Vancouver's community of practice
for enterprise IT
Vancouver · Est. 1995
The VanTUG Community
Volunteer-run. Practitioner-led. 30 years of enterprise IT knowledge sharing in Metro Vancouver — and we're just getting started.
1995 — 2025
Thirty years. Still showing up.
VanTUG started in 1995 as the Vancouver NT User Group — a small circle of IT professionals figuring out Windows NT together. Three decades later, the technology has changed completely. The community hasn't. If you've been part of VanTUG at any point in the last 30 years, we want to hear from you.
1995
Founded
Vancouver NT User Group holds its first meeting
2000s
Evolved
Expanded beyond NT as Microsoft's enterprise stack transformed
2026
Relaunched
Program-driven community of practice with structured tracks and labs
Who's in the Room
VanTUG brings together IT professionals at every stage — from students building their first lab to architects designing enterprise-scale systems.
Enterprise Practitioners
Infrastructure engineers, cloud architects, security professionals, and IT operations leads from organizations across Metro Vancouver.
Career Transitioners
IT professionals moving from support into cloud engineering, cybersecurity, or infrastructure architecture — using VanTUG tracks and labs to build a demonstrable portfolio.
Students & Early-Career
Computer science and IT students building real-world skills alongside working professionals. VanTUG sessions and lab submissions count as genuine demonstrable experience.
Get Involved
There are four ways to plug into VanTUG — pick the one that fits where you are right now.
Attend a Session
Join us at our next event. All sessions are free, open to the public, and designed for working IT professionals at any career stage.
Follow a Track
Commit to a multi-session learning track and build real skills over time. Tracks run across 7 program areas — from Cybersecurity to Career Pathways.
Volunteer & Lead
VanTUG is built entirely by volunteers. We're actively filling our 2026 leadership team across these functional areas:
Roles are flexible — most require 2–4 hours/month. You define your scope.
Submit a Lab
Built something in your home lab or cloud environment? Submit it to our GitHub portfolio and get real feedback from the community.
How We Keep You Coming Back
VanTUG is designed around repeat participation, not one-off attendance. Here's what that looks like in practice.
Attendance Recognition
Members who show up consistently get priority access to limited-seat labs and flagship events. Showing up matters — and we acknowledge it.
Mentorship Circles
Study groups and mentorship cohorts run alongside every track — so you're never navigating a new technical area alone. Peer accountability built in.
Portfolio Spotlights
Outstanding lab submissions and community contributions are featured in our Portfolio Spotlight Hub. Your work gets seen by employers, sponsors, and peers.
Member Voices
From the people who show up.
VanTUG is the only community in Vancouver where I've sat in a room with people who've actually done the thing they're talking about. No vendor pitches. Just real experience.— Enterprise Infrastructure Practitioner · Metro Vancouver
I came for one session on Zero Trust and ended up following the full track. By the end I had something to show in interviews. That's rare.— Cybersecurity Professional · Career Transitioner
As a student, being in the same room as working architects and engineers is invaluable. The labs especially — this is experience you can't get in class.— IT Student · BCIT
Want to share your VanTUG experience? We'd love to hear from you →
Community Standards
A safe, neutral, professional space.
VanTUG is vendor-neutral, harassment-free, and education-led. We don't tolerate sales pitches disguised as sessions, or behavior that makes any member feel unwelcome. These aren't just values — they're enforced.
Questions about our standards?
hello@vantug.comStay Connected
Monthly updates on sessions, tracks, labs, and community news. No spam — just signal.