On July 23rd, 2011 Ottawa’s most connected and knowledgeable social media experts will gather for a one-day conference at the University of Ottawa. Social Capital is Ottawa’s first social media conference to bring together the wealth of talent and experience that exists within the Ottawa social media community.

“This is a conference for everyone,” says Andrea Tomkins, local blogger at (quietfish.com) and member of the Social Capital Conference organizing committee. “Social media is everywhere, and it’s not going away. If you want to see how social media is integrated in every day life and figure out if it’s for you, then this is the place to be.”

The Social Capital Conference will cover a wide variety of topics for everyone – whether you’re just starting out in social media or an active user for years. This conference is designed for people who use social media for personal or business reasons. It will be a place to connect with like-minded people who understand what your love of social media is all about.

The sessions will be split into three main streams:

Fundamental –This stream is ideal for the social-media user who is looking to learn new skills, and learn about the latest programs that can help build their online brand. Topics in this stream will include writing, monetization as well as an introduction to new online tools.

Advanced – The advanced stream is suited for those looking to take things one step further. You understand how social media works, but are looking for ways to take it to the next level. Topics covered in this stream will include social media for social change, social media strategies, and trends in social media.

Business – Whether you are running a small business or working within a large organization, this stream will shed some light on social media topics from a business perspective. Participants will learn about creating a social workplace, metrics, and the best online tools to use from a business standpoint.

Participants will be able to choose the stream they want to attend. Social Capital is encouraging the law of two feet! If you aren’t getting what you need from one session, participants are welcome to join another.

With an impressive line up of local speakers and panel experts, from blogger Brie McManus of Ottawa’s Capital Mom blog (CapitalMom.ca) to CEO of SWIX (swixhq.com), Scott Lake, attendees will be lead through sessions of in-depth social media education from a range of perspectives. Sessions will cover topics such as Social Change through Social Media, Social Media Trends for Business, and Blog Monetization. The keynote address will be given by Glen Gower, founder of OttawaStart (OttawaStart.com) will speak about Ottawa’s online community.

The Social Capital Conference is the brainchild of social media strategist Lara Wellman, she thought up the concept en route home from attending her first major social media conference – BlogHer 2010 in NYC.

“The social media community in Ottawa is so vibrant and strong. Groups of us were traveling to conferences in other cities to learn and grow our skills,” says Lara.  “We knew we needed something right here where we could come together and share our knowledge with each other.”