Dear Koha Community,
Just one month to go until the big day! Here in Montréal, summer vacation is coming to an end, the weather is slightly cooler and more bearable, and the new school year is starting. The KohaCon organizing team is hard at work fine-tuning the final details and completing all the remaining tasks before the big day. Here are a few important announcements as the event approaches.
A Sneak Peek at the Presentations
To give you a sneak peek of KohaCon24, we asked a few of our presenters to share a glimpse of what they’ll be presenting.
In this first video, Valerie Burnett, Data and Migration Librarian at ByWater Solutions, sums up her presentation “Reality vs the Search Index” and why she decided to talk about this exciting topic!
Stay tuned, more videos will be released in the coming weeks.
Registration for Cultural Activities
Registration for cultural activities is now open! You can sign up by logging into your account on the registration site, and if you are accompanied by family members or friends, you can add them as “guests” during registration. Visit the registration help page to learn how to register and add guests.
Some activities require payment in advance, which you can complete by credit card during registration. Other activities also have a fee, but the amount will depend on the number of participants. In these cases, payment will be calculated at the time of the activity and can be made in cash or by transfer. Finally, some activities are paid, but you will be able to purchase your ticket on-site just before the event.
Please note that some activities take place simultaneously, offering options suited to different tastes, fitness levels, and budgets.
Check out the program for the complete list of cultural activities offered to KohaCon participants during the cultural day.
There is also an “Off KohaCon” activity planned for the Sunday before the conference, for those arriving early. Québec City is a three-hour drive from Montréal, and Old Québec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll travel to Québec City in the morning, visit the Maison de la Littérature—a literary landmark in the city—and then tour Old Québec at our leisure. We’ll return the same day.
The team worked hard to find activities that are interesting and accessible to everyone. We hope you are as excited as we are about these opportunities and that you’ll enjoy discovering Montréal!
Get your KohaCon24 merch!
We’ve created beautiful KohaCon24 merch just for you. Preorder now through the registration website, and pick up your items along with your name badge at the event.
For logistical reasons, this merch is only available for in-person pick-up at KohaCon. If you’re attending online but have friends or colleagues coming in person, let us know, and we’ll pass your merch to them.
Call For Volunteers
As the event gets closer and things become more concrete, we start thinking about what needs to be done during the conference.
What to Do in Montréal
In addition to Wednesday’s cultural activities and the “Off KohaCon” visit to Quebec City, the KohaCon24 organization team has prepared several suggestions for things to do during your stay in Montreal.
Our Montréal Favourites
The organizing team has come together to share our favourite Montréal spots, from well-known haunts to hidden gems scattered across the city. When I (Caroline) asked each team member to pick just three of their top places, it turned out to be quite the challenge—most of us couldn’t resist expanding our lists beyond the original limit!
Montréal BINGO!
We’ve created a bingo card for you and your travel companions as a fun way to explore the city. It features some of Montréal’s iconic landmarks, common wildlife and objects, and a few harder-to-find items to keep things exciting! Feel free to use the bingo card however you like: you can print it out or save the image on your phone; circle or check off the things you spot, or take fun pictures or selfies with the items (but please don’t try to take a selfie with a squirrel!). You can aim for a classic bingo line, the four corners, complete the entire card, or just check off random items as you see them. It’s entirely up to you!
Other Things to Do
While planning the cultural day, we looked at numerous options for places to go and things to do. We thought it would be a waste not to use all this research, so here are some suggestions for activities to do in Montréal. Check out this list if you are staying a bit longer to soak up the vibes, or if family members or friends are coming along with you and need to explore the city while you are attending the conference. This is by no means exhaustive: Montréal is a vibrant and active city, with tons of things to do!
What to Pack for Montréal
Excited for the conference? We are too! To make sure you’re ready for anything, here’s a quick guide on what to pack. We can’t wait to see you there!
We look forward to seeing you soon!
The Kohacon24 organization team (Caroline, Eric, Marie-Luce, and Olivier)
