Wiki...and Hurricane Irene, Took Montreal; Wikipedia <3 Libraries

Wikipedia Takes Montreal[edit]

While the North American East Coast was bracing itself for Hurricane Irene, Montreal Wikimedians were putting the final touches on Wikipedia Takes Montreal. The event, which was held on August 28, drew the largest turn out for any Wiki Takes event in Wikipedia history: 112 people in 59 teams. Wikipedia Takes Montreal is based on the Wikipedia Takes Your City model, which "is a one-day wiki scavenger hunt and free content photography contest conducted in a particular locale, where participants compete to take photographs of as many local sights as possible for Wikipedia articles where they are needed." A special tool was created to facilitate the events, which provides contributors with a simple way to organize new photographs and upload them to Wikimedia Commons. The event takes it's name the song "First We Take Manhattan" by Montreal's own Leonard Cohen.

With only five hours to photograph 394 photo targets, the 59 teams racked up impressive numbers: over 5600 photographs. Hurricane Irene delivered 90 km/h winds and downpours. Regardless of the elements, these teams competed for over prizes: the top three teams would win CAD $300, and a jury would chose the best photograph of the day, awarding the winning photographer a $900 camera and their photo would be displayed on the front page of Wikipedia. Random prizes were also awarded to participants. Enjoy the hard wet effort of Wikimedians with in the dedicated Commons category here. A gallery of selected images also appears below.

Watch an audio slideshow for Wikipedia Takes Montreal from the Montreal Gazette here, featuring event organizer and Wikimedia Canada board member Antaya. The event was also previewed in other media outlets, including the Montreal Mirror, you can read the article here.

A little bit of everything was photographed at Wikipedia Takes Montreal, from windmills to firetrucks!

Maison de la culture de Rivière-des-Prairies
Moulin à vent de Pointe-aux-Trembles
Caserne de pompiers
Manoir Denis-Benjamin-Viger in Montréal
Vague Habitat 67 (surfeurs)
Jean-Drapeau (métro de Montréal)

Wikipedia Loves Libraries[edit]

October 2011 will serve as the first Wikipedia Loves Libraries event. Modeled on the success of the Great American Wiknic and the recent Edit-a-thon with the British Library, WLL will bring Wikipedians and librarians together to serve as a "living reference section," and to build article content related to library holdings. Events are scheduled to take place throughout North America, and perhaps beyond! Learn how you can participate here.

Next "Canada report" →