Last verified: August 5, 2026 · how we verify
Information aggregated automatically. Verify all dates, locations, and pricing on the official conference website before making arrangements.
BSides YXE is the Saskatoon edition of the global Security BSides movement, a grassroots network of community-organised, low-cost information security conferences. The single-day event serves Saskatchewan's security community, a group with few local alternatives on the Canadian conference circuit. The organising philosophy is unusually explicit about accessibility. The conference seeks 30-minute talks on information security, technology, or simply something the speaker is genuinely passionate about, with a stated emphasis on storytelling over formal technical exposition. Sales pitches are explicitly discouraged. That framing extends to who is invited to speak: organisers describe the event as a safe environment to test a talk in front of a smaller crowd, positioning it deliberately for first-time presenters alongside experienced professionals. Many regional security careers include an early BSides talk, and the format is designed to make that first step manageable. For security practitioners in Saskatchewan and the Canadian prairies, BSides YXE provides local professional community and a low-pressure route into conference speaking.
BSides YXE 2026 takes place September 28, 2026 in Saskatoon, Canada.
BSides YXE 2026 is an in-person event.
Travel questions? See Good to know in the travel guide below.
Saskatoon sits on the South Saskatchewan River in the Canadian prairies, and by late September the poplars along the riverbank have turned and the nights are already close to freezing. Days reach a pleasant fifteen degrees under famously wide skies. The security community here is tight-knit and the city compact — a downtown core, a university across the river, and seven bridges connecting them, which is where the local nickname comes from.
Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International (YXE) is seven kilometres northwest of downtown, about fifteen minutes by taxi or ride-hail. Connections normally route through Calgary, Toronto or Vancouver. There is no rail or rapid transit link from the airport; city buses run but are infrequent. Distances within Saskatoon are short enough that taxis stay inexpensive.
Skip the taxi queue — pre-book a fixed-price airport transfer with Kiwitaxi. Exploring beyond the city? compare rental cars on EconomyBookings.
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Canadian mobile coverage is solid in the city but thins quickly on the highways out of town. Roaming into Canada is costly on most foreign plans, so a data eSIM activated before landing is usually the cheaper route. Set up an eSIM with Airalo before you board and you're online the moment you land.
Meewasin Valley Trail. An eighty-kilometre riverside trail network threads through the city on both banks, with the central section linking the downtown bridges in an easy loop. Autumn colour peaks around late September. An hour on foot or a rented bike covers the most scenic stretch between the Broadway and University bridges.
Wanuskewin Heritage Park. A National Historic Site fifteen minutes north, interpreting six thousand years of Northern Plains Indigenous history through archaeological sites, bison herds and interpretive trails. Guided programming runs most days. Allow two to three hours; the trails involve some descent into the valley coulee.
Remai Modern. A cantilevered riverfront art museum holding a substantial Picasso linocut collection alongside contemporary Canadian work. It sits beside River Landing downtown, so it slots easily into an afternoon. Two hours is ample, and the top-floor windows give a clean view along the river.
Broadway Avenue district. Across the Broadway Bridge from downtown, this strip holds independent restaurants, a 1946 cinema and small shops in a walkable few blocks. It is the most reliable evening option in the city and stays busy on weeknights during the university term.
How cold does it get in late September?
Daytime highs are typically twelve to sixteen degrees Celsius, but overnight lows can drop to freezing or below. A proper warm jacket is necessary, not optional.
Do I need a car?
Not for downtown and Broadway, which are walkable. A car or ride-hail helps for Wanuskewin and the outer neighbourhoods; the bus network is limited outside peak hours.
Do I need a visa or eTA for Canada?
Most visa-exempt travellers flying into Canada need an Electronic Travel Authorisation obtained online in advance. Requirements vary by nationality, so check before booking.
Travel notes written for BSides YXE 2026 attendees. Links marked above are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Verify schedules and opening hours on official websites before you travel.
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