Talk:Wikimania 2009/Bids/Toronto

Bahen Centre technical contact

I can mediate with the "technical contact" for the Bahen Centre; I work at the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering which is a majority tenant of the Centre. I'm familiar with wireless coverage in the building (some is private departmental WLAN, while some public space has coverage by the UTORcwn campus network.) Any temporary eevent wireless should be planned to minimize interference with the two existing nets. I can bring a proposal to our department's technical group. Can someone from the bid team contact me about firming up what might be needed? Oh, yeah, and I'd love to help move the bid forward!Birdbrainscan 01:32, 23 October 2007 (UTC)

There's not much that we can do other than gathering contacts at this stage. Once if we do win the bid (hopefully), then we actually figure out everything. OhanaUnited^{Talk page} 15:17, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

Sorry for being late in here, I was on an unplanned wikbreak. I've actually touched base with the Bahen centre, and they were fully supportive of our 2008 bid. The chair of the facility has her term coming to an end, but really there is no reason why we can't keep this line of contact open and firm something up when the new Chair is announced. Historybuff 05:07, 1 December 2007 (UTC)

Exchange rates

The section on restaurants gives prices that sound right in CAD but appear to have gotten the exchange rates wildly wrong. I'll edit a bit to clean this up. In short, this month the CAD rose to pass parity with the USD for the first time in decades. This makes budgeting a lot simpler. Rates have been changing rapidly so it's hard to know where we'll be in 2009.Birdbrainscan 01:36, 23 October 2007 (UTC)

Yes, I did update the exchange rate few days ago but I might have missed a spot or two. Man, the loonie is rising so fast that it probably worth more in next summer. OhanaUnited^{Talk page} 13:57, 23 October 2007 (UTC)

Just an update for non-Canadians/currency trading buffs, the Canadian dollar is slightly under par with US dollar, making us an even more affordable destination. -- Zanimum 20:35, 15 December 2007 (UTC)

Carbon neutral?

Will the flights to it be carbon neutral? -- Jeandré, 2007-10-24t20:41z

Air Canada, the primary international carrier at Pearson, has a carbon offset program called "zerofootprint", that travellers can opt into. WestJet, the second largest Canadian airline, apparently provides offset for free, when they are booked through Offsetters. However, unless we find major sponsorship that can cover such costs, this will all remain the responsibility of the conference-goer.

We may ask an offset program or two to provide literature available at the conference. It would be prominently placed, but not given willy-nilly to everyone, as that just creates more waste.

However, the conference itself will aim to be as carbon neutral as possible. Our goal is secure enough funding that we can offset any waste created. However, we will attempt to create as little waste as possible in the first place.

To Toronto team: while we should keep environmental impact at the forefront at all times, note that Alexandria did not respond to this question, and I don't see any reference elsewhere to green matters. We certainly should make it a keep priority, but perhaps focus on it more closer to the deadline. -- Zanimum 18:54, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

Also of interest is our environmental awareness section. -- Zanimum 18:57, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

I think we can also talk about our recycling program. Not a lot of cities have such a comprehensive recycling system. OhanaUnited^{Talk page} 23:14, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

party ideas

• Royal Canadian Yacht Club
• Empress of Canada
• Japanese Cultural Center of Canada
• Casa Loma
• Liberty Grand
• Muzik
• Rosewater Supperclub
• St. Lawrence Hall (photo)
• The Carlu
• Polson Pier

Questions transfered

Done. -- Zanimum 22:30, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

Misleading "reference" on page

It should firstly be noted that although I live in Australia, I am not a supporter of the Brisbane bid (I'm at the other side of the country and would much rather see it in Melbourne). That being said, there is a reference on this page which, through positioning and confusing wording, implies that the rankings given are for the prestigious EIU annual survey, when in fact they are for the smaller and contested Mercer Group survey, which uses very different criteria. This information is not provided in the claim for neutral parties. The additional claim that "other Wikimania candidates don't rank" is polemical and false, as both Brisbane and Buenos Aires are ranked in the Mercer survey (32 and 79 respectively) as cited in the link (and as of today in the article), and the only other city, Karlsruhe, was excluded from the Mercer Group's criteria for assessment and hence could not be rated. Realistically, there is an undue weight given to the Mercer Group results which doesn't make sense - ironically, to use the EIU survey would benefit Toronto, which came 5th in that survey in 2007, and has no particular benefit for Brisbane, which did not place in the Top 10. I wish the Toronto bid well, but I would rather see it won in a fair contest. Orderinchaos 03:46, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

I've fixed it somewhat but am still unhappy about the undue weight issue. Orderinchaos 03:58, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

Final push

This is our last day (and last chance) to refine our bid. If you have any ideas, don't wait, add it in now. OhanaUnited^{Talk page} 06:14, 27 February 2008 (UTC)