Article written by Bukky658 – this event was supported by Wikimedia Canada’s micro grant program

On 8 February 2026, the Moncton Wiki Club hosted Wikipedia @25 in Moncton, a four-hour in-person event that brought together community members to learn, edit, and celebrate Wikipedia’s 25th birthday. Held at 125 Rotary Lodge Lane in Moncton, New Brunswick, the event welcomed 18 participants, including 15 first-time editors, marking an important milestone for Wikimedia outreach in Atlantic Canada.

The event was designed as both an awareness campaign and a hands-on introduction to Wikipedia for newcomers. Participants were guided through an interactive learning session covering common misconceptions about Wikipedia, the structure of a Wikipedia article, and the principles that guide content creation. Many attendees were surprised to learn that Wikipedia articles are not original research but are built from reliable secondary sources and that the platform is supported by a global community of editors, reviewers, and administrators working to prevent vandalism and maintain quality.

A practical demonstration followed, where participants learned how to set editing preferences and make minor but impactful contributions such as proofreading text, adding wikilinks, and improving citations. To reinforce these skills, the session included a short editathon, allowing participants to immediately apply what they had learned. Although time constraints limited the depth of editing, the Outreach Dashboard recorded edits to two articles with 46 words added, with tracking continuing until 15 February.

To keep the session engaging and accessible, the event blended learning with celebration. A quiz activity using Kahoot helped measure participants’ understanding and attentiveness, while music from a live DJ and a Wikipedia @25 cake cutting added a festive atmosphere. This mix of education and celebration helped create a welcoming environment, especially for participants who had never edited Wikipedia before.

One of the key lessons from organizing this activity was the value of in-person engagement for new contributors. Participants expressed a strong preference for longer, face-to-face sessions that allow more time to practice editing and ask questions. The event also highlighted the importance of preparing participants ahead of time, particularly encouraging account creation and dashboard enrollment in advance to avoid technical challenges such as IP blocks. Additionally, tailoring training methods to different levels of digital comfort, especially for older participants, proved essential.

As the first Wikimedia-focused in-person event of its kind in Atlantic Canada, Wikipedia @25 in Moncton helped expand the reach of the Wikimedia movement into a new region. Beyond introducing participants to editing, the event empowered community members to see themselves as creators of knowledge rather than passive consumers. By equipping new editors with practical skills and confidence, the Moncton Wiki Club is laying the groundwork for sustained local participation and future community-led Wikimedia activities.

Photo credit: Bukky658