Media Advisory - International Wikipedia conference "Wikimania" comes to Montreal

MONTREAL, Aug. 9, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Representatives of the media are invited to attend the opening ceremony of the main annual conference of Wikimania 2017, celebrating Wikipedia and its sister free knowledge projects, which will take place for the first time in Canada, in Montreal, from 11–13 August. Roughly 1,000 volunteers and free knowledge leaders from around the world will come together to discuss issues at the heart of the Wikimedia movement, report on new projects and initiatives, and exchange ideas.

The biggest Wiki gathering of the year, Wikimania 2017 is co-organized by Wikimedia Canada, the local Wikimedia affiliate organization of Canada, and the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that supports Wikipedia and several other Wikimedia free knowledge websites. Attendees will take part in sessions, trainings, presentations, workshops and more regarding the advancement of free knowledge, the role of academia, cultural institutions, technology in free knowledge, and privacy and digital rights. This year's conference will also present a unique opportunity for participants to engage in Wikimedia 2030: a global consultation to define Wikimedia's future role in the world.

For the full conference programme, please visit: Wikimania 2017-Programme

Who:
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia
Katherine Maher, Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation
Christophe Henner, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation
Harout Chitilian,Vice-president of the Executive Committee, City of Montreal
Maureen Clapperton, Director general of the National Library, BAnQ

When: August 11, 2017, at 9 am

Where: Centre Sheraton Montreal,1201, boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest, Level 4

What:
9 am to 9:30 am- Opening ceremony and remarks
9:30 am to 10:30 am- "Community and information in a partisan world" by Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia
10:30 am–Interview availability for media -- please send interview requests for Jimmy Wales, Katherine Maher, and Christophe Henner in advance to Helene Reeves [email protected].

Media representatives are welcome to attend other Wikimania keynotes and conference sessions from August 11 – 13. 

Wikimania 2017 press page: https://wikimania2017.wikimedia.org/wiki/Press

SOURCE Wikimania

and media registration for Wikimania 2017: Helene Reeves, Reeves & Associés, [phone], [email protected]; Juliet Barbara, [email protected]