Just a few short months after the launch of the image-hosting website Flickr in 2004, Western posted its first photo – a simple shot of the Physics & Astronomy building.
Flash forward a decade, and with the help of almost 700 students, staff and faculty, Western’s Flickr site, flickr.com/groups/western, now boasts more than 7,300 photos highlighting the faces, places, events and happenings across campus.
While other photo- and video-sharing sites, such as Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, have sprung up since, it was the introduction of Flickr that spurred Western to enter the social media space and begin showing itself off to the world.
“Flickr was the first real social network we took up 10 years ago,” said Mathew Hoy, senior web designer in the Department of Communications and Public Affairs. “I’ve always been impressed with Flickr’s ability to organize and share photos. Since we started using it, we’ve featured photos from others on the Western homepage.
“It’s been a great way to come together to share the Western Experience amongst members of the community.”
If you have images to show off, share them with the world at flickr.com/groups/western. The page is easily accessed via the bottom right off the university’s homepage, uwo.ca.