This is the part where I’d write about Sticker Giant and how awesome they are and how they stick with us year after year. But to be frank, they already have a YouTube channel with some videos that do an excellent job telling you about themselves. I’m just going to link you to those. I’m sure you’ll see for yourself that they are really nice people.
Thanks for your sponsorship, Sticker Giant! You put the “oooohhh” in “glue”!
My first introduction to Jeff Archibald, co-founder of Paper Leaf Studios, was at Edmonton’s first WordCamp in 2011. He was one of the organizers and did a talk called “Typography and the State of the Web Today”. He was clearly a talented and experienced designer, and I got my first taste of the importance of typography.
Still going and growing half a decade later, WordCamp Calgary is proud to have Jeff back as a speaker in 2016. He previously appeared as a speaker in one of our sessions in 2012. We’re also very grateful to have his Edmonton-based design firm, Paper Leaf, as one of our sponsors for 2016.
You should definitely have a visit to Paper Leaf’s website. They have a number of nicely laid-out case studies in web design, app design, and more that talk about projects that they’ve worked on, the challenges each one presented, and how they met those challenges. They also highlight key project features.
We asked our sponsors to answer a number of questions. Here are some of Paper Leaf’s answers:
If Paper Leaf was a superhero, what would its super power be?
We’d basically be the superhero that swoops in, eats a remarkable amount of pastries, and then has to leave to have a nap because sugar. Didn’t say we’d be a good superhero.
What one key characteristic sets Paper Leaf apart from others in its industry?
We are definitely the only design & technology shop with a lot of tattooed white guys who wear plaid and black-rimmed plastic glasses. (I can attest to this. I don’t think there exists another shop anywhere that fits that description. -JS)
What three values are most important to the culture at Paper Leaf?
First is to put out remarkable work – that is, work that is worth making a remark. Second, have some damn fun while you do it and don’t take yourself too seriously. Third: alway ask how we can make something better.
How old is Paper Leaf’s oldest employee? How young is the youngest Paper Leaf employee?
Our oldest employee is Adam, a Project Manager, at 36 years old. Our youngest is Nathan, a developer, at 21 years old. Listening them talk about music is hilarious, and not only because Adam has to set aside his walker and turn up his hearing aid. (As someone who has been both 21 and 36, I’d make a comment, but my hip hurts. Thankfully, my Generation X vinyl collection gets me through it. -JS)
We’re grateful to have Paper Leaf’s support for WordCamp Calgary 2016. It’s because of generous sponsors like this that we’re now up to our fourth annual ‘Camp.
I leave you with the video suggested by Paper Leaf in response to our question, “What is Paper Leaf’s favourite YouTube video that is 20 seconds or less?” (Noting that this plaid-wearing, rule-breaking sponsor nominated a video that is 25 seconds long.
As the organizing team puts together the final details in regards to WordCamp Calgary 2016, we wanted to share with all our out of town guests some good news. With many of you coming to WordCamp from outside of Calgary, the organizing team has secured a preferred hotel rate for out-of-towners.
The Day’s Inn Calgary South on McLeod Trail (3828 Macleod Tr S) has agreed to give guests a preferred rate for the weekend. If you use the booking code WordCamp when booking your room you will get a discount. Our preferred rate is 6% off the rack rate. Rooms with two double beds will be available for $94 plus tax. For the first few attendees who call and reserve, they’ll actually give you an extra discount, and you’ll pay only $84 plus tax. Once those $84 rooms are gone, though, they’re gone. So get booking!
On behalf of the organizing team for the 2016 ‘Camp, we’re pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale.
We are also especially pleased to announce our first set of speakers. So far, we have five confirmed speakers, with several others to be confirmed soon. We have speaking alumni returning this year, including Dana DiTomaso (2013) and Russ Fee (2015). Joining them on the docket are three speakers who will be presenting at WordCamp Calgary for the first time–David Andrew Wiebe, Christine Varro, and Aurooba Ahmed.
Please stay tuned, as we’ll be announcing our next batch of speakers soon, and are likely to begin getting our session descriptions up over the next few days.
See you at ‘Camp!
We are so pleased to officially announce that WordCamp Calgary 2016 will be on May 28 and May 29, 2016.
For 2016, we decided to go with a theme, and that theme is… MUSIC!
Why music? 2016 is the year of music in Calgary. Mayor Nenshi officially proclaimed it so.
Here are a few reasons why 2016 is the Year of Music in Calgary:
We decided to jump on the music train because, in this modern era, technology is as much a part of music as any stringed instrument. Whether an artist is selling their music online, whether you’re looking for upcoming bands visiting Calgary, or whether you’re a musician who is just trying to get your name out there, communication on the Web is vital to pretty much everything in music.
As we craft the speaker schedule for this year, we are going to be mindful to include lots of content that is directly applicable to music in one way or another. But fret not, ye who are not musicians, it will all be broadly applicable. Whether you are a small business owner, a pro developer, a blogger, or you fill any other role, our sessions will be just as relevant to you as they have in all of our past years.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for announcements about when tickets will be on sale (it’ll be in April), who our speakers will be, and watch as the list of sessions fills with exciting, informative, and educational talks.
WordCamp Calgary is over. Check out the next edition!