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Draft:Capital Technology Network

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Capital Technology Network
Réseau technologique de la capitale
AbbreviationCTN
Founded atOttawa, Ontario, Canada
TypeNonprofit organization
PurposeTechnological education and professional development
HeadquartersOttawa, Ontario, Canada
MembershipOttawa-area undergraduate and graduate students
Official language
English, French
AffiliationsUniversity of Ottawa Students' Union
Websitectn-rtc.org
Formerly called
Hack the Hill

The Capital Technology Network (CTN), or Réseau technologique de la capitale in French, is a student-run nonprofit organization based in Ottawa, Canada. Focused on technological education and professional development among post-secondary students, CTN primarily serves students at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. The organization is officially recognized as a student club under the University of Ottawa Students' Union (UOSU).[1][2] It is best known for organizing Hack the Hill, a large-scale student hackathon that attracts participants from across Canada.[3]

History

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In fall 2022, a group of students involved in clubs and student government at the University of Ottawa began organizing a new hackathon, Hack the Hill, following a split from uOttaHack over alleged financial concerns and interpersonal disagreements.[4] The first Hack the Hill hackathon was held in March 2023 at the uOttawa Learning Crossroads (CRX) building, attracting over 600 participants.[5]

Following its initial success, the organizers incorporated Hack the Hill as a not-for-profit under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act in August 2023, with the goal of continuing to host Hack the Hill as a recurring, cross-campus initiative.[6] The organization later adopted the name Capital Technology Network and, in April 2025, transitioned to provincial jurisdiction under the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA).[7]

Events

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Hack the Hill

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Hack the Hill is the CTN’s annual flagship event, typically held at the University of Ottawa. The multi-day hackathon features challenges in areas such as web development, hardware, and game design. Participants collaborate to develop projects within 36 hours and present them to a panel of judges.[8]

The 2024 edition, Hack the Hill II, hosted over 750 participants and included sponsor-led workshops, a career fair, and social events such as karaoke and outdoor activities. It featured a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) challenge sponsored by Ross Video, one of the few such competitions in North America. Other sponsors included Ciena, Red Bull, and BlackBerry.[9]

Challenges

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Governance Reform and Internal Criticism

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The CTN is governed by a Board of Directors and an executive team, with members elected annually by the student membership. In 2024, the organization undertook a governance restructuring aimed at improving operational clarity and reducing internal strain. As part of these reforms, director roles were formally separated from vice-presidential executive roles, allowing executive members to opt out of board participation. The goal was to draw a clearer distinction between governance and day-to-day operations and to reduce role overlap and burnout.[6]

These changes followed internal criticism from former members, who raised concerns about unclear onboarding processes, high workloads, and a hierarchical leadership model. Some also expressed frustration with what they perceived as excessive bureaucracy. In public statements, the CTN's leadership acknowledged these concerns and indicated that the reforms were implemented to address them and improve sustainability.[6]

Data Breach

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On July 30, 2024, the CTN experienced a ransomware attack that compromised personal information for approximately 50 students. The breach was resolved without ransom payment, and the CTN collaborated with a cybersecurity firm, UOSU’s legal counsel, and law enforcement. CTN reported that affected students were notified the following day.[6]

The breach contributed to the organization’s loss of affiliation with Major League Hacking (MLH) for its 2024 event.[6]

2025 Referendum

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During the 2025 University of Ottawa Students' Union general elections, CTN proposed a $5-per-semester ancillary fee for engineering and computer science students to fund its programming. The proposal became one of the most contentious issues of the election season, prompting debate around transparency, alleged financial mismanagement, and the fairness of mandatory student fees.[10][11][6]

Although The Fulcrum reported no evidence of financial mismanagement, the referendum was rejected by 89.68 per cent of voters, with over 700 students participating.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Clubs". SÉUO-UOSU. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  2. ^ "Hack The Hill Hackathon". University of Ottawa. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  3. ^ "A look back at 'Canada's Capital Hackathon' — Hack the Hill". The Fulcrum. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  4. ^ "Decoding the Hack the Hill controversy". The Fulcrum. 24 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  5. ^ "Ready, Set, Hack". The Fulcrum. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Decoding the Hack the Hill controversy". The Fulcrum. 24 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  7. ^ "Ontario Business Registry". Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  8. ^ "Ready, Set, Hack". The Fulcrum. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  9. ^ "A look back at 'Canada's Capital Hackathon' — Hack the Hill". The Fulcrum. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  10. ^ "Réunion du CA de janvier : vers de nouvelles cotisations étudiantes ?". La Rotonde. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  11. ^ "Élections étudiantes 2025 : quand la politique universitaire s'envenime". La Rotonde. 10 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
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