YRHacks

Why Join?

Canada's Largest High School Hackathon

YRHacks is a 24-hour event where teams of “hackers” (participants) develop projects to act as technological solutions to problems. These problems can be themed by the organizers or chosen by the team themselves.

Throughout the event, hackers will have access to workshops, team-building activities, mentors, and resources to help with projects—all while enjoying free swag! At the end of the event, each team will pitch their project to industry professionals for evaluation, and selected top teams will win incredible prizes!

Participate in over a dozen workshops to learn various skills such as web development and graphic design, as well as fun activities!
Network with industry professionals and learn about the latest trends in technology!
Meet other talented students and work together to create something amazing, and win cool prizes and swag!

Frequently Asked Questions

General

YRHacks is a 24-hour event where teams of "hackers" (participants) develop projects to act as technological solutions to problems. These problems can be themed by the organizers or chosen by the team themselves.

Transportation should be arranged by your school's teacher supervisor. If your school does not have a teacher supervisor, then you should speak to your school's principal or vice principal.

Teacher supervisors are required for YRHacks. If you do not have a supervisor, please speak to your school principal or vice principal.

Yes, YRHacks counts towards SHSM ICE and Experiential Learning. SHSM participants must attend workshops and submit a project.

YRHacks will be open to all YRDSB high school students. You must be accompanied by a teacher supervisor to the event. A teacher supervisor may supervise multiple students from the same school.

No experience is required. First-time coders are welcome! In the past few years, around half of our participants have been first-time hackers. However, it can be helpful to have team members with both programming and business knowledge (ie. design)

Sign-ups haven’t started yet for YRHacks 2025 — follow our socials to stay updated!

Each team may consist of up to four participants (YRDSB students). Teams work on the same project, are judged together, and win prizes together. There will be a team-finding workshop, and your final team must be submitted by the end of the virtual night.

YRHacks 2025 is free of charge.

At YRHacks

All you need is a computer or laptop and an internet connection! We will use Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, and Discord.

The event will take place on April 7-8, 2025. April 7th will be an online day starting at 6:00pm, with an asynchronous opening ceremony and coding time, while April 8th will be in-person at Dr. Bette Stephenson Centre for Learning from 8:30am to 6:00pm.

Mentors are experienced in programming, design, and idea formation. They assist throughout the event with tasks like brainstorming, debugging, pitch design, and more. Our executive team will also be available during the event for quick debugging sessions or bouncing off ideas!

Meet the awesome team behind YRHacks 2025!

A group of high school students from across York Region who are passionate about technology and innovation. We are working super hard to bring you an unforgettable experience this year!