diff --git a/Management.Web/AkkaService.cs b/Management.Web/AkkaService.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1441df7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Management.Web/AkkaService.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+
+using Akka.Actor;
+using Akka.DependencyInjection;
+namespace Management.Actors;
+
+
+public class AkkaService : IHostedService, IActorBridge
+{
+  private ActorSystem? _actorSystem;
+  private readonly IConfiguration _configuration;
+  private readonly IServiceProvider _serviceProvider;
+  private IActorRef? _canvasApiActor;
+  private readonly IHostApplicationLifetime _applicationLifetime;
+
+  public AkkaService(IServiceProvider serviceProvider, IHostApplicationLifetime appLifetime, IConfiguration configuration)
+  {
+    _serviceProvider = serviceProvider;
+    _applicationLifetime = appLifetime;
+    _configuration = configuration;
+  }
+
+  public Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+  {
+    var bootstrap = BootstrapSetup.Create();
+    var dependencyInjectionSetup = DependencyResolverSetup.Create(_serviceProvider);
+
+    var mergedSystemSetup = bootstrap.And(dependencyInjectionSetup);
+
+    _actorSystem = ActorSystem.Create("canvas-managment-actors", mergedSystemSetup);
+
+    // start top level supervisor actor
+
+    // working here https://getakka.net/articles/actors/dependency-injection.html#integrating-with-microsoftextensionsdependencyinjection
+    var apiActorProps = DependencyResolver.For(_actorSystem).Props<CanvasApiActor>();
+    _canvasApiActor = _actorSystem.ActorOf(apiActorProps, "canvas-api");
+
+    // crash if the actor system crashes, awaiting never returns...
+#pragma warning disable CA2016 // Forward the 'CancellationToken' parameter to methods
+    _actorSystem.WhenTerminated.ContinueWith(tr =>
+    {
+      _applicationLifetime.StopApplication();
+    });
+#pragma warning restore CA2016 // Forward the 'CancellationToken' parameter to methods
+
+    return Task.CompletedTask;
+  }
+
+  public Task StopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
+
+  // add more methods to interact with actor processes, make them part of an interface
+  // these are the most generic forwarding of messages
+  public void Tell(object message)
+  {
+    _canvasApiActor.Tell(message);
+  }
+
+  public Task<T> Ask<T>(object message)
+  {
+    return _canvasApiActor.Ask<T>(message);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/Management.Web/IActorBridge.cs b/Management.Web/IActorBridge.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d3ec6c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Management.Web/IActorBridge.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+namespace Management.Actors;
+
+public interface IActorBridge
+{
+  void Tell(object message);
+  Task<T> Ask<T>(object message);
+}
diff --git a/Management.Web/Management.Web.csproj b/Management.Web/Management.Web.csproj
index ae2f6c5..35e39ea 100644
--- a/Management.Web/Management.Web.csproj
+++ b/Management.Web/Management.Web.csproj
@@ -5,9 +5,12 @@
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Akka" Version="1.5.18" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Akka.DependencyInjection" Version="1.5.18" />
     <PackageReference Include="BlazorMonaco" Version="3.0.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="dotenv.net" Version="3.1.2" />
     <PackageReference Include="Markdig" Version="0.31.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.AspNetCore.SignalR.Client" Version="8.0.3" />
     <PackageReference Include="OpenTelemetry.Exporter.Console" Version="1.7.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="OpenTelemetry.Exporter.OpenTelemetryProtocol" Version="1.7.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="OpenTelemetry.Extensions.Hosting" Version="1.7.0" />
diff --git a/Management.Web/Pages/CanvasRequestsQueue.razor b/Management.Web/Pages/CanvasRequestsQueue.razor
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cef1137
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Management.Web/Pages/CanvasRequestsQueue.razor
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+@page "/test"
+@rendermode InteractiveServer
+
+@using Microsoft.AspNetCore.SignalR.Client
+
+@inject CanvasService canvas
+@inject CoursePlanner planner
+@inject FileStorageManager fileStorageManager
+@inject IActorBridge bridge
+@inject NavigationManager Navigation
+
+@code {
+  private HubConnection? hubConnection;
+  public string? CourseName = "1400";
+  @* private bool loading = true; *@
+
+  protected override async Task OnInitializedAsync()
+  {
+    if (planner.LocalCourse == null)
+    {
+      System.Diagnostics.Activity.Current = null;
+      using var activity = DiagnosticsConfig.Source?.StartActivity("Loading Course");
+      activity?.AddTag("CourseName", CourseName);
+      var courses = await fileStorageManager.LoadSavedCourses();
+      planner.LocalCourse = courses.First(c => c.Settings.Name == CourseName);
+    }
+
+
+    Console.WriteLine(Navigation.BaseUri + "SignalRHub");
+    hubConnection = new HubConnectionBuilder()
+    .WithUrl(Navigation.BaseUri + "SignalRHub")
+    .WithAutomaticReconnect()
+    .Build();
+
+
+    hubConnection.On("SentFromActor", () =>
+    {
+      Console.WriteLine("recieved from actor");
+    });
+
+    await hubConnection.StartAsync();
+
+    base.OnInitialized();
+    @* loading = false; *@
+  }
+
+  private async Task SendAkkaMessage()
+  {
+    System.Diagnostics.Activity.Current = null;
+    using var activity = DiagnosticsConfig.Source?.StartActivity("sending akka message from blazor");
+
+    if (planner.LocalCourse != null && planner.LocalCourse.Settings.CanvasId != null && hubConnection?.ConnectionId != null)
+    {
+      ulong id = (ulong)planner.LocalCourse.Settings.CanvasId;
+
+      var message = new GetModulesMessage(0, id, (string)hubConnection.ConnectionId, activity?.TraceId, ParentSpan:
+      activity?.SpanId);
+      var response = await bridge.Ask<CanvasModulesMessage>(message);
+      Console.WriteLine(response);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+<button @onclick=SendAkkaMessage>test akka</button>
diff --git a/Management.Web/Pages/Course/Course.razor b/Management.Web/Pages/Course/Course.razor
index 1e55414..e383966 100644
--- a/Management.Web/Pages/Course/Course.razor
+++ b/Management.Web/Pages/Course/Course.razor
@@ -6,12 +6,14 @@
 @using Management.Web.Pages.Course.Module.ModuleItems
 @using Management.Web.Shared.Components
 
+
 @inject FileStorageManager fileStorageManager
 @inject CanvasService canvas
 @inject CoursePlanner planner
 @inject NavigationManager navigtion
 @inject IConfiguration config
 
+
 @code {
   [Parameter]
   public string? CourseName { get; set; }
@@ -22,6 +24,9 @@
   {
     if (planner.LocalCourse == null)
     {
+      System.Diagnostics.Activity.Current = null;
+      using var activity = DiagnosticsConfig.Source?.StartActivity("Loading Course");
+      activity?.AddTag("CourseName", CourseName);
       var courses = await fileStorageManager.LoadSavedCourses();
       planner.LocalCourse = courses.First(c => c.Settings.Name == CourseName);
     }
@@ -38,37 +43,39 @@
 }
 
 <PageTitle>@CourseName</PageTitle>
+
+
 <div style="height: 100vh;">
 
 
-@if (loading)
-{
-  <Spinner />
-}
+  @if (loading)
+  {
+    <Spinner />
+  }
 
-@if (planner.LocalCourse != null)
-{
-  <div class="pb-3 d-flex justify-content-between" style="height: 4em;">
-  <div class="my-auto">
-    <button @onclick="selectNewCourse" class="btn btn-primary">
-      Select New Course
-    </button>
-    <CourseSettings />
-    <a class="btn btn-outline-secondary" target="_blank"
-      href="@($"{config["CANVAS_URL"]}/courses/{planner.LocalCourse.Settings.CanvasId}")">
-      View In Canvas
-    </a>
-    <div class="my-auto ms-2 d-inline">
-      @planner.LocalCourse.Settings.Name
+  @if (planner.LocalCourse != null)
+  {
+    <div class="pb-3 d-flex justify-content-between" style="height: 4em;">
+      <div class="my-auto">
+        <button @onclick="selectNewCourse" class="btn btn-primary">
+          Select New Course
+        </button>
+        <CourseSettings />
+        <a class="btn btn-outline-secondary" target="_blank"
+          href="@($"{config["CANVAS_URL"]}/courses/{planner.LocalCourse.Settings.CanvasId}")">
+          View In Canvas
+        </a>
+        <div class="my-auto ms-2 d-inline">
+          @planner.LocalCourse.Settings.Name
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      @if (planner.LoadingCanvasData)
+      {
+        <Spinner />
+      }
     </div>
-  </div>
-
-  @if (planner.LoadingCanvasData)
-    {
-      <Spinner />
-    }
-  </div>
-  <CourseDetails />
-}
+    <CourseDetails />
+  }
 
 </div>
diff --git a/Management.Web/Pages/Index.razor b/Management.Web/Pages/Index.razor
index e6b11a3..03697ed 100644
--- a/Management.Web/Pages/Index.razor
+++ b/Management.Web/Pages/Index.razor
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@
     StateHasChanged();
   }
   private int refreshKey;
+
 }
+
 <PageTitle>Index</PageTitle>
 
 <br>
diff --git a/Management.Web/Program.cs b/Management.Web/Program.cs
index 0b2bfe2..f4795ec 100644
--- a/Management.Web/Program.cs
+++ b/Management.Web/Program.cs
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ global using Management.Services.Canvas;
 global using Management.Web.Shared;
 global using Management.Web.Shared.Components;
 using dotenv.net;
+using Management.Actors;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Hosting.Server;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Hosting.Server.Features;
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.ResponseCompression;
 using OpenTelemetry;
 using OpenTelemetry.Logs;
 using OpenTelemetry.Metrics;
@@ -91,6 +93,18 @@ builder.Services.AddScoped<DragContainer>();
 
 builder.Services.AddSingleton<FileConfiguration>();
 
+
+// exposing actor service to controllers
+builder.Services.AddSingleton<IActorBridge, AkkaService>();
+
+// starting actor service while enabling it to use dependency injection
+builder.Services.AddHostedService<AkkaService>(sp => (AkkaService)sp.GetRequiredService<IActorBridge>());
+
+builder.Services.AddResponseCompression(opts =>
+{
+  opts.MimeTypes = ResponseCompressionDefaults.MimeTypes.Concat(new[] { "application/octet-stream" });
+});
+
 builder.Services.AddSignalR(e =>
 {
   e.MaximumReceiveMessageSize = 102400000;
@@ -113,8 +127,10 @@ app.UseHttpsRedirection();
 app.UseStaticFiles();
 
 app.UseRouting();
+app.UseResponseCompression();
 
 app.MapBlazorHub();
+app.MapHub<SignalRHub>("/SignalRHub");
 app.MapFallbackToPage("/_Host");
 
 
diff --git a/Management.Web/_Imports.razor b/Management.Web/_Imports.razor
index 8ee8f0c..9627494 100644
--- a/Management.Web/_Imports.razor
+++ b/Management.Web/_Imports.razor
@@ -8,3 +8,5 @@
 @using Microsoft.JSInterop
 @using Management.Web
 @using Management.Web.Shared
+@using Management.Actors
+@using static Microsoft.AspNetCore.Components.Web.RenderMode
diff --git a/Management/Actors/CanvasApiActor.cs b/Management/Actors/CanvasApiActor.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d16213
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Management/Actors/CanvasApiActor.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.Net.Http.Headers;
+using Akka.Actor;
+using Akka.DependencyInjection;
+using Management.Services.Canvas;
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.SignalR;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
+namespace Management.Actors;
+
+
+// RecieveActor configures messages in constructor
+// UntypedActor configures messages in an onrecieved function
+public class CanvasApiActor : ReceiveActor
+{
+  private readonly IServiceScope _scope;
+  private readonly ILogger<CanvasApiActor> _logger;
+  private readonly IHubContext<SignalRHub> _hub;
+  public CanvasApiActor(IServiceProvider serviceProvider) // props go here
+  {
+    _scope = serviceProvider.CreateScope();
+    _logger = _scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<ILogger<CanvasApiActor>>();
+    _hub = _scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<IHubContext<SignalRHub>>();
+
+    _logger.LogInformation("creating canvas actor");
+
+    var canvasService = _scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<CanvasService>();
+    ReceiveAsync<GetModulesMessage>(async m =>
+    {
+      using var activity = m.Activity("canvas actor getting modules from canvas api");
+
+      var modules = await canvasService.Modules.GetModules(m.CanvasCourseId);
+      Sender.Tell(new CanvasModulesMessage(m.RequestId, m.CanvasCourseId, modules, activity?.TraceId, activity?.SpanId));
+
+      await _hub.Clients.Client(m.ClientConnectionId).SendAsync("SentFromActor");
+    });
+  }
+
+
+  protected override void PostStop()
+  {
+    _scope.Dispose();
+    base.PostStop();
+  }
+
+  // used to wrap the arguments in a comprehension for future instanciation of the actor
+  // does this work with DI?
+  // public static Props Props(CanvasService canvasService) =>
+  //   Akka.Actor.Props.Create(() => new CanvasApiActor(canvasService));
+
+}
diff --git a/Management/Actors/CanvasSupervisor.cs b/Management/Actors/CanvasSupervisor.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f15ac7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Management/Actors/CanvasSupervisor.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+using Akka.Actor;
+using Akka.DependencyInjection;
+
+namespace Management.Actors;
+
+public class CanvasSupervisor : ReceiveActor
+{
+  // private IActorRef canvasApiActor;
+
+  // public CanvasSupervisor()
+  // {
+  //   // DependencyResolver
+
+  // }
+}
diff --git a/Management/Actors/Messages/CanvasModulesMesasge.cs b/Management/Actors/Messages/CanvasModulesMesasge.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2de9de3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Management/Actors/Messages/CanvasModulesMesasge.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using CanvasModel.Modules;
+
+namespace Management.Actors;
+
+public sealed record CanvasModulesMessage(
+  long RequestId,
+  ulong CanvasCourseId,
+  IEnumerable<CanvasModule> CanvasModules,
+  ActivityTraceId? ParentTrace,
+  ActivitySpanId? ParentSpan
+) : ITraceableMessage;
diff --git a/Management/Actors/Messages/GetModulesMessage.cs b/Management/Actors/Messages/GetModulesMessage.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05987ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Management/Actors/Messages/GetModulesMessage.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+using System.Diagnostics;
+
+namespace Management.Actors;
+
+public sealed record GetModulesMessage(
+  long RequestId,
+  ulong CanvasCourseId,
+  string ClientConnectionId,
+  ActivityTraceId? ParentTrace,
+  ActivitySpanId? ParentSpan
+) : ITraceableMessage;
diff --git a/Management/Actors/Messages/ITraceableMessage.cs b/Management/Actors/Messages/ITraceableMessage.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a9456f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Management/Actors/Messages/ITraceableMessage.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+using System.Diagnostics;
+
+public interface ITraceableMessage
+{
+  public ActivitySpanId? ParentSpan {get;}
+  public ActivityTraceId? ParentTrace {get;}
+}
+
diff --git a/Management/DiagnosticsConfig.cs b/Management/DiagnosticsConfig.cs
index d6678bf..6fc5726 100644
--- a/Management/DiagnosticsConfig.cs
+++ b/Management/DiagnosticsConfig.cs
@@ -1,7 +1,23 @@
 using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.Security.Policy;
 
 public static class DiagnosticsConfig
 {
   public const string SourceName = "canvas-management-source";
-  public static ActivitySource Source = new ActivitySource(SourceName);
+  public readonly static ActivitySource Source = new(SourceName);
+
+  public static Activity? Activity(this ITraceableMessage message, string activityName)
+  {
+    if (message.ParentTrace != null && message.ParentSpan != null)
+    {
+      ActivityContext parentContext = new ActivityContext(
+        (ActivityTraceId)message.ParentTrace,
+        (ActivitySpanId)message.ParentSpan,
+        ActivityTraceFlags.Recorded
+      );
+
+      return Source?.StartActivity(activityName, ActivityKind.Internal, parentContext);
+    }
+    return Source?.StartActivity(activityName);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/Management/Features/Configuration/CoursePlanner.cs b/Management/Features/Configuration/CoursePlanner.cs
index efb7b6c..2e042e8 100644
--- a/Management/Features/Configuration/CoursePlanner.cs
+++ b/Management/Features/Configuration/CoursePlanner.cs
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ public class CoursePlanner
     get => _localCourse;
     set
     {
-      using var activity = DiagnosticsConfig.Source?.StartActivity("Loading Course");
       if (value == null)
       {
         _localCourse = null;
diff --git a/Management/Management.csproj b/Management/Management.csproj
index 82b1c84..6aaefdb 100644
--- a/Management/Management.csproj
+++ b/Management/Management.csproj
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Akka" Version="1.5.18" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Akka.DependencyInjection" Version="1.5.18" />
     <PackageReference Include="Markdig" Version="0.31.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.AspNetCore.SignalR" Version="1.1.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.AspNetCore.SignalR.Common" Version="8.0.3" />
     <PackageReference Include="microsoft.extensions.configuration.abstractions" Version="8.0.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Logging" Version="7.0.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="RestSharp" Version="108.0.3" />
diff --git a/Management/SignalRHub.cs b/Management/SignalRHub.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5379340
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Management/SignalRHub.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.SignalR;
+
+public class SignalRHub : Hub
+{
+  public async Task SendMessage(string user, string message)
+  {
+    await Clients.All.SendAsync("ReceiveMessage", user, message);
+  }
+  public override Task OnConnectedAsync()
+  {
+    var connectionId = Context.ConnectionId;
+    // Store the connection ID for later use, e.g., in a database or in-memory store
+    return base.OnConnectedAsync();
+  }
+}