{{coi|date=August 2016}} {{Infobox recurring event | name = <!--Uses page name if omitted--> | native_name = | native_name_lang = | logo = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | logo_size = | image = | image_size = | status = Active | frequency = <!-- Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-annually, Annually, Bi-annually, 2nd Tuesday of November, etc. --> | venue = | location = Vancouver, London, Ontario, Toronto, Calgary | country = Canada | years_active = 3 | founder_name = Khurram Virani, Jeremy Shaki | attendance = 500 per event | capacity = | area = web development, technology | activity = Website programming | sponsor = Telus, Microsoft, IBM<ref name="thehtml500">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehtml500.com/partners|title=The HTML500|publisher=thehtml500.com|accessdate=2015-05-25}}</ref> | website = {{URL|www.TheHTML500.com}} }}
'''The HTML500''' is a multi-city Canadian technology conference that teaches 500 attendees per event the basics of HTML and CSS programming.<ref name="techvibes">{{cite web|url=http://www.techvibes.com/blog/lighthouse-labs-bridges-digital-literacy-gap-with-html500-2015-12-30|title=Lighthouse Labs Bridges Digital Literacy Gap with HTML500 - Techvibes.com|publisher=techvibes.com|accessdate=2015-05-25}}</ref> Its goal is to promote web development and web programming literacy among Canadian youth, and open the doors for those who may be interested in pursuing careers in technology.<ref name="vancouversun">{{cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/business/HTML+Vancouver+free+coding+camp+attracts+plus+waitlist+combines+with+tech+fair/10752005/story.html|title=HTML 500: Vancouver's free coding camp attracts 2,000-plus on waitlist, combines with tech job fair|publisher=vancouversun.com|accessdate=2015-05-25}}</ref>
The HTML500 is Canada's largest educational technology event, having taught thousands of Canadians how to code since its inception.<ref name="vancouversun"/><ref name="techvibes2">{{cite web|url=http://www.techvibes.com/blog/vancouvers-tech-talent-crunch-2015-04-28|title=Vancouver's Tech Talent Crunch - Techvibes.com|publisher=techvibes.com|accessdate=2015-05-25}}</ref> Its annual events are held in four Canadian cities: Vancouver, Toronto, London, and Calgary. Event sponsors include IBM, Telus (a Canadian telecom giant), the British Columbia Government's Innovation Council, and Microsoft.<ref name="thehtml500a">{{cite web|title=The HTML500|url=http://www.thehtml500.com/cities/vancouver|accessdate=2015-05-25|publisher=thehtml500.com}}</ref><ref name="canadianbusiness">{{cite web|title=Free coding bootcamp HTML500 aims to fix Canada's tech skill shortage|url=http://www.canadianbusiness.com/technology-news/html500/|accessdate=2015-05-25|publisher=canadianbusiness.com|archive-date=2015-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525104252/http://www.canadianbusiness.com/technology-news/html500/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{Infobox event |title=HTML500 Calgary |image= |caption=The HTML500 conference in Calgary. }}
{{Infobox event |title=HTML500 Vancouver |image= |caption=The HTML500 conference in Vancouver. }}
== History ==
'''The HTML500''' was founded in 2013 by Canadian entrepreneurs Khurram Virani and Jeremy Shaki. Virani and Shaki are the co-founders of Lighthouse Labs, the largest Canadian coding bootcamp.<ref name="biv">{{cite web|url=https://www.biv.com/article/2015/5/hybrid-coding-boot-camp-aims-bring-global-tech-sec/|title='Hybrid' coding boot camp aims to bring tech sector to rural Canada {{pipe}} Technology {{pipe}} Business in Vancouver|publisher=biv.com|accessdate=2015-05-25}}</ref><ref name="thelondoner">{{cite web|url=http://www.thelondoner.ca/2015/01/09/the-html500-makes-london-stop-in-february|title=The HTML500 makes London stop in February {{pipe}} Londoner|author=nurun.com|publisher=thelondoner.ca|accessdate=2015-05-25}}</ref> Lighthouse Labs acts as the official sponsor and parent company of the conferences. In an interview with BetaKit, Shaki said of the educational initiative, "It's about more people in Canada understanding the value of digital literacy. It's about trying to get our governments and other major Canadian institutions involved in the conversation."<ref name="betakit">{{cite web|url=http://betakit.com/the-html500-is-more-than-another-learn-to-code-event-2/|title=The HTML500 is More Than Another Learn to Code Event {{pipe}} BetaKit|publisher=betakit.com|accessdate=2015-05-25}}</ref>
In 2014, the event expanded to three additional Canadian cities: Calgary, Toronto, and London.
The second annual event in Vancouver had over 2500 applicants, of which the official 500 were selected through a lottery process.<ref name="globalnews">{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/1791427/html500-teaches-basics-of-coding-opens-doors-to-b-c-s-tech-sector/|title=HTML500 teaches basics of coding, opens doors to B.C.'s tech sector - BC {{pipe}} Globalnews.ca|publisher=globalnews.ca|accessdate=2015-05-25}}</ref> Over half of the attendees were women.<ref name="vancouversun"/> Beginning with the second Vancouver event, the Vancouver Economic Commission began running a career fair in tandem with the day's activities to further provide career resources to aspiring web developers.<ref name="cbc">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/html500-coding-class-prepares-calgarians-for-booming-tech-sector-1.2939763|title=HTML500 coding class prepares Calgarians for booming tech sector - Calgary - CBC News|publisher=cbc.ca|accessdate=2015-05-25}}</ref>
The multi-city events are routinely covered on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television network.<ref name="cbc"/>
== Event activities ==
Each event is designed to host 500 attendees. In each city, 50 local technology companies are chosen to help participate by managing and providing teaching assistance at one of the event's 50 attendee roundtables. All the partners and local community members who participate in the event donate their time voluntarily, as the event is a not-for-profit, and there is no entry charge.<ref name="betakit"/>
Each event begins with a keynote speech plus an educational crash course taught by a notable member of the Canadian technology industry. Attendees are then provided with reference materials to assist them in the second phase of the schedule: building a website from scratch.<ref name="globalnews"/> By the end of the seven-hour schedule, it is the conference's goal to have removed the attendees' intimidation associated with programming, and to give them the confidence and resources needed to continue their web development learning if they choose to do so.<ref name="thelondoner"/>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.thehtml500.com/ Official Site] *[http://www.awwwards.com/developer/ Developer Awards]
{{DEFAULTSORT:HTML500}} Category:Recurring events established in 2013 Category:Technology conferences Category:Business conferences Category:International conferences in Canada