From ‘Code to Cloud’ — How a Cold November Day Sparked a Western Canadian Tech Movement

Kevin Evans
Oct 4
4 min read

It was a cold November afternoon in Alberta. Streaming Clouds had just wrapped up, and a few people from the local cloud community asked me the question I wasn’t ready to face:

“Kevin, what’s next?”

I didn’t know.

All I had was a webcam, a basic microphone, and about 30 subscribers. My first recording session lasted three hours. I kept muting the wrong microphone, rerecording the same paragraph, and questioning if I could actually do this. Thirty subscribers. Not one video live yet. The clock was ticking, and I knew if I didn’t figure this out, I’d lose momentum and credibility in the community.

But sometimes the best things start messy, uncertain, and fueled by stubborn curiosity.

I hit record.

And that day, Code to Cloud was born.

Code To Cloud Logo

The First Turning Points

The early days were a mix of chaos and small wins. I almost canceled the first podcast recording. The software crashed mid-session. And yet, when one listener sent an email saying they’d learned something new, I felt a spark: maybe this could be more than a channel.

The first in-person event in Calgary? We expected 10 people. 50 showed up. Watching them lean forward, asking questions, connecting with each other — that’s when I realized Code to Cloud wasn’t just content. It was a community.

Through trial and error, I started learning how to speak publicly, a skill I had always feared. What began as awkward presentations in small rooms grew into confident talks to tech communities and executive audiences alike.

I also began to learn how to run a business — managing clients, building a team, and making decisions that impacted more than just myself. The growth opportunity wasn’t just for Code to Cloud — it was for me.

Lesson learned early: perfection is the enemy of progress. Start messy. Start small.

From Small Beginnings to a Growing Movement

Today, Code to Cloud has grown beyond anything I imagined:

🎙️ Podcast: 5,000+ listeners (listen here)
👥 In-person events: Calgary, Vancouver, and beyond
💻 GitHub: platform engineering repo for open-source tools (check it out)
🎤 Speaking engagements: Prairie Dev Con and other tech communities
🤖 Advisory services: AI, Microsoft Cloud, Fractional CTO and Fractional CISO services

And yet, every metric is underpinned by real moments: a first successful client project, a team member’s insight at a late-night session, or the satisfaction of someone finally “getting” a complex technical concept.

Community member once told me after a workshop:

“Kevin, this is exactly what we needed — bridging code and cloud for real teams.”

Moments like that made every late-night recording worth it.

The Ghostbusters Metaphor

If you’ve seen Ghostbusters (1984), you know the story: three scientists get fired, find an old firehouse, and decide to start something new — because no one else will.

That was us.

The “ghosts” we bust aren’t supernatural — they’re scaling issues, pipeline nightmares, AI risks, and security challenges. Like the Ghostbusters, we started scrappy: no fancy office, no investors, just whiteboards, coffee, and a relentless drive to solve problems nobody else was solving.

Sometimes you have to throw caution (and a few user stories) to the wind — and see what sticks.

The Crew That Makes It All Happen

The heart of Code to Cloud isn’t the tech — it’s the people:

Kevin Evans — CNCF Ambassador, founder, eternal learner
Conner Shiissler — Databricks MVP, data expert and systems thinker
Guil Lima — Cloud engineer, simplifying complexity
Jacob Deinum — Infrastructure innovator, operational strategist
Caleb Fedyshen — Developer experience advocate, ensuring builders thrive
Natalie Yeung — Junior Azure Consultant, expanding Microsoft Cloud & AI advisory

Together, we’re building something meaningful: a community, a platform, and a movement that represents Western Canadian tech at its finest.

Why “Code to Cloud” — and Now AI, Cloud, and Security — Matters

Our mission has always been to close the gap between writing great code and running great systems.

Today, that includes AI, cloud platforms, and security. We guide organizations through cloud-native engineering, responsible AI adoption, and Fractional CTO/CISO advisory services, helping companies build secure, scalable, and modern architectures on Microsoft Cloud — Azure, OpenAI, Fabric — and beyond.

Because cloud transformation, AI transformation, and security transformation are inseparable. All demand trust, strong foundations, and human-centric guidance.

The bigger lesson: value isn’t just in code. It’s in helping people and organizations grow.

Building for Western Canada, Advocating Everywhere

From Calgary to Vancouver, we’ve met incredible people — engineers, founders, architects, and creators — all committed to building better systems.

Autumn road lined with vibrant yellow trees leads to snow-capped mountains under a cloudy sky, evoking a serene and majestic mood.

We’re proud to represent Western Canada wherever we go. Alberta and BC aren’t “emerging” tech hubs; they’re places where resilience, ingenuity, and collaboration fuel the next generation of technology.

Western Canada is proving that world-class tech innovation doesn’t only happen in Silicon Valley. Anywhere with grit, collaboration, and curiosity can shape the future of AI, cloud, and security.

Reflections on Growth

Starting Code to Cloud forced me to confront my fears: public speaking, leadership, running a business. Every event, client call, and podcast episode became an opportunity to grow — not just as a founder, but as a communicator, mentor, and community leader.

Looking back, the biggest wins weren’t metrics. They were:

Moments when a team member grew alongside me
When a listener or client applied our advice to solve a real problem
And the joy of building a crew that cares about excellence and community

What Comes Next

We’ve come a long way from that cold November day, but the journey is just beginning:

Expanding AI, Microsoft Cloud, Fractional CTO/CISO advisory offerings
Hosting more community events across Western Canada
Growing our open-source platform engineering ecosystem
Inspiring builders to dream bigger and deliver bigger

I started with 30 subscribers and a shaky mic. Today, I’m surrounded by an amazing crew and a thriving community, building something bigger than I could have imagined.

Because at the end of the day — whether it’s ghosts, bugs, or broken pipelines — you know who to call.