin at our house events and the talented house producers who can release on our label! All types of house welcome: progressive house, deep minimal tech, bass house, tech house, deep house, any type of house! Entry will be free for anyone attending and any DJ can apply via the link in our bio to be selected to perform at the Raven for the event. All sets will be recorded, both audio and video, with an option for professional media. Best sets will be posted on system socials(IG, TT, YT, SC etc) with the DJs permission for maximum exposure! Please note that the venue did not come free to us so we’ll have a sign up fee to cover costs. It is time to grow our local jhouse talent and give everyone a chance to spin at our favourite venue with modern equipment: 2 CDJ 3000s, an A9 mixer and a brand new RMX IGNITE! Proud to run this event with our partners [@portfolio.sessions](https://www.instagram.com/portfolio.sessions/) [@bnbhurtspodcast](https://www.instagram.com/bnbhurtspodcast/) [@ravengalleryto](https://www.instagram.com/ravengalleryto/)

Join us for a vibrant Business Networking Event in Toronto where you may meet your next client, referral partner or friend. Discover opportunities and connect! Register now. **REGISTER HERE:** https://gtapreneurs.com/networking-events-toronto **Venue:** Firkin on Yonge **Address:** 207 Yonge St, Toronto, ON ***(Across from CF Eaton Centre)*** **Transit:** Get off at Queen subway station **Parking:** Paid parking under Eaton Centre This is a casual event with no set structure. When you get to the pub, head upstairs to the 2nd floor (Elevator or stairs) to meet us. We’ll check you in, give you a nametag and an ice breaker card, and introduce you to the others. \*APPETIZERS will be PROVIDED\* Please purchase a beverage and/or a meal to support the venue. **TICKETS:** **GTApreneurs' Referral Group, Exhibitor and Mega Networking Members:** Free **Non-members:** $20 ***\*Includes a Guest Contact Sheet*** emailed to you the day after the event. Note: You need to attend the event to receive the sheet. **HOSTS:** **Tammy Defoe,** President and Business Coach, GTApreneurs Visit www.gtapreneurs.com/about and www.gtapreneurs.com/business-coaching-toronto for more information about Tammy and her Business Coaching and Consulting services. **Sonia Kurmey,** Independent Consultant, Arbonne Visit https://gtapreneurs.com/sonia-kurmey to learn more about Sonia and contact her and visit www.arbonne.com/ca/en/arb/soniakurmey to view her products. **QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EVENT?** Call 416-522-7770 or email info@gtapreneurs.com View all of GTApreneurs events and services at www.gtapreneurs.com We look forward to seeing you there!

This time we’re heading to **Kitchen on Sixth** for some authentic British comfort food and great conversation in their cozy, rustic dining room. Here’s what to expect 👇 * We will start at **6:00 PM** on **February 4th** to settle in and order dinner together. * This is a relaxed social evening—perfect for meeting new people over a great meal. * You can check out their menu here 👇 **[https://www.kitchenonsixth.com/menu](https://www.kitchenonsixth.com/menu)** **[Menu 2](https://maps.app.goo.gl/bg5qWfYT8dUxp9u66)** * Everyone pays for their own meal. I have confirmed they are happy to provide **separate bills**. They would add gratuity automatically for large group like ours. * If you have specific allergies or dietary needs, please call the restaurant directly to confirm they can accommodate you. * If your plans change, please cancel at least a day before so we can adjust the reservation with the venue. * Limited to **8 seats** this time to keep the conversation easy and engaging. This is a casual, social evening—come by, meet new people, and enjoy some "fancier" pub grub and good company.

**A new format: you choose who you're interested in meeting** This meetup is about getting to know new people and sharing the experience in a small group (3-6 people). *We use the LYTT platform to handle group size and balance - so you're not just hoping someone interesting shows up.* To apply you will need to create an account at [lytt.me](https://lytt.me/meetup/f45-training-hiit) \- it's free\. **The event: High-Intensity Functional Training at F45** F45 delivers 45 minutes of high-intensity functional training that pushes your limits. Every class is different - cardio blasts on Wednesdays, resistance training Tuesdays and Thursdays, hybrid workouts the rest of the week. Stations rotate, music pumps, and the group energy carries you through. After class, grab smoothies or coffee with your crew. Post-workout conversations hit different - you're energized, endorphins flowing, and the camaraderie is real. The whole experience runs about 1.5 hours. **The group: LYTT platform** LYTT forms small groups for events and activities you pick. 1\. Click 'Attend' here on Meetup\, then head to [lytt.me](https://lytt.me/meetup/f45-training-hiit) to create a quick profile (photo, a few interests, short bio) 2\. Browse others who applied and select who you'd want to meet 3\. We form groups where the interest is mutual 4\. You get notified when your group is confirmed \- payment happens then 5\. Show up knowing your crew already picked you \- *but no one knows who picked who*, to keep mystery and low pressure Applying doesn't guarantee a spot - but we may form multiple groups or invite you to similar events with other crews. **What's included:** \- 45\-minute functional HIIT workout \- Coach\-guided circuit training \- All equipment provided **Details:** **Cost:** Free trial class for new members. Membership required for regular attendance (\~$60-80/week or monthly plans). Smoothies/coffee after not included. **Group size:** 3-6 people **Location:** F45 Toronto (Downtown King St, Midtown St. Clair, or other locations - group decides) **Who this is for:** \- 27\-40ish\, give or take \- People who love to sweat \- Those who want accountability and connection in their fitness routine \- Looking for friends\, workout buddies\, or just better ways to start the day **Questions?** hey@lytt.me **Proceed to register here:** [https://lytt.me/meetup/f45-training-hiit](https://lytt.me/meetup/f45-training-hiit)

This is a ticketed event. Please register at [this link](https://luma.com/uvgbxv2c). Continual learning is a core ability behind humans’ ability to perform economically valuable tasks. As frontier AI companies train LLM agents to be increasingly autonomous, they are likely aggressively pursuing approaches to continual learning in LLMs. In this talk, [Rohan Subramani](https://rohansubramani.github.io/home/) and [Rauno Arike](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rauno-arike/) discuss the potential implications of this development on the capabilities and of LLM agents and its effect on AI safety and alignment.

[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/

**Presented in partnership with the Brampton Innovation District and Brampton Venture Zone.** This Black History Month, join **Brampton Venture Zone (BVZ) by TMU** at the Library for an inspiring Tech Talk spotlighting Black founders who are turning lived experience into powerful innovation. Moderated by **Marlene Spence**, Founder of *Hope Endoors* and *The CHANCE Centre*, this conversation brings together **Andre Smith**, Founder & CEO of *Flip & Floss*, and **Abdel Ali**, Founder & CEO of *Kiwi Charge* and Director at *BLCK VC Canada*. Together, the speakers will explore how personal challenges — including financial hardship, lack of access, and systemic barriers — became the catalyst for the companies they built. From financial literacy to clean technology and investment access, the speakers will highlight how lived experience can shape meaningful tech solutions and open pathways for the next generation of entrepreneurs. At its core, this session is designed to show youth that **their stories can become their superpower** \- and the spark that shapes the future of innovation\. ### Who Should Attend Designed especially for: * **Black youth** who are curious about tech, entrepreneurship, or innovation * **Aspiring and early-stage founders** seeking relatable guidance * **Students, newcomers, and young professionals** exploring pathways into tech * **Community members** looking to celebrate Black excellence and future-focused leadership ### What You'll Take Away Attendees will learn: * How lived experience can become a foundation for innovative startups * Ways to turn personal challenges into impactful business ideas * Practical pathways into tech — with or without a technical background * How to access mentorship, confidence, and early support * What funding looks like for Black founders and why representation matters You’ll leave with the belief that your story, your struggle, and your perspective can help build the future. ### Agenda * 7:00–7:10 p.m. — Welcome & Opening Remarks * 7:10–7:35 p.m. — Fireside Panel with Andre & Abdel * 7:35 to 7:55 p.m. — Audience Q&A * 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. — Networking ### Featured Speakers #### Andre Smith – Founder & CEO, Flip & Floss Andre Smith is the founder of *Flip & Floss*, a social enterprise focused on improving financial literacy and helping families build generational wealth. After immigrating to Canada and experiencing firsthand the challenges of living paycheck to paycheck, Andre turned his personal journey into a mission-driven platform that has since impacted over **30,000 people**. He has been recognized as one of **Canada’s Top 25 Immigrants (2024)** and received the **BMO Obsidi Entrepreneur of the Year – Technology Award (2024)**. Andre’s work demonstrates how discipline, innovation, and purpose can create meaningful change — even without traditional funding pathways. #### Abdel Ali – Founder & CEO\, Kiwi Charge \| Director\, BLCK VC Canada Abdel Ali is the founder of *Kiwi Charge*, a robotics and AI startup redefining EV charging infrastructure in multi-unit buildings by delivering next-generation solutions at significantly lower cost. With a background in venture building and venture capital, Abdel brings a unique perspective to both startup creation and ecosystem development. He is also a Director at **BLCK VC Canada**, where he works to advance equity, access, and representation for Black founders within Canada’s venture ecosystem. Abdel’s journey reflects the power of combining technical innovation with systemic impact. #### Moderator : Marlene Spence – Founder, Hope Endoors & The CHANCE Centre Marlene Spence is a Brampton-based Neurodiversity & Inclusion Coach and a passionate advocate for youth empowerment. Through *Hope Endoors* and *The CHANCE Centre*, she leads community-driven programs that help young people — particularly neurodivergent and underserved youth — build confidence, life skills, and real pathways to opportunity. With deep roots in Brampton’s youth ecosystem, Marlene brings a grounded, empathetic lens to the conversation, guiding discussions that centre lived experience, resilience, and possibility.

Join the Toronto Founders Hub every other Saturday at 3:30pm for our regular meetup at 5 Elements Espresso Bar. Sit down with other entrepreneurs to network and discuss business ideas or strategies. \- Broaden your network \- Get critical feedback \- Socialize in low pressure setting I look forward to seeing you!

Watch the championship game of the National Football League for the 2025 season. It will be played between the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots. Enjoy BEER , food and the BIG screen and the company of members new and old. Tapps is located on the south side of Danforth at Carlaw and is west of the TTC Pape subway station.

Instructions on developing breath as in yoga and Zen - increasing health, calmness and happiness. Lots of time for tea and conversation too. Please note - this meetup will only run with a minimum of 7 ppl and will be automatically re-scheduled 'till the following week if less than 6 ppl RSVP. Blessings! GJ

We are back after a well needed break. This time we are staying in the city for another cafe hopping event. Lets meet at Scotiabank Arena entrance close to the Telus building and venture into different directions of downtown. Detailed map itinerary to follow closer to the date. I will let cafes know that we are coming but some cafes can be small or have no washrooms so please plan accordingly and drink responsibly. Haha. Its $2 event to cover the Meetup fee. You can pay using this link: https://buy.stripe.com/bJe00j7KXf3if8caTsdZ605 Thanks and see you all.

### Tools in your AI's Toolbox : An introduction to MCP Servers The generative AI revolution has unlocked unprecedented capabilities, but the next frontier is agency: empowering models to interact with, query, and act upon the world. The current challenge is the “N x M integration problem,” where every AI model requires a custom, brittle integration for each external tool or data source. This approach simply doesn’t scale. How can we give an AI access to our sales leads, code repositories, or IoT devices in a standardized, secure, and reusable way? This session introduces Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), the open-source framework designed to solve this challenge and become the universal connector—the USB-C port—for AI. MCP standardizes how AI models discover and use external tools, moving beyond simple function-calling to a robust, client-server architecture. We will dive into how this open protocol is creating a new ecosystem for building powerful, context-aware AI agents. Join this session for a developer-focused introduction where you will learn how to: Understand the core concepts of the open-source Model Context Protocol and its architecture. Utilize pre-built, open-source MCP servers to instantly connect AI to tools like Git, Slack, and databases. Build a custom MCP server to securely expose your own proprietary data and APIs as tools for any compliant AI. Move beyond bespoke integrations and contribute to a standardized, collaborative, and open ecosystem. Stop building one-off connectors and start building intelligent agents. This session will give you the practical knowledge to leverage MCP and create the next generation of AI that doesn’t just talk, but does. Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! [https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/](https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/)

OWASP is ending use of Meetup, so I built an eventbrite for the event. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-development-risk-case-studies-and-how-agentic-ai-is-the-future-of-appsec-tickets-1981450622150?aff=oddtdtcreator AI is transforming how software is designed, developed, and deployed, dramatically accelerating velocity while introducing new categories of risk. As organizations adopt AI-assisted coding, autonomous agents, and increasingly complex model interactions, traditional application security approaches struggle to keep pace. This talk examines emerging AI-driven risks through real case studies from the field, highlighting issues such as insecure code generation, data-leakage pathways, model manipulation, and evolving supply-chain threats. We will explore how engineering teams must adapt their people, processes, and governance models to secure AI-augmented development workflows effectively. The session will then introduce agentic AI as the next evolution in application security—autonomous systems capable of continuous analysis, multi-step reasoning, and real-time remediation. Attendees will learn how combining agentic AI with modern practices can reduce developer friction, improve coverage, and create a future-ready application security strategy designed for the demands of AI-native software development

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBA

**People Analytics 101: Making Sense of Compensation Data** Compensation data is one of the most widely used and widely misunderstood forms of people analytics. The session will cover where compensation data comes from, including market pricing data, internal payroll data, and benchmarking sources, and how companies think about structuring and analyzing that information. We will explore how compensation data is leveraged to set salary ranges, manage internal equity, support hiring and retention, and align pay with business strategy. A portion of the session will address common data challenges and limitations, such as market noise, inconsistent job matching, and incomplete datasets, while keeping the primary focus on practical use rather than technical depth. The session will also look ahead at where the space is going, including the growing impact of pay transparency laws, expanding pay equity requirements, and emerging regulations in the US and Europe that require organizations to report on gender and pay gaps. The goal is to give attendees a clear mental model for how compensation analytics works today and why getting it right is becoming increasingly critical. (note: we are back at Rev1 this month!) **About Our Speaker** [Alex Moore](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexscottmoore/) is the founder of [Moore Cooperative](https://moorecooperative.com/), where he advises organizations on compensation strategy, pay equity, and people analytics. His work focuses on helping organizations like the Ohio Supreme Court design, analyze, and communicate compensation systems that are data-informed, defensible, and aligned with organizational goals. Alex lives in Granville, Ohio and has three little kiddos. More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

We will show a variety of methods for building agents that run in Microsoft Foundry. This covers the different types of agents: Prompt, Multi, and Hosted, as well as the development lifecycle using evals and traces.

Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you. Our Website [https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus) Sponsors and Partners * Improving (Venue Sponsor) * Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor) * Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)

Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you. Our Website [https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus) Sponsors and Partners * Improving (Venue Sponsor) * Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor) * Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)