Hackergal

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Hackergal

Hackergal is committed to diversity and inclusion. This includes trans girls because we recognize trans girls are girls.

Hackergal is a Canadian charity with a mission to change the face of computer science and pave the way for a technology industry that is diverse and inclusive of underrepresented groups across Canada. We work directly with education systems and organizations across the country, providing educators, facilitators, and parents with the tools they need to expose girls to coding education in their scho

ols, communities, and at home. Woven into everything we do is a commitment to reach more girls in more places, with a focus on BIPOC communities, French-speaking Canada, and northern, remote and rural Canada. We use an inclusive definition of “girls” and “women” and welcome the participation of all learners who identify as girls. We also welcome the participation of gender-fluid, non-binary, and two-spirit learners.

05/21/2026

What happens when hundreds of learners come together to build, code, and solve real-world problems? You get the Hackergal Hackathon.

This recap is a glimpse into the energy, creativity, and confidence that grows when young people are given space to explore STEAM in a hands-on way. Events like this matter because they don’t just teach skills, they build future problem-solvers. It features our incredible facilitator, Kara, whose passion and commitment brought together several schools across the Comox Valley school district. And, of course, our amazing Hackergal team!

A special thank you to our proud sponsor, Communications Security Establishment Canada for supporting this year’s Hackathon and helping make this experience possible.

05/04/2026

Ready to step up, speak out, and help shape the future of tech?

The Hackergal Ambassador Program is now open for high school girls* and gender-diverse learners across Canada for the 2026/2027 school year. This is an exciting opportunity to lead initiatives, build skills, and make a real impact in your community.

Former ambassadors have gone on to work at industry-leading companies like and !

Know someone who should join Hackergal’s Ambassador Program? Send this their way 👀

Apply now through the link in our bio or visit hackergal.org/ambassador

04/29/2026

This year we welcomed Academy Award-winning visual artist Maritza Louis as the keynote speaker for the 15th National Hackergal Hackathon.

With a career spanning incredible projects like GTA V, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Moana 2, and more, Maritza shared how creativity and storytelling shape the worlds we live in and, just as importantly, the ones that are yet to come.

Her message resonated deeply with our community and her advice about how life isn’t a “paint by numbers” inspired girls* and gender-diverse learners to think outside the box when it comes to exploring how tech and art can merge to build something new. There’s no single path to follow, especially in tech and creative industries, and that’s where your power lies, she shared.

For Hackergal learners, her words were also a reminder that their voices, perspectives, and stories are not only valid, but needed. In an industry where representation still matters, she showed that building your own stories can open doors, challenge norms and inspire others to do the same.

As this year’s theme invites us to create stories that spark change, Maritza’s keynote reminded us that storytelling isn’t just a form of entertainment...it has impact!

Thank you Maritza for inspiring all of us with your words and work.

Missed the keynote? Watch her speech on YouTube (link in bio!).

04/28/2026

‪✨ A huge THANK YOU to this year’s panelists who have generously volunteered their time and expertise for this year’s Hackergal National Pitch Day.✨‬

‪This year’s National Pitch Day came to life thanks to their energy, insight, and thoughtful feedback. They’re not just a panelist, they’re championing ideas, amplifying voices and helping turn bold stories into powerful moments for girls* and gender-diverse learners across the country.‬

‪Thank you:‬

‪Eva Dermers-Brett (Coconut Software)‬
‪Haddie Majnoon (CIBC)‬
‪Maya Oczeretko (Cognizant)‬
‪Shrey Ahuja (CIBC)‬
‪Stacy Lee Kong (Friday Things)‬
‪Virginia Mantero (Loblaw)‬

‪Here’s to the stories that spark change and the leaders, like them, who helped light the way. 🔥‬

‪ ‬

04/27/2026

National Pitch Day is tomorrow! Now is the time to let your projects shine 🌟

Remember, you can share your work with an incredible Hackathon community of learners, builders, and innovators just like you. You also have the opportunity to gain experience speaking live to industry experts! We can’t wait to see what you’ve created.

Submit your project through the link in your Learner or Facilitator Toolkit by April 27th (today) at 6:30 PM ET (extended time!) to claim your spot for National Pitch Day! Our first place winner will take home a Macbook Neo!!

If you’re not interested in speaking about your project live, you also have until April 30th to submit your project for Project Judging!

04/24/2026

Our National Hackathon wouldn’t be possible without our partners, sponsors, facilitators, educators and volunteers who make our work and ability to reach learners across the country a reality. Thank you for giving learners, like Maher, a chance to turn their curiosity into creation.

With support from Hackergal’s community, Maher, from Comox, B.C., built an underwater-themed game to teach other girls* and gender-diverse learners about women’s innovations, which includes Wi-Fi and even chocolate chip cookies.

In just one day, she learned new digital skills and innovative ways to tell a story that inspires others to imagine what they can build next.

04/23/2026

It’s officially Hackathon day! We can’t wait to see what learners across the country create with the theme, Stories that Spark Change!

04/22/2026

Picture this: hundreds of girls* and gender-diverse learners from across the country coming together to create, build and learn side by side.

That’s the Hackergal Hackathon and this year our theme, ‘Stories That Spark Change’, empowers learners to have their voices heard and their ideas championed.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without our sponsors, whose belief in our annual event means everything to us, our learners and facilitators. They didn’t just support a hackathon. They helped create a movement that gives girls* and gender-diverse learners what they need to succeed in tech and help them realize they can lead, build, and belong in STEAM!

Our partners believe in an equitable future and are actively investing in it by supporting the next generation of Canadian tech leaders from coast to coast.

We are endlessly grateful and thankful for their support, their trust and shared belief that every girl* and gender-diverse learner belongs in tech.

03/25/2026

March Break at Hackergal was full of creativity, curiosity, and code. 💜

We had an amazing time hosting sessions with learners at the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women's Empowerment, where participants explored digital skills, problem-solving, and designed their own games using block-based coding.

From asking thoughtful questions to bringing their own ideas to life, the energy in the room reminded us why spaces like these matter.

When girls* and gender-diverse learners are given the opportunity to experiment, collaborate, and lead, incredible things happen.

A big thank you to the Jean Augustine Centre and all the learners who joined us to make this March Break so inspiring. 🚀

03/16/2026

Ten years ago, one idea changed everything. 🎂
It was focused on a vision that connected girls* and gender-diverse learners with the tools, skills, and community to thrive in STEAM.

Now that idea is a movement. Hackergal has created more than 34,000 learning experiences, launched clubs coast to coast, and created scholarships that fuel the next generation of tech leaders.

Earlier this month, we celebrated our achievements (in a space hosted by long-time partner RBCx) at a birthday event that reminded us exactly why we show up every single day.

Thank you to our panelists Lina Ismail (Toronto entrepreneur), Lucy Ho (our founder), Kavi (our Hackergal Ambassador), and Amanda Peters (Peel educator) for sparking such great conversation on, among many things, how girls* and gender-diverse youth are breaking barriers in technology, the future of STEAM learning in Canada, the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce over the next decade and how leaders can support more inclusive pathways into tech careers.

Decade one was just the beginning.

Help us amplify our vision of a a Canada where every girl* and gender diverse learners sees themselves as a future leader and innovator in STEAM.

Contact us to donate or partner with Hackergal!

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Toronto, ON

Website

http://hackergal.org/

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