Episode 580 WordCamp Canada with Dan Knauss and Troy Chaplin

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Show Summary

In this particular episode, Rob Cairns interviews Dan Knauss and Troy Chaplin about the upcoming WordCamp Canada event, also known as WordCamp A. The conversation covers various aspects of the event, including its new three-day format with an added contributor day, the keynote speakers Dave Winer and Evan Prodromou, and the diverse range of topics and workshops planned. The hosts also emphasize the community aspect of WordCamps, share travel tips for attendees, and discuss the future of WordCamp Canada.

Show Notes

What’s New at WordCamp Canada

• Contributor Day: A new, third day has been added to the event on Wednesday, October 15th.

• This day will be more than just tables for different contributor teams; it will have an educational focus with workshops and speakers.
• There will be a special, surprise keynote speaker for Contributor Day.
• The location is planned to be the Invest Ottawa Bayview Yards facility.

• Main Event Dates: The main event will follow on October 16th and 17th.
• Location: The main event will be held at Carleton University, a venue Troy is very familiar with from his time organizing WordCamp Ottawa. The university campus is known for its accessibility and beautiful river views.

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Keynote Speakers & Sessions

• Keynote Speakers:

• Dave Winer: Known for creating the RSS 2.0 protocol, he is a long-time advocate for the open web and interoperability.
• Evan Promo: An author and collaborator on the ActivityPub protocol, the open protocol for Mastodon and other federated social platforms.
• A third, surprise keynote speaker will be announced for Contributor Day.
• Sessions:

• The schedule is almost finalized, with 22 sessions and 24 speakers announced.
• The talks cover a broad range of topics, including business, AI, the open web, education, content, and accessibility.
• Some talks are hands-on workshops, encouraging attendees to bring their laptops and fix things on the spot.
• Accessibility:

• Accessibility is a major theme at the event, with Carleton University being a leader in the field.
• Discussions will extend beyond just websites to include documents, emails, and other digital content.

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Why You Should Attend

• The People: WordCamps are known for fostering a friendly community and creating lasting friendships.

• The “hallway track”—conversations and networking in between sessions—is often as valuable as the talks themselves.
• Attendees can connect with others in the Canadian WordPress community through the WPSlack.ca group.

• The Learning: The event offers high-quality talks and workshops, providing opportunities to learn new skills and discuss the future of the open web.
• Ottawa in October:

• The nation’s capital is a beautiful city to visit, especially during the fall when the leaves are changing.
• Suggested attractions include Parliament Hill, the Peace Tower, Gatineau Park, the War Memorial Museum, and the ByWard Market.
• Ottawa is physically accessible, with the O-Train providing direct access from the airport to hotels and the venue.
• Future of WCA: The organizing team is working to create a successful, mentor-driven event that can be easily handed off to a new team in a different city for future years.

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Important Details

• Website: For tickets and more information, visit canada.wordcamp.org/2025.
• Tickets: Tickets are $100 Canadian.
• Rob’s Podcast Project: Rob plans to record a special podcast at the event, interviewing attendees about their experience.