It’s official. PodCamp Montreal is a success. We had 384 participants on site, and 731 unique visitors checking out our live stream throughout the weekend. While our American friends were more likely to follow us on the livestream this year, we were thrilled to attract a greater number of locals to this year’s event, given that our mission is to encourage and promote the use of social media by Montrealers. Our schedule was nicely divided between French and English presentations, and the Montreal sun came out to grace us with its presence, which is always nice when you’re sitting on the great terrasse at l’UQAM’s Design School where PodCamp was held for a second consecutive year.

Bob Goyetche by Eva Blue

PodCamp Montreal is a labour of love that doesn’t happen overnight. The organising committee has been working tirelessly since spring on sponsorship, communications and logistics, not to mention climbing into bed together to produce a rockin’ promotional video. The sacrifices we make for social media!

It’s been great to get all your positive feedback and suggestions for next year. Thanks for coming, for supporting the development of social media in Montreal and hope to see you in 2010!

Here is your cheat sheet for the weekend’s event, beginning tonight. Enjoy!

Friday September 18^th

8 p.m. – La Quincaillerie, 980 Rachel Street East (corner Boyer)

9 p.m. – Tribute to Renée Wathelet at La Quincaillerie

Should you get a craving for poutine, check out La Banquise, 994 Rachel Street East. You’re sure to find a few friends trying out this Quebec delicacy at this 24-hour joint.

Saturday September 19^th

9 a.m. PodCamp Montreal registration opens

UQAM Design Centre
1440 rue Sanguinet

10 a.m. PodCamp Montreal sessions begin

12 p.m. Lunch break (check out the great restaurants in the area)

1:30 p.m. PodCamp Montreal afternoon sessions begin

4:30 p.m. PodCamp Montreal Day 1 sessions end

7:30 p.m. MolsonCoors PodCamp Montreal party at Oven Bar Piztro, 330 Saint Catherine Street East

Sunday September 20^th

9 a.m. PodCamp Montreal Day 2 registration opens

10 a.m. PodCamp Montreal sessions begin

12 p.m. Lunch break

1:30 p.m. PodCamp Montreal afternoon sessions begin

4:30 p.m. PodCamp Montreal ends

It’s Friday night, you’re in town and you want to get in the PodCamp mood? Come grab a beer, a martini or… a poutine at the PodCamp kick-off event!

Join us this Friday, September 18, at La Quincaillerie (Google Maps), 980 Rachel Street, East in Montréal.

Just next door you can find La Banquise, THE place to eat a Poutine in Montréal (The Travel + Leisure Magazine says it’s one of the world’s top 5 places to eat a snack under 5$ and we can only agree). By the way, the place is open 24/7.

The party starts around 8:00 P.M.

A special beer tasting event will be held at Ovën at 330 Ste-Catherine Street East (right across from UQAM) from 7:30 pm to midnight. The bar itself is open until they kick us out (which, in Montreal, means 3 a.m.)

Six Molson brands will be represented: Molson Ex, Molson Dry, Coors Light, Rickard’s White, Rickard’s Red and Creemore.

Attendees will receive four 5oz beer sampling tickets. A cash bar will also be available.

Molson Coors Canada is also providing bar grub and promotional items.

Make sure your hand is stamped at the PodCamp Montreal registration table Saturday – it’s your key to the evening’s events.

See you there!

This year, PodCamp Montreal sponsor Molson Coors Canada is organizing a social beer tasting event on Saturday night (September 19), after the day’s “formal” schedule is done, to make that experience even better.

More details soon but for now, pencil it into your calendars!

Don’t miss DJs Lada & Georges at Benelux (Google Maps) on Saturday night. Their set starts at 20:00 and you can subscribe to this event on Facebook. In the meantime, you can find out more about them by watching the following clip from Urler.tv :

Julien Smith introduce you to one of Quebec’s finest delicacies : Poutine! But before, he’ll show you the facility where PodCamp Montreal 2008 will be held at, and the bar for our Friday night party…

For beer-drinking, poutine-eating podcampers…

Whether you are an old-time Montrealer or visiting our city for the first time, join us the night before PodCamp Montreal to chat over drinks and try our national meal… Poutine!

Come join us at La Quincaillerie (Google Maps) on Friday, September 19th. The party starts at 9:00 pm and you can subscribe to this event on Facebook.