The #1Lib1Ref campaign is now in its 9th year! Wikimedia Canada invites you to participate in the Canadian #1Lib1Ref competition running from January 15th to February 5th, 2026.
Wikipedia is the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. To make sure that Wikipedia articles contain credible information, contributors have to include citations to reliable sources when they add new information. Many Wikipedia articles lack sources or have sources that ae outdated.
The goal of the #1Lib1Ref campaign is to encourage information professionals, like librarians, to contribute at least one reference to an article on Wikipedia to help improve Wikipedia's reliability and verifiability.
Wikidata is another Wikimedia project that relies on references to ensure verifiability. Due to the popularity of adding references to Wikidata in 2025, we decided to make this a larger part of the #1Lib1Ref contest in 2026.
Who can participate?
Any self-identified library workers or enthusiasts based in Canada are eligible to participate in the 2026 Canadian contest.
If you would like to contribute to a language version of Wikipedia other than French or English, please email the organizers so we can make sure your edits are tracked in the dashboard
Add a citation to a Wikipedia article. To find articles that need citations you can:
Organizing a Coffee Hour event with your colleagues is a great way to get some editing done. Do not hesitate to contact our team; we can help you.
Rules
You must be a registered user on Wikipedia or Wikidata;
You must be based in Canada;
If you have won the first place prize for a contest organized by Wikimedia Canada within the last five years, you are ineligible for the first place prize for the 2026 Canadian #1Lib1Ref contest
Events
Help
For any questions, please contact Chelsea Chiovelli, head of the #1Lib1Ref in Canada campaign, at the following email address: infowikimedia.ca.
First place: A full scholarship to attend WikiConference North America 2026 in Edmonton, Alberta. This will cover the cost of registration, travel, and accommodation during the conference.
Second place: $100 CAD giftcard to a local book store
Third place: $75 CAD giftcard to a local book store
Contributors who add or improve at least 3 citations to Wikipedia will receive a barnstar from Wikimedia Canada
Wikidata contribution prizes
First place: A full scholarship to attend WikiConference North America 2026 in Edmonton, Alberta. This will cover the cost of registration, travel, and accommodation during the conference.
Second place: $100 CAD giftcard to a local book store
Third place: $75 CAD giftcard to a local book store
