Les sans pagEs Montréal Collective  – a successful launch!

Article written by Rose Henriquez, Élise Anne Basque and Marie D. Martel – This event received a Wikimedia Canada micro grant.

The launch of Les sans pagEs in Montréal took place on August 20th, at the Centre Saint Pierre. This first activity took the form of a workshop introducing the gender gap. In the spirit of celebrating Pride Month, the collective chose queer women as the main theme of the event. 

A total of 13 people participated; among them, four had never contributed to Wikipedia before and appreciated their introduction to the local Wikimedia community. 

The workshop, which was preceded by a festive moment of socializing, presented the mission of the international Les sans pagEs movement, as well as the vision of the Montréal chapter. There was a particular focus on the chapter’s desire to create collaborations with cultural, community, and knowledge based organizations. Addressing inequalities of representation on Wikipedia through an intersectional lens was also emphasized. 

We also introduced our partner, the Lesbian Network of Quebec, their mission, and their work. They were especially helpful in curating the articles to create and edit during the event. Wikimedia Canada, which financially supported our event, was also well represented : we had the privilege of welcoming its president, Michael D. Miller, whose presence underscored the importance of this initiative.  

Finally, exchanges among participants fostered networking and the possibility of future collaborations with members of various organizations in attendance. The group dynamic was particularly positive; the discussions were rich, and the friendly atmosphere encouraged engagement. The chosen format, combining a theoretical introduction, and a hands-on practice, worked well. This was especially true for the beginners, who were able to make their first contributions without pressure. 

In our view, the activity achieved its goals: it helped establish an initial core group of people interested in continuing the experience and supporting the collective in its future projects. 

To conclude, we would like to once again thank the Les sans pagEs movement, as well as its founder Natacha, especially for her generous training and support. We would also like to thank the Lesbian Network of Québec, and Wikimedia Canada for their financial support, which made this workshop possible. 

Photo credit: Lilcyborg – CC0