FAQ
Quick answers to the questions we get most. If yours isn’t here, email [email protected] or bring it to the next Office Hours.
Joining + membership
Do I have to be a member to come to a meetup?
No. Meetups, Office Hours, and most regional events are free and open. Membership funds the work and unlocks a few extras (coaching calls, member directory, discounts on paid programs) but it’s never the ticket to the door.
What does membership actually get me?
Access to the member directory, weekly Office Hours coaching, the members-only Discord, discounts on Animation Accelerator and other paid programs, and the satisfaction of funding a grassroots nonprofit that exists to serve builders like you.
Is there a sliding scale?
Yes. If the standard membership price doesn’t work for your situation, email [email protected] and we’ll sort it out. Cost has never gated participation here and it won’t start now.
How do I cancel?
Email [email protected] and we’ll cancel for you. No retention scripts.
Programs + events
What’s the difference between Meetup, Film Club, SIG, and Hackathon?
Meetups are monthly community gatherings (200+ people, lightning talks, demos, ceremony). Film Club is a monthly screening of AI-assisted film with director Q&A. SIGs (Special Interest Groups like Mind/AI/Consciousness or AI & Education) are smaller, topic-focused conversations every month. Hackathons are quarterly, with real prize purses and an actual deliverable. See /events/ for what’s next.
How do I host a meetup in my region?
Email us. We have hosts in Vancouver, Surrey, Squamish, and the Comox Valley, plus a Life Sciences AI group. If your town isn’t on the list yet and you’re willing to organize, we’ll help you launch — with branding, ops support, ceremony framing, and a connection to the wider network.
Can I propose a topic or a speaker?
Absolutely. The community calendar is built from community proposals. Drop the pitch at [email protected] or raise it at the next Office Hours.
Are recordings posted?
Most meetups and SIGs are recorded and posted at /videos/ within a couple weeks. Not every session is recorded — some conversations need the protection of the room.
Org + governance
Are you actually a nonprofit?
Yes. BC + AI Ecosystem Association is a registered British Columbia nonprofit, incorporated August 22, 2025. Community programs have been running since 2023; the nonprofit structure formalizes what was already happening.
Who’s on the board?
The founding board includes Kris Krüg (Founder & Executive Director), Lorraine Lowe (Executive Director of the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, our primary venue partner), and Carol Ann Hilton (CEO of the Indigenomics Institute). Board contact: [email protected].
How are you funded?
A mix: paid memberships, corporate sponsorships (see /sponsors/ for the current list), partnership programs (SFU Metacreation Lab equipment, MacMillan Space Centre venue), and grants (Innovate BC under review). Roughly 30% government / 70% community + corporate by design — so no single funder can capture the org.
How do I sponsor a program?
See /sponsors/ for current sponsor tiers and active programs that need backing. Hackathon prize pools, regional chapter launches, and Animation Accelerator cohorts are the most direct places to plug in.
Where can I see your impact?
Our public stats live on the homepage and About page (250+ members, 3,000+ event attendees, 94+ events, 4 BC regions). For the deeper story — our Theory of Change and the learning agenda we’re testing this year — email us and we’ll send it over.
Still stuck? Get in touch — or just come to Office Hours.