2026 Toronto Open Datathon Workshops at York

Interactive Map Making Workshop Workshop: Thursday, Mar 26 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Blog Pitches: Thursday, Apr 2, 2026, 10:00 am to ?

York Map Collection, located in Scott Library, Keele Campus, 115 Campus Walk, North York, ON M3J 1P3

Join the YorkU Data Science Club for an interactive map-making event and an opportunity to be published on the Open Data Toronto Blog

Participant Sign Up

Join us for two drop-in data exploration opportunities in the Scott Library Map Collection Room, where we will explore and transform datasets from the City of Toronto Open Data Portal with the help of colleagues from the city and visualization experts from the York Library. Participants will have the opportunity to work with real urban data such as ward boundaries, street networks, and density patterns - and turn them into creative data visualizations, collages, prototypes, analytical tools and narratives. Activities will combine elements of data science, visualization, and creative exploration.

The map making workshop on March 26 will be structured in two parts:

Morning (10:00 AM to 12:00 PM) A guided introduction to the Map Collections and examples of how spatial and civic data can be explored and visualized. Pizza will be provided for participants (but space is limited).

Afternoon (1:00 PM to 6:00 PM) A hands-on session where participants will create their own visualizations using digital tools (Python, visualization software) or physical materials such as collage and craft supplies.

Students are welcome to drop in at any time and stay as long as they like. While we encourage participants to attend both sessions, you are free to join whichever part of the day fits your schedule.

The blog pitch session on April 2 will feature: You can sign up to take part in the blog pitch event in the library and on the 26th.

Examples of Related Blog Entries:
  1. Toronto's Child Care: Are there adeuqate child care spaces in both low and high income neighbourhoods in Toronto?
  2. Toronto's Water Quality: Has the use of phosphate treatment made a difference in reducing dangerous lead levels in Toronto's water supply?
  3. Toronto's Green Initiatives: Is the city of Toronto on track to meet its commitments to a green energy transition?

What to Bring