EQUINOX VANCOUVER HACKATHON
Official Hackathon Rules
The complete rules governing participation, projects, and judging at Equinox Vancouver Hackathon
Last Updated: February 21, 2026
1. The Spirit of the Rules
These rules exist to ensure Equinox Vancouver Hackathon is fair, safe, and genuinely fun for everyone. They are not meant to be gotchas — if you have a question about whether something is allowed, just ask an organizer before doing it. Good faith always wins.
2. Eligibility
• Participants must be between 13 and 19 years of age at the time of the event
• Participants under 18 must have submitted a signed parental/guardian consent form prior to attending
• Each participant may only register once and may only be a member of one team
• Organizers, judges, sponsors, and their immediate family members are not eligible to compete for prizes
3. Team Rules
• Teams may consist of 1 to 4 participants
• Teams must be formed during the event. You may come with friends but teams should be finalized at the start of hacking
• Every team member must be a registered participant
• Participants may not switch teams after hacking has officially begun without organizer approval
• Solo participants are permitted and will be judged by the same criteria as teams
4. Project Requirements
4.1 What You Build
• Projects must be primarily built during the hackathon hours. Hacking begins and ends at the times announced by organizers at the opening ceremony
• All code, assets, and creative work submitted must have been created during the event, with the exceptions described in Section 4.2
• Projects must be original work. You may not submit a project you have previously entered in another hackathon or competition
• Projects must comply with all applicable laws, including copyright law, and must not include content that is defamatory, obscene, or promotes violence or hatred
4.2 What You Can Use (Pre-existing Work)
You are encouraged to use open-source libraries, APIs, frameworks, and datasets. You do NOT have to build everything from scratch.
• Open-source libraries, frameworks, and packages are permitted provided you comply with their respective licenses
• Publicly available APIs and datasets may be used
• AI tools and code assistants (GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) may be used, but generated code must be substantially modified and understood by your team — you must be able to explain your project
• Pre-existing personal projects or codebases may NOT be used as the foundation for your hackathon project
• Work created before the hackathon begins (including designs, code, or research) may NOT be incorporated unless it is your own previously open-sourced work, in which case you must disclose this to organizers
4.3 Intellectual Property
• You retain full ownership of everything you build at Equinox Vancouver Hackathon
• By submitting a project, you grant Equinox Vancouver Hackathon the right to showcase your project name, description, screenshots, and demo video for promotional purposes
• You are responsible for ensuring your project does not infringe on third-party intellectual property rights
5. Submission
• All teams must submit their project before the hacking deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances
• Submissions must include: project name, a brief description (max 300 words), a link to your code repository (e.g. GitHub), and any relevant demo materials
• Organizers may request a demonstration of your project. Inability to demo a core feature may affect judging
• Projects must be submitted through the official submission form announced at the event
6. Judging
6.1 Criteria
Projects will be evaluated by a panel of judges on the following criteria (equal weight unless otherwise announced):
• Innovation & Creativity — Is the idea original and inventive? Does it tackle a problem in an interesting way?
• Technical Complexity — How technically impressive is the implementation? Did the team push their limits?
• Impact & Usefulness — Does the project solve a real problem? Could it genuinely benefit people?
• Completeness — Does the project work as intended? Is the core functionality demonstrable?
• Presentation — Is the project clearly explained? Is the demo compelling and well-organized?
6.2 Process
• Judges will evaluate projects during the judging period, which will be announced at the event
• All teams must be present during the judging period to demo their project. Absence during judging may result in disqualification
• Judges' decisions are final. Scores and deliberations are confidential
• If a judge has a conflict of interest with a team, they will recuse themselves from evaluating that team
6.3 Special Prizes
In addition to overall prizes, Equinox Vancouver Hackathon may offer sponsor prizes or special category prizes. Eligibility criteria for these prizes will be announced at the opening ceremony.
7. Prizes
• Prizes are awarded to the team, not individual members. Teams are responsible for fairly distributing prizes among themselves
• Prize values are as announced. Equinox Vancouver Hackathon reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or similar value
• Prizes are non-transferable and have no cash equivalent
• Winners are solely responsible for any taxes or duties arising from prizes received
• Equinox Vancouver Hackathon is not liable for any issues with third-party prizes
8. Hardware & Resources
• Participants must bring their own computers and development equipment
• Equinox Vancouver Hackathon is not responsible for the loss, theft, or damage of any participant equipment
• Power bars and surge protectors may be available but are not guaranteed — bring your own if possible
• Wi-Fi will be provided. Participants must not engage in any network activities that disrupt other users
• Hardware provided by sponsors or organizers for demos must be returned in the condition it was received
9. Conduct During the Event
• All participants must comply with the Equinox Vancouver Hackathon Code of Conduct at all times
• The venue must be kept clean and tidy. Dispose of waste appropriately
• Participants may not sleep at the venue unless overnight hacking is explicitly announced by organizers
• Participants must follow all venue rules, including fire safety regulations and any instructions from venue staff
• Smoking and vaping are not permitted inside the venue
10. Disqualification
A team or individual may be disqualified for any of the following:
• Submission of work substantially built before the event
• Plagiarism or misrepresentation of the team's contributions
• Violation of the Code of Conduct
• Cheating, as defined in the Cheating Response Policy
• Failure to comply with organizer instructions
• Any conduct that organizers determine, in their sole discretion, undermines the integrity or spirit of the event
Disqualification decisions are made by organizers and are final. Disqualified teams forfeit any prizes or recognition.
11. Changes to Rules
Equinox Vancouver Hackathon reserves the right to update or clarify these rules at any time. Any changes will be announced at the event and posted on our website. Organizer interpretations of the rules are final.
12. Questions
If you have any questions about these rules before or during the event, please ask an organizer immediately. We would far rather clarify upfront than have to make difficult calls after the fact.
• Email: equinoxhackathon2026@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.equinoxvancouverhackathon.com/
Equinox Vancouver Hackathon 2026 — equinoxhackathon2026@gmail.com — www.equinoxvancouverhackathon.com
EQUINOX VANCOUVER HACKATHON
Code of Conduct
Our commitment to a safe, inclusive, and welcoming hackathon
Last Updated: February 21, 2026
1. Our Pledge
Equinox Vancouver Hackathon is dedicated to providing a harassment-free, inclusive, and respectful experience for everyone, regardless of age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, socioeconomic background, or technical experience level.
We do not merely tolerate diversity — we actively celebrate it. Every participant, volunteer, mentor, sponsor, judge, and organizer is expected to uphold this Code of Conduct in all event spaces, both in person and online.
2. Scope
This Code of Conduct applies to all Equinox Vancouver Hackathon spaces, including but not limited to:
• The physical event venue and all areas within it
• Any official Equinox Vancouver Hackathon online channels (Discord, social media, GitHub repositories)
• Event-related communications, including email
• Any hackathon-adjacent social gatherings organized by participants or organizers
• Interactions with sponsors, judges, and mentors in the context of the event
3. Expected Behavior
All participants are expected to:
• Treat all people with dignity, kindness, and respect
• Be thoughtful about the words you choose — what is casual to you may be harmful to someone else
• Accept constructive feedback graciously and offer it respectfully
• Be collaborative rather than competitive in spirit — we are all here to learn and build
• Be mindful of your surroundings and fellow participants; alert organizers if you witness a dangerous situation or someone in distress
• Respect the venue, equipment, and property of others
• Follow all venue rules and any additional guidelines posted by organizers
4. Unacceptable Behavior
The following behaviors are explicitly prohibited and will result in immediate disciplinary action.
4.1 Harassment
Harassment includes but is not limited to:
• Offensive verbal comments related to age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or socioeconomic status
• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
• Unwelcome photography or recording of individuals
• Sustained disruption of talks, workshops, or other event activities
• Inappropriate physical contact, or unwelcome sexual attention
• Posting or displaying sexually explicit or violent imagery
• Deliberate misgendering or use of rejected names
• Threats of violence or incitement of violence toward any individual or group
4.2 Discriminatory Conduct
• Any behavior that demeans, marginalizes, or excludes individuals based on protected characteristics
• Slurs, derogatory jokes, or stereotyping of any group
• Microaggressions — brief and commonplace indignities that communicate hostility to a person or group
4.3 Other Prohibited Conduct
• Plagiarism, cheating, or misrepresentation of work during the hackathon (see separate Cheating Policy)
• Unauthorized access to computer systems, networks, or accounts
• Vandalism or damage to venue property or another person's belongings
• Possession or consumption of alcohol or illegal substances at the venue
• Any illegal activity on the premises
5. Reporting
If you experience or witness behavior that violates this Code of Conduct, we urge you to report it immediately. All reports are taken seriously and will be handled with discretion and care.
How to report: Approach any Equinox Vancouver Hackathon organizer in person — organizers will be identifiable by their lanyards or event t-shirts — or email us at equinoxhackathon2026@gmail.com. You may report anonymously.
When you report an incident, please provide (to the extent you are comfortable):
• Your name and contact information (optional for anonymous reports)
• Names or descriptions of individuals involved
• Description of the incident, including date, time, and location
• Names of any witnesses
• Any additional context you believe is relevant
Reports made in good faith will never be used against the reporter. Retaliation against anyone who reports a violation is itself a violation of this Code of Conduct and will result in disciplinary action.
6. Consequences
Organizers will review all reports and determine appropriate action, up to and including:
• A verbal or written warning
• Removal from the event without refund or compensation
• A permanent ban from future Equinox Vancouver Hackathon events
• Reporting the incident to local law enforcement where required by law or where safety is at risk
• Notifying parents or guardians for participants under 18
Organizers reserve the right to take any action they deem necessary to protect the safety and wellbeing of participants. Decisions made by organizers are final.
7. Contact
Questions or concerns about this Code of Conduct may be directed to:
• Email: equinoxhackathon2026@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.equinoxvancouverhackathon.com/
This Code of Conduct is adapted from the MLH Code of Conduct (mlh.io/code-of-conduct) and Hack Club's Code of Conduct (hackclub.com/conduct), which are themselves adapted from the Contributor Covenant and other open source community standards. We are grateful to the broader hackathon community for developing these frameworks.
Equinox Vancouver Hackathon 2026 — equinoxhackathon2026@gmail.com — www.equinoxvancouverhackathon.com