A full-day, hands-on workshop for knowledge workers ready to go from chatting with AI to working alongside it.

​For 40 years, using a computer meant learning the computer's language: menus, buttons, keyboard shortcuts. Claude Cowork inverts that. The computer learns your language. It reads your files, connects to your tools, and takes actions on your behalf.

​This workshop teaches you how to work with this new kind of computer.

​One full day. Hands-on. You'll walk out with a working AI workflow you can run at your desk Monday morning.

​​Who this is for

​You're a knowledge worker, with a technical or builder mindset. You work in operations, finance, marketing, sales, product, HR, or a similar role. Maybe you've used Claude before, maybe you haven't — what matters is that you're comfortable with technology and ready to learn something new.

​You should be the kind of person who can install an app, manage files on your computer, and follow instructions without hand-holding. We'll teach you everything else.

​You should apply if:

• ​You want to learn how to work alongside an AI agent, not just chat with one

• ​You have real workflows you'd like to automate or improve

• ​You're evaluating Cowork for yourself or your team and want hands-on experience

• ​You have (or are willing to get) a Claude Pro, Teams, Max, or Enterprise subscription

​​What you'll learn

​Fundamentals of working with Claude: How Claude actually works — not theory for its own sake, but the practical knowledge that makes you a better user. You'll understand tokens, context, and system prompts so you can manage cost. You'll learn prompt engineering so you can get better results. And you'll learn the cost curve: when to pay for expensive intelligence and when to combine your own judgment with effective techniques and less expensive models. Instructor-led demos throughout.

​Working from Chat to Agents: What changes when Claude goes from answering questions to doing work. The Cowork mental model: an AI agent running on your machine with access to your files, your calendar, your email. Live demo and hands on your first Cowork task.

​Building blocks to automation: Connectors, skills, plugins, and scheduled tasks — the building blocks of Cowork. Two guided hands-on sessions where you connect your real tools, build a custom workflow, and set it up to run automatically. By the end of the afternoon, you'll have something running on your machine that wasn't there this morning.

​​What you'll walk away with

​The knowledge to manage AI costs and get better results — understanding tokens, context, model selection, and prompt engineering across every Claude surface

• ​Cowork connected to your real tools, a custom workflow you built and tested, and an automated task scheduled to run Monday morning

• ​A foundation for designing how you work with your AI agent collaborator — and the ability to evaluate what's possible for your team

​​Requirements before the workshop

​Bring: Your laptop (macOS or Windows), fully charged, with Claude Desktop installed. An active Claude subscription (Pro, Teams, Max, or Enterprise) with Cowork access. If you don't have one yet, sign up for Claude Pro before the event. No coding experience required. New to Claude? That's fine — we start from the foundations.

​We provide:

• ​Full-day instructor-led workshop

• ​Catered lunch and coffee and snacks

• ​Quick-reference materials

​​Pricing

​This is for Antfluent’s inaugural Victoria cohort, with special introductory pricing.

​Standard: $950 CAD
Testimonial Rate: $800 CAD — $150 off for helping us tell the story — a short on-camera testimonial and permission to share it as part of Antfluent's training portfolio.

​One automated workflow that saves you 30 minutes a day pays for this ticket in under two weeks. That's less than $56 per hour of instruction from the person who launched Claude for enterprise at AWS.

​​About

​Gabriel Velazquez Lopez — Founder & Principal, Antfluent

​Gabriel has spent 20 years launching technology that matters — Canada's first 4G network at TELUS, a revamped channel partnership at Apple, the first core banking migration for a credit union in North America on AWS. Then Claude on AWS.

​As Anthropic's first Applied AI & Partnership lead at AWS, Gabriel built the global GTM strategy behind Claude's growth into enterprise. He launched every Claude product that reached enterprise customers: Claude for Enterprise, Education, Financial Services, Life Sciences, and Claude Code — and designed AWS' Claude Code production guidance adopted by over 1,200 companies, now the third most deployed solution in the AWS Solutions Library.

​Gabriel is an Anthropic Claude Certified Architect and AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional.

​LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gvlz/

​​Antfluent

​Antfluent is Canada's first Anthropic-specialized consulting, training, and advisory boutique.

This Data Day is an IN PERSON structured, full-day upskilling experience designed to build real fluency in modern data architecture, from foundational concepts like the medallion architecture and the lakehouse paradigm, to practical realities of working with Microsoft Fabric's OneLake and Databricks in production environments. Expect an interactive and deliberate progression from architectural principles to practical, in-the-weeds guidance.

Most organizations say they make a difference. Few can prove it.

Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) has moved from a niche practice to a boardroom imperative, driven by investor scrutiny, funder expectations, and growing demand for accountability. Yet many still measure what’s easy, not what matters.

In this talk, Bryn Sadownik, Senior Manager of Research & Evaluation at Vancity Community Foundation, and Md Islam, IMM researcher and impact consultant, cut through the noise. Drawing on field-tested frameworks and real consulting experience, they share practical insights on building IMM systems that work—from Theory of Change to actionable data pipelines.

This is your chance to kick back with other data enthusiasts—whether you're a seasoned pro or just curious about the field. There’s no agenda here; just good company, great conversation, and optional singing your heart out! The karaoke room will be available between 6-8pm.

Grab a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic—whatever suits you!) and settle in. Whether you're here to trade insights, get inspired, or simply relax with folks who get your love for data, you’re in the right place. No presentations, no expectations—just a laid-back evening with interesting people.

Come as you are, and let’s enjoy some quality Data & Beer time. Cheers! 🍻

Business lives in conversation—especially when you’re handling objections.

Join veteran sales professional and business coaching strategist Bill Bunting for a 45‑minute talk, “Business Lives in Conversation: Modern Objection‑Handling Methods.” With 30+ years in front‑line sales, recruiting, and coaching, Bill will show you how to turn objections into insight and momentum—not roadblocks.

This is your chance to kick back with other data enthusiasts—whether you're a seasoned pro or just curious about the field. There’s no agenda here, just good company and great conversation.

Grab a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic—whatever suits you!) and settle in. Whether you're here to trade insights, get inspired, or simply relax with folks who get your love for data, you’re in the right place. No presentations, no expectations—just a laid-back evening with interesting people.

Come as you are, and let’s enjoy some quality Data & Beer time. Cheers! 🍻

AI is shortening development time, but you can’t accelerate your value delivery unless you are building the right stuff. In other words, building the wrong data products faster is not necessarily going to help your career. But learning to design data experiences for humans will.

In this talk, Samantha will walk you through a new framework (Data HX) she’s been working on that combines design thinking, human-centrism, and data product development. You’ll learn about the dual starting line for development, how to brainstorm and iterate, principles of information architecture, and human-centered testing techniques.

This is your chance to kick back with other data enthusiasts—whether you're a seasoned pro or just curious about the field. There’s no agenda here, just good company and great conversation.

Grab a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic—whatever suits you!) and settle in. Whether you're here to trade insights, get inspired, or simply relax with folks who get your love for data, you’re in the right place. No presentations, no expectations—just a laid-back evening with interesting people.

Come as you are, and let’s enjoy some quality Data & Beer time. Cheers! 🍻

Get ready for an electrifying night of hockey and tech spirit! VDS has scored a special group ticket deal for the Victoria Royals game on Friday, February 27th — and you’re invited!

🎟️ Tickets are just $15.00 (regular price: $25!)
📍 Section 112 — seats are grouped together so we can cheer as one loud, proud tech community!

👉 Victoria Data Society Ticket Promotion

Let’s pack the stands and show the Royals the power of Victoria’s tech scene. Whether you're a die-hard hockey fan or just love a good time with great people, this is your chance to connect, celebrate, and support local sports.

Puck drop 7:05pm

Limited seats available — don’t miss out!
👉 Victoria Data Society Ticket Promotion — Share the link with your team, your friends, and anyone who loves tech and hockey!

Let’s make some noise and make this a night to remember! 💥

Schedule:

4:00 PM – Doors Open

4:30 PM – Demo of locally developed LLM

5:00 PM – Pizza

5:30 PM – Modernizing IBM Mainframes

🧠 Live Demo: foursight.ai – A Vancouver Island–Built LLM

Be among the first to see foursight.ai in action — a brand-new LLM built on Vancouver Island designed to answer hard questions about:

• 🌱 Sustainability

• 🔒 Privacy

• 💼 Economic viability of modern AI tools

Imagine:

• Training your LLM with EXACTLY the information you need

• Discussing sensitive topics with zero risk of public data exposure

• Operating without water-intensive infrastructure

• Every purchase of a corporate license matched with one donated to a non-profit of your choosing

Key Takeaways: This is a conversation about sovereign AI, ethical deployment, and sustainable infrastructure — not just another chatbot demo.

🖥️ Enterprise Modernization with Fresche Solutions

Hear from Fresche Solutions, a Canadian born and raised technology company that has quietly helped keep major financial institutions, government departments, and core health systems running through their deep expertise in IBM mainframes.

Now, they’re leveraging LLMs to help organizations transition:

• From legacy IBM mainframes

• To modern, flexible architectures

• Using contemporary programming languages and AI-assisted tooling

Key Takeaways: If you’re interested in real-world AI adoption inside critical infrastructure, this session will give you practical insight into how transformation actually happens at enterprise scale.

This is your chance to kick back with other data enthusiasts—whether you're a seasoned pro or just curious about the field. There’s no agenda here, just good company and great conversation.

Grab a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic—whatever suits you!) and settle in. Whether you're here to trade insights, get inspired, or simply relax with folks who get your love for data, you’re in the right place. No presentations, no expectations—just a laid-back evening with interesting people.

Come as you are, and let’s enjoy some quality Data & Beer time. Cheers! 🍻

Say hello to Correlation Café ☕️: a welcoming “third place” for curious minds to gather, connect, and enjoy easygoing conversations about data and tech. This is a space to unwind, meet new people, and enjoy good conversation over great coffee. No pressure, no agenda — just a welcoming room full of interesting humans. 🤝🎉

What to expect:

• ☕ Coffee (and tea!) conversations

• 😄 A friendly, welcoming crowd ready to chat and network

• 🎉 A laid-back, fun atmosphere: come as you are and stay as long as you like!

Please note: Seating is first-come, first-served. Please support our host café by purchasing at least one drink or snack — they’re generously sharing their space with us.

Grab a mug, pull up a chair, and come be part of the community. 💛

Ready to caffeinate, collaborate, and celebrate? We can’t wait to see you there! 👉 RSVP now and join the party! 🎊

Join Calvin Gerus for an insider's journey through the rapidly evolving landscape of AI agent development, drawing on hands-on experience building an AI systems for consumer wellness, The Pearl™ and enterprise financial services.

What You'll Explore: This talk traces the practical evolution of AI development—from the early days of prompt engineering that we all experimented with, to today's sophisticated multi-agent orchestration systems. Calvin will share real-world lessons from:

1. Building The Pearl, an AI wisdom companion navigating the complexities of personal guidance and ethical AI design

2. Developing Agentic AI platforms at RBC, evolving from ChatGPT-style interfaces to advanced long-context Deep Research agents for financial services

Key Takeaways: Whether you're curious about AI, building with it, or just trying to understand where this technology is headed, you'll gain insight into:

• How agentic AI capabilities have transformed in just the past 18-24 months

• The practical challenges of moving from demos to production systems

• What "deep orchestration" means and why it matters for real-world applications

• Where AI agents are heading next

Join the Victoria Data Society for our annual Holiday Social! 🎄

Come unwind, share some laughs, and celebrate a great year of data, community, and collaboration. Whether you're a regular at our events or new to the scene, this is the perfect time to connect with fellow data enthusiasts and toast to the year ahead.

No presentations, no panels — just good food, good company, and plenty of holiday cheer.

🎁 Please purchase food and drinks to support our generous hosts at the Bard & Banker.

The goal of RUSH is to help everyone understand climate change and health-related threats to our local communities, so action can be taken before disaster strikes.

This talk is your inside look at how RUSH is being developed straight from the founder! Anne-Marie Daniel will give you a behind-the-scenes look and highlight:

• How RUSH is being built with open-source software as a shareable, scalable, and flexible tracking tool.

• The data visualization and tools being developed to help us take control of our personal and planetary well-being.

• The process of prototyping on Southern Vancouver Island and the plans for scaling the platform.

• Their "one-stop shop" approach to showcasing demystified data, actionable resources, and community insights.

At RUSH, the team is not the expert, nor are they trying to be. Their goal is to promote tools that support the healing of ecosystems and communities, highlighting the risks and fixes to climate readiness, reconciliation, and our relationship with Nature.

RUSH wants to mobilize everyone, returning health to the unsurrendered territories stewarded by the lək̓ʷəŋən and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples, based on the belief that everybody holds a piece of the puzzle.

IT’S AFTER PARTY TIME!

The Prompt Victoria AI Conference is bringing the brains...now VDS is bringing the vibes.

🔥 Thursday, November 20, 2025 @ 7:00 PM
📍 Tora Tiki, 714 Cormorant St.
🎤 Karaoke from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
🍹 Blue Hawaiian drink special ALL NIGHT!
✨ Good vibes. Good times. Good people. Good music.

This is your moment to kick back, sing loud, sip tropical, and hang with the Victoria tech fam in a place that feels like home. 🌺💃🕺

No tickets. No pressure. Just show up and let the night unfold.

Let’s make it legendary. 🌈🎶🍸

Get ready for an electrifying night of hockey and tech spirit! VDS has scored a special group ticket deal for the Victoria Royals game on Tuesday November 18th — and you’re invited!

🎟️ Tickets are just $17.50 (regular price: $25!)
📍 Section 114 — seats are grouped together so we can cheer as one loud, proud tech community!

👉 Victoria Data Society Ticket Promotion

Let’s pack the stands and show the Royals the power of Victoria’s tech scene. Whether you're a die-hard hockey fan or just love a good time with great people, this is your chance to connect, celebrate, and support local sports.

Puck drop 7:05pm

Limited seats available — don’t miss out!
👉 Victoria Data Society Ticket Promotion — Share the link with your team, your friends, and anyone who loves tech and hockey!

Let’s make some noise and make this a night to remember! 💥

This is your chance to kick back with other data enthusiasts—whether you're a seasoned pro or just curious about the field. There’s no agenda here, just good company and great conversation.

Grab a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic—whatever suits you!) and settle in. Whether you're here to trade insights, get inspired, or simply relax with folks who get your love for data, you’re in the right place. No presentations, no expectations—just a laid-back evening with interesting people.

Come as you are, and let’s enjoy some quality Data & Beer time. Cheers! 🍻

Need a little push to finally finish that dashboard, debug that script, or make progress on your side project? Join us for Shut Up and Code, a focused coworking session for data analysts, developers, and anyone working on data, software, or AI projects.

Bring your laptop, grab a coffee, and get some real work done alongside others who speak your language. We’ll start with a quick round of intros, set a timer, and then—yep—shut up and code. After the session, stick around if you’d like to chat about what you’re building or swap ideas with others in the Victoria data and tech community.

What to expect:

• A friendly, focused environment (no presentations or pressure!)

• Dedicated heads-down time to make real progress on your project

• Optional socializing and networking afterward

• Great coffee and vibes at Nor. Coffee

Hosted by the Victoria Data Society (VDS) — a registered non-profit building community among data professionals and enthusiasts in Victoria. Attendees are encouraged to sign up as VDS members to stay connected, access member-only discounts and programs, and support the local data community.|

☕ Please support our hosts by purchasing a drink or snack.

RSVP on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/victoria-data/events/311614645/

This is your chance to kick back with other data enthusiasts—whether you're a seasoned pro or just curious about the field. There’s no agenda here, just good company and great conversation.

Grab a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic—whatever suits you!) and settle in. Whether you're here to trade insights, get inspired, or simply relax with folks who get your love for data, you’re in the right place. No presentations, no expectations—just a laid-back evening with interesting people.

Come as you are, and let’s enjoy some quality Data & Beer time. Cheers! 🍻

We're excited to announce our next Data Talk, focusing on how the Integrated Cadastral Information (ICI) Society is creating a unique data-sharing model for building a better BC.

Join us for an eye-opening presentation from ICI's Steve Mark (Director of Operations) and Shelby Logan (Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator) on the organization's evolution and impact.

The presentation will explore the Society’s journey from its early work in aggregating and standardizing parcel data to its expansion into AddressBC, NG9-1-1 readiness, and automated data sharing through Geoshare. By fostering collaboration, breaking down data silos, and using common frameworks, the ICI Society has enabled more efficient service delivery, improved emergency response, and better infrastructure planning across the province.

Whether you're a data professional, AI enthusiast, or simply curious about how tech is transforming our world, this is the perfect opportunity to:

• Learn from industry experts 📚

• Connect with fellow data enthusiasts 🤝

• Engage in lively discussions 💡

BONUS: Enjoy delicious refreshments, including pizza and pop, to fuel the evening’s conversations! 🍕🥤

COST: Free for Victoria Data Society members. $10 cover charge for non-members (Pay at the door).
Become a member today and attend this and other Data Talks for free for the year.

We can't wait to see you there!

Hosted at the KPMG Victoria Ignition Hub - 7th Floor, 730 View St

Join Victoria Data Society and COAST for an evening of rapid-fire presentations exploring the incredible ways data and Artificial Intelligence are transforming how we understand, protect, and interact with our oceans!

Get ready for an engaging and accessible journey into the cutting-edge world where ocean science meets innovation. In this special event honouring World Ocean Day, you'll hear directly from experts at the forefront of ocean data collection and AI application, right here in Victoria!

Say hello to CoCreate Café ☕️: our brand-new “third place” social hangout for creators, innovators, founders, makers, tinkerers, techies, and anyone with a curious mind. Got a side project to work on or an idea to birth? Pull up a chair, plug in, and let’s caffeinate together. 🎉🚀

Whether you’re here to:

• 🔥 Hack on your latest side project (yes, bring that laptop 💻!)

• 📖 Read, write, or journal your next big idea or sketch out your next blog post ✍️

• 🤝 Network to find a collaborator/cofounder, scout top talent, find a mentor/mentee, or make new friends

• ✨ Show off your side projects and get inspired by others

• 🎈 Brainstorm ideas, find feedback, or just vibe with fellow creatives.

…you’ll feel right at home. No slides. No stuffy presentations. Just good vibes and great company!!