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!

Those of you who are still beating yourselves up over having missed a great presentation might be in luck. Laurent Maisonnave and his band of merry men, Christian Aubry et Guillaume Marin, have made video archives available for your viewing pleasure. Two of the four rooms were documented, so head over to Ustream to relive the PodCamp Montreal 2009 magic.

It should tide you over until next year.

Photo courtesy of Marko Kulik

Bottom : Jean-François Blais, Julien Smith, Michelle Sullivan, Sylvain Grand’Maison
Top : Laurent LaSalle, Hugh McGuire, Bob Goyetche
Absent : Laurent Maisonnave, Mitch Joel and Harold Boeck

We were also very lucky to be supported by volunteers, including students from Harold’s University of Sherbrooke class, Ile sans fil who provided the wifi, Christian Aubry and Manuel Angelini who, along with Laurent Maisonnave, were behind the camera for our live streaming, and Marko Kulik and Eva Blue, who were our official photographers.

Finally, thanks to all of you for making this inaugural event a big success. See you next year!