CareXR is a FREE (no registration fee), interdisciplinary student hackathon that unites over 150 students, children, families, clinicians, and community partners across Canada to design Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) tools that support child & family wellbeing.
March 20–22, 2026
Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada
1003 Bd Décarie, Montréal, QC H4A 0A9
McGillXR is a student-led collective that unites students, researchers, professionals, and communities to explore how extended reality (XR) technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality, can advance health equity and social justice. We aim to foster critical, collaborative spaces for learning and experimentation that challenge how we envision technology and its impacts on society.
Join us for our CareXR 2026 Hackathon, a creative space for students of all backgrounds to develop innovative VR and AR tools that address challenges impacting Child & Family Wellbeing in one of three areas:
Healthcare
Education
Society
*Please note the Hackathon Schedule is subject to change
COMING SOON
Presented by Snap Inc.
March 10, 2026
Online, 4:30-5:30pm
https://luma.com/dcw1yag9
Please review our code of conduct before registering as a Hackathon participant.
CareXR and pre-Hackathon events will feature talks from industry leaders, researchers, and community partners who work at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and child and family wellbeing. Speakers will share practical insights on XR design, implementation, and translating early-stage ideas into real-world impact.
Keynote speakers include:
Snap Inc. representatives (parent company of Snapchat) will share industry perspectives on AR design and emerging opportunities with Snap Spectacles
Dr. Argerie Tsimicalis, RN, PhD, Nurse Scientist at Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada and Associate Professor at McGill University
CareXR mentors and judges are drawn from industry, healthcare, research, and design. They may include individuals working in immersive and/or digital health technologies, clinician-researchers, industry professionals, and even children and families from the greater community.
Mentors will circulate throughout the hackathon to offer hands-on feedback, troubleshooting support, and design guidance.
Judges will evaluate all projects using a structured judging rubric focusing on impact and alignment with child- and family-centered values.
Participants in this track are invited to develop immersive tools that improve the quality of health care for children and families or address challenges in health care delivery, resources, and processes.
Projects might include therapies for pain management, immersive training for healthcare providers, or tools for children and their families to understand medical treatments. The goal is to leverage technology to create brighter, healthier futures for patients and families.
This track challenges participants to design solutions that support learning and equitable access to education for children and families.
Projects might focus on creating tools that help individuals with ADHD train their attention and focus, or tools that transport learners to historical places or allow them to interact with ancient artifacts. These innovations will make learning and education more accessible, engaging, and impactful for diverse audiences.
Participants in this category will aim to address social justice challenges and issues that impact children and families in the greater society.
Projects could include immersive environments that foster social connection and mental well-being for the elderly, or create an experience that allows someone to better understand what it's like living with a disability. This track aims to help all individuals to thrive in their communities.
Compete for over $5000 in prizes
$3,000 in hackathon prizes + $2,750 in exclusive sponsor awards.
Teams will present their prototype to judges and other participants at the end of the Hackathon via 5-minute presentations
Each team will be evaluated by judges using a four-part rubric:
Clarity and relevance of the problem addressed
Design quality and user experience
Effective and creative use of XR technologies
Overall feasibility and clarity of presentation
Winning teams will receive funds via e-transfer
Our dedicated executive committee is composed of undergraduate and graduate McGill students.
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Operations Officer
Director of Media Relations
Director of Outreach
Director of Communications
Software Development Lead
Software Development Lead
Our advisory board provides strategic guidance and industry expertise to ensure long-term growth and mission alignment.
CEO of Network for Applied Technology
President
McGillXR 2023-2024
CFO
McGillXR 2024-2025
The deadline for registration is March 09, 2026.
Want to partner with us? Check out our sponsorship prospectus!
