This Sunday January 24th, Podcamp Halifax 2010 will take place at the Alderney Gate Library in Dartmouth, NS.  It’s the second Podcamp to be held in the area, demonstrating social media is alive and growing in Atlantic Canada.

A “Podcamp” is a concept created by Christopher Penn and blogger/author Chris Brogan back in 2006.  It is a free, community-driven “unconference” (where attendees create the agenda and present topics) focused on new media.  The concept is very popular, and Podcamps have been held in many locations around the world ever since.

Last year, Halifax held the first Podcamp in the region, and the event was terrifically successful.  This year’s Podcamp looks to be just as good, judging by the fact it was “sold-out” weeks in advance (although it is free to attend, organizers need numbers for fire regulations). But also, since it’s free, some may decide at the last minute not to show up.  So it may be worth your while checking it out anyway.  You can add your name to the waiting list here.

The key factor in a Podcamp, to me, is the insights you glean from people in your “neighbourhood”.  There are no high-profile speakers conducting the sessions (apart from the lunchtime keynote guest), just a deep display of knowledge and talent from the area.  And the topics are varied and engaging.  So much so, you will likely want to be attending sessions that are running concurrently.  It’s handy, therefore, attendees are encouraged to exercise “the law of two feet” and move freely between sessions as they are being conducted.

My schedule will not permit me to attend this year, which is unfortunate, since I had such a good experience at the inaugural Podcamp Halifax last year.  Here’s a very brief clip from that event:

Podcamp Halifax is very well run, the hosts are exceptionally gracious, and I’m sure this year will be even better than last year.  My thanks to them for helping to spread the word about social media in Atlantic Canada.