Episode 534 Word Camp Canada With Dan Knauss

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Show Summary

This audio recording is an episode of the SDM show hosted by Rob Cairns, featuring an interview with Dan Knauss, an organizer of WordCamp Canada. They discuss the upcoming 2024 event, scheduled for October 16-17 in Ottawa at Carleton University, with a potential contributor day. The conversation covers the theme centered around youth, campus life, and reinvention, as well as calls for volunteers and speakers. They also touch on the importance of community building within the Canadian WordPress ecosystem and opportunities for sponsorships.

Show Notes

Show Notes: WordCamp A 2025 with Dan Knauss

Host: Rob Cairns

Guest: Dan Knauss

Introduction:

• Rob welcomes Dan Knauss, an organizer of WordCamp A.
• They discuss the upcoming WordCamp A 2025.

WordCamp A 2025 Details:

• Dates: October 16-17, 2025 (with a potential contributor day if sponsorship allows).
• Location: Carleton University, Ottawa, specifically Richcraft Hall.
• The venue is a modern, green building located by the river and close to the train and downtown.
• Rob highlights Ottawa as a great city to visit, encouraging attendees to extend their stay.
• Dan mentions enjoying the ByWard Market and its unique bars and rooftop venues.
• Rob suggests visiting Parliament Hill and the Peace Tower for excellent city views.

Community and Continuity:

• Dan emphasizes the importance of continuity in WordCamp organization.
• The goal is to create a sustainable model to help future WordCamps, potentially on the West Coast or other locations.
• They discuss the challenges of rebuilding community post-COVID.
• They mention the WordPress Canada Slack (wpslack.ca) as a central hub for the community.
• Gregory Hammond is mentioned for his work on job listings within the Canadian WordPress community.

Theme and Volunteers:

• The theme of WordCamp A 2025 is “young people and return to campus,” focusing on reinvention and innovation.
• A formal call for volunteers will be published on April 1st, but volunteers are welcome anytime.
• Translation, especially for French language materials, is a priority.
• Aliana Barrera is working on the design and logo.

Sponsorship and Speakers:

• Sponsorship outreach is underway, with a focus on building relationships.
• Local Canadian sponsors are being prioritized.
• There’s also interest in reaching out to non-traditional WordPress companies like Dribbble and Adobe.
• The call for speakers is targeted for around April 15th.
• Speaker topics should relate to education, learning, innovation, and a campus context.
• The venue is noted for its accessibility.

Venue and Attendance:

• Hotel arrangements are still in progress, with a focus on finding accommodations closer to downtown.
• Last year’s attendance was around 300.
• The venue can accommodate up to 500, but they are happy to reach the 300 range again.
• The date shift from July to October was to allow more planning time and avoid conflicts with other events and vacation schedules.
• Ottawa is highlighted as being beautiful in October.

Finding More Information:

• Website: canada.wordcamp.org/2025
• WordPress Canada Slack: wpslack.ca

Closing:

• Rob and Dan express their enthusiasm for the upcoming WordCamp A 2025.
• They encourage people to participate and contribute to the Canadian WordPress community.