Policy VillageBSides Ottawa 2026 · Nov 19–20
A neutral, non-partisan space where cybersecurity practitioners and Canadian policymakers meet as people — to understand each other's worlds, trade grounded insight, and build relationships that outlast the conference.
Nov 19–20 · Ottawa Conference & Event Centre · Vendor-neutral · Volunteer-run
Two worlds that rarely
sit in the same room.
Canada's cybersecurity future depends on mutual understanding between technical experts and policymakers. Too often they work in silos. The Village exists to change that.
Bring yourself, not your persona.
No dress code. No gatekeeping. No credentials required —just show up curious, respectful and ready to engage.
It's a place for defenders, researchers, developers and public servants to meet policymakers in good faith — to explore ideas, technical realities and outcomes, and to carry those conversations on long after the conference ends.
How the Village keeps
its integrity.
A few simple expectations keep this a space worth returning to. Everyone who takes part is asked to hold to them — and if you're ever unsure whether something crosses a line, just ask.
Constructive engagement
Explore the ideas, technical implications and likely outcomes behind policy — not an endorsement or takedown of a specific bill. Respectful critique is welcome when the intent is to improve understanding, not to undermine trust.
No shilling
This is a vendor-neutral space. No promoting products, services, companies or personal brands — overt or subtle. Mentioning an affiliation for context is fine; using the floor to generate leads or build reputation is not.
Professional conduct
Treat everyone with respect. Disrespect, harassment or aggressive advocacy runs counter to the values of the Village and will mean being asked to step back from the event.
Non-partisan by design
The Village isn't affiliated with any party or agenda. Most of us already agree on the goal — better cybersecurity outcomes. The interesting part is exploring, respectfully, the different ways of getting there.
Use what you hear.
Never who said it.
The Chatham House Rule lets people speak candidly across the practitioner–policymaker divide: you're free to use what's said in the Village, but not to reveal who said it or which organization they're from. That simple promise is why the conversations here go somewhere real.
What we're building
for 2026.
A focused Village with a clear point of view — not a single-track event. We're keeping the formats that worked and making room for one or two distinctive additions.
A focused theme
Canadian sovereignty is timely and will have a real presence — but it won't be the Village's whole identity. Expect room for regulation, government–industry interaction and emerging risk too.
Policy meets operational reality
The most useful conversations put policy thinking next to what actually happens on the ground. We aim for practical and evidence-informed over abstract.
A mix of formats
Strong speakers, honest panels and interactive sessions — the kinds of rooms where people talk with each other, not past each other.
Building on what worked
Last year gave us a strong base — good speakers and real engagement. We're keeping that energy and refining it rather than starting over.
The Mock Committee
Hearing.
Many practitioners have deep expertise and almost no exposure to how a parliamentary committee actually works. So we're recreating one — realistic, useful and genuinely memorable.
The Village, and
Hackers on the Hill.
Closely aligned, but distinct. The connective tissue is the same: trust, neutrality, and relationships policymakers can come back to.
The Policy Village
The open environment at BSides Ottawa where policymakers and practitioners can meet, listen and engage on equal footing throughout the event.
Hackers on the Hill
A more direct, small-group effort: taking that expertise to policymakers in their own environment, ideally in the days around the conference.
Anyone at the intersection.
If you're curious about where cybersecurity and public policy meet, you belong here. No gatekeeping, no credentials required — bring your expertise, your questions and an open mind.
Questions, answered
plainly.
The things people most often ask before taking part.
Is this a political event?
No. The Village isn't affiliated with any party or agenda. It's a space for professional, non-partisan dialogue.
Can I talk about current legislation?
Yes — as long as it stays respectful and focused on understanding impacts and exploring improvements. It's not a place to rally opposition or run a campaign.
What counts as shilling?
Mentioning your company or product in passing for context is fine. Promotional behaviour, handing out branded materials, or using the Village to generate leads is not.
What if someone crosses the line?
Anyone who promotes a business, turns to partisan rhetoric, or otherwise undermines the goals of the Village will be asked to step back — so the space stays welcoming for everyone else.
Why is it called a Village?
The term comes from hacker-conference culture — think DEF CON and BSides — where a Village is an informal, community-driven space built around one theme and welcoming to newcomers. This one does that for cybersecurity policy, minus the formality and gatekeeping of traditional policy circles.
The CFP is open.
Shape this year's Village. We're looking for talks, panels, and voices for the mock committee hearing — and there's room to help build it too.
A short intro to the Village
Coming soon — we'll drop the video here once it's ready.
Policy Village Call
for Proposals
Pitch a talk, a panel, a roundtable, or put your name forward as a voice in the mock committee hearing. Newcomers welcome — you don't need a polished track record, just something worth saying.
Submit to the CFP ↗Volunteer
Lend a hand during the event or between meetings. In the sign-up form, add a note that you'd like to volunteer for Policy Village specifically — that way we'll know to pull you onto our crew.
Volunteer↗Review & moderate
Help review proposals or moderate a panel as the program comes together.
Bring ideas
Have a format, topic or connection in mind? We'd genuinely like to hear it.
Leave your sales pitch and soapbox at the door.