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BSides Ottawa

Want to volunteer?

Amazing! 

Thank you for offering to volunteer at BSides Ottawa 2026! 

Volunteers make the event a success and are an important part of the BSides experience worldwide.


We have had a record number of offers to volunteer this year, and only have so many spots open. Therefore, we ask that you fill out the following information if you are interested in volunteering. The organizing committee will randomly pick as many names as we can reasonably accommodate to determine who receives an invite. If you want to guarantee your spot at the event then please feel free to register for a ticket.  Any names picked from the hat will have their ticket refunded.


Full Disclosure (CTF): If you are interested solely in the Capture the Flag event, then volunteering is not for you; volunteers are not allocated a seat in the main CTF room and will have minimal time to concentrate on capturing flags, making bases belong to them or otherwise geeking out in a single-threaded manner.

What you are signing up for...

You provide
Volunteers are free to enjoy the conference, but are expected to lend a hand with all aspects of the event, including things such as:

  • Enforcing the Code of Conduct; acting as a point of contact for everyone on the premises and escalating any issues to an Organizer

  • Managing speakers; knowing where they are and helping make sure they are on stage at the appointed time

  • Assisting with registration; pointing people in the right direction and, potentially, being hands-on-keyboard at the table

  • Handing out food, t-shirts, etc

  • Attending to Sponsors and Exhibitors

  • Running general errands; there's always something that needs doing!


We provide
In exchange for volunteering, you get the following benefits:

  • Our eternal gratitude (fwiw :-P)

  • Free general admission to the event

  • Unique 2026 volunteer t-shirt (size subject to availability, first-come-first-served)

  • Access to the staff greenroom

  • An opportunity to learn and grow

  • Resume content / bragging rights


Please keep an eye out for our volunteer form, opening soon... 

Volunteer

  • Explain why you're interested in volunteering
  • Tell us about you, and please list any professional or social URLs, references, etc.
  • Would you like recognition on social media? *
    (If so, URLs required in the section above)
  • All persons on the premises during the event are bound by the Code of Conduct; volunteers are implicated in enforcement and must be comfortable being a point of contact, escalating any issues to an Organizer *
  • Conference setup is done the night before; all volunteers must be able to commit to being on-site between 7pm - 10pm on November 18th, 2026 (there's generally pizza and pop) *
  • Due to the two-day nature of the event, volunteers must be available both days, all day *
  • All volunteers and attendees must be of the age of majority; any minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. *