The Schedule

January 1, 2010 | Posted in Blog |

32 Comments

The schedule is coming together really nicely. We have all but a couple of speakers confirmed. Thank you to all who applied – we had nearly 100 speaker applications! WOW! We did our best to select speakers who have unique experiences and insight that will reach the attendees the best.

SATURDAY
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.	Networking Breakfast
10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.	Welcome and housekeeping
10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.	Session 1 - Blogging and Social Media with Jeremy Wright
10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	Break
11:00 a.m. - 11:05 a.m.	Success Story 1
11:05 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.	Session 2 - WordPress Strategy for Nonprofit Organizations with Richard Mitchell of Georgetown University
11:35 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.	Music/DJ
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.	Session 3 - Duncan from Digital Deceptions
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.	Lunch
1:30 p.m. - 1:35 p.m.	Success Story 2
1:35 p.m. - 2:05 p.m.	Session 4 - WordPress for Newbies with Kathryn Presner and Shannon Smith
2:05 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.	Break
2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.	Session 5 - CMS and MU discussion
2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.	Music/DJ
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Session 6 - Writing for Multiple Blogs with Mark Evans
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.	Wine & Cheese
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.	Busses return to downtown Toronto, etc.
6:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.	After party @ Fionn MacCool's - 235 Bloor Street East
SUNDAY
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.	Welcome & Announcements
9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.	Demo with Paul Bearne
9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.	Video Presentation
9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.	Session 8 - SEO with Brad Gosse
10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	Break
10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	Session 9 - Blogging at the Core of Brand Building with Michael Banovsky
11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.	Music/DJ
11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.	Session 10 - Blogging for Business with George O'Neill
11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.	Closing remarks
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.	Buses return

32 Comments to “The Schedule”

January 5, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Zack says:

Could we possibly get more information on what the sessions are going to be?
January 5, 2010 at 8:58 pm
admin says:

We’re still firming up many of the speakers but we will update it as we confirm times.
January 6, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Craig says:

Any plan to have multiple streams, to allow folks to focus on their interests? (eg. designers, programmers, bloggers, new users, etc)
January 6, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Mathieu Yuill says:

Hi Craig, thanks for your question.

We played with the idea of having multiple streams in 2008 and again this year. Ultimately we decided against it for a few reasons two of which being in our exit surveys in 2008, a very small per centage of people responded they would prefer multiple streams the other being we focus on getting the best speakers that appeal to the WordPress community as a whole and multiple streams would dilute the pool.
January 6, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Lucas Cobb says:

I agree with Mathieu, a little taste of everything seems like the best medicine. Though streams would help individuals focused on one nitch, it might be hard to fill up a day and a half worth of topics in one specific stream.
January 7, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Len says:

I have done a couple websites using WordPress, one for a photographer with a shopping cart from PayPal, and one so I can post some of my pictures.

I used to do some coding on mainframes, and used Basic and some Clist and various languages. But nothing too heavy, i.e. I never held the title “programmer”. And I don’t know php, although I was able to muddle through some of just looking at it’s structure, and perusing an O’Reilly book certainly didn’t scare me, it aroused my interest actually.

I am interested in learning more about how to implement WordPress to build websites, I guess using it mainly as a CMS, but don’t know if the WordCamp is a good use of my time.

What do you think? Is it worth it?
Thinking about Toronto in March…
January 7, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Cindi says:

Len,
I attended NYC in November. I had been using WP for three years as a blogger, but I used pre-existing themes. I wanted my very own. I started tinkering in October. Attending WordCamp was the best thing I did, which is why I am here trying to figure out how to make it to Canada. It wasn’t so much that I learned how to do stuff, I learned what stuff could be done — something that could have taken me months or years to experience on my own. Little things were the biggest thing for me. I used jquery to add and “-” in front of subcategories so I could reduce the amount of indent in the sidebar but still make it readable. Prior to WordCamp, I would have gone into each subcategory and added “-” to the description. I went home with a bag of new tools. All I had to do was to figure out how to use them.
January 7, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Mathieu Yuill says:

@Len There is going to be a session on using WordPress as a CMS and there is also a session on using WordPress to build a business Web site. Those two would probably fit the bill for you.
January 20, 2010 at 10:36 pm
Robbie says:

Still trying to create my first business like web site for my own use. Would the camp be good for me or will it be to far over my head for a self learner?
January 21, 2010 at 6:02 am
Mathieu Yuill says:

@Robbie – this would be a great conference for you to attend. We actually have one session called “WordPress for Newbies” We also have a few sessions that talk about building your WordPress site and one specifically on branding.
January 29, 2010 at 9:48 am
Shawn says:

There appears to be an error on the from page for the “The Schedule” frame. Possibly something to do with the PHP code?

I already use WordPress for my business and built 8+ WordPress non-blogging websites. Is this event for me?
January 31, 2010 at 1:58 am
Mathieu Yuill says:

@Shawn,

We’ve received feedback from users of all skill levels that these types of conferences are great experiences. Some people attend and take away lots from the sessions themselves from a very entry level point of view while others, typically those more experienced, leave the conference with those one or two great tips that help them solve an advanced problem they’ve been working on or a best practice they hadn’t come across.

In addition, the networking opportunities are outstanding and it could be argued the $35 registration fee is worth it for that alone.

And don’t worry – your 8+ WordPress non-blogging builds won’t make you the veteran at this conference – you’ll have lots of people around you you can learn from.
February 1, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Brad Gosse says:

Looking forward to speaking about SEO and wordpress. Should be a fantastic event!
February 23, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Ilse Dyck says:

Hi
This comment is mostly for Shawn, I have worked for over 2 years at Relish Design studio customizing and styling wordpress sites for our clients. I’ve used hundreds of plugins and customized logins, databases and forums and themes and core files…
I attended wordcamp last year and was still learning new things. I plan to come back this year and hopefully learn more new tricks. It’s worth it even if a few speakers are targeting the first time bloggers.

http://www.relishdesign.ca/
http://www.catchup.ca/
March 13, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Gary Grant says:

It is going to be tight for me, as all 3 of my kids have end of season activities that I can’t miss.

That said, I am a long time WP user and have recently become a huge Thesis advocate and I have never been to a Wordcamp. I’m going to try to get to some sessions.
March 15, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Shawn says:

@Ilse Dyck. Great thanks. I’ll be there.
March 16, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Bart says:

Hey everyone… very exciting event yet I’ll be out of the country and cannot attend!!! Bummer! Next year for sure.

We’ve actually just scheduled two WordPress training courses which will be held downtown Toronto at CSI (Center for Social Innovation) if anyone is interested head over to ITSocialTraining.com or email me at Bart@WebCultured.com

We’re going to see if we can let more people know through this site but in the mean time enjoy!
March 23, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Justin says:

This will be my first WordCamp experience and I’m coming from Michigan! Hope to learn lots of new things. This is one of 3 this year I am planning. Chicago in June and Detroit in Oct. Still learning Wordpress and in a frenzy to finish my website. See you all there!
March 24, 2010 at 7:17 am
Kari says:

Is it me or do the speakers seem more geared towards content publishers? I was hoping for a more technical track for WordPress developers.
March 24, 2010 at 10:52 am
Stephan Bevan says:

Hey thanks for letting me know about the event Brad. I will try to make it and look forward to hearing you speak.
March 25, 2010 at 12:16 am
Clarence Johnson says:

My ticket has been purchased … looking forward to this WordCamp.
March 25, 2010 at 1:10 am
Mathieu Yuill says:

The theme we tried to go after this year was one that would open up anyone’s eyes to the role WordPress plays in social media. There wasn’t a conscience decision to gear it towards content publishers but you’re right, there isn’t as much technical as there has been in the past.
March 26, 2010 at 5:23 am
Ara Jaingue says:

I am a newbie when it comes to blogging, but I love social media/ networking so I don’t want to be left behind. I also have started my own blog but I am yearning to learn more. This will be my first Wordcamp event, and I hope I’ll learn and obtain all the tools I need to be a better blogger! Looking forward to network with other bloggers!
March 26, 2010 at 6:42 am
Friday Fix March 22 - 26 says:

[...] years WordCampTO is at the Centennial College Student Centre. Be sure to check out the schedule, Andrew and myself will be attending Saturday, unfortunately we wont be able to attend [...]
March 26, 2010 at 10:05 pm
George O'Neill says:

Really looking forward to WordCamp this weekend! See you all in the morning.
March 27, 2010 at 11:32 am
Ellen says:

Is this event being video streamed?
March 27, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Mathieu Yuill says:

Sorry, it’s not.
March 27, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Caitlin says:

Darn, I wasn’t able to make it after all.

What are the Twitter hashtags (or lists) for this event, so w can follow what people are commenting on Twitter?
March 27, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Dave Carlson says:

twitter hastags look to be #wcto2010
March 28, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Jake says:

Hey guys. Great time this weekend. Just one question, what plugin (if any) did you use for the “Sharing is caring” social links toolbar for the posts on this page?
March 28, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Kathryn Presner says:

Hey Jake – I took a peek at the code and the social-bookmarking plug-in they’re using looks like SexyBookmarks – here’s the link: http://www.sexybookmarks.net/
March 29, 2010 at 11:00 am
Jake says:

Thanks Kathryn. After I posted I thought to do the same and figured it out. Those are some sexy bookmarks!