Troy Chaplin has been building with WordPress at Carleton University for more than 16 years. Through multiple redesigns and evolving development practices, he and his team have shaped it into a powerful enterprise CMS.
And it’s been quite a ride, as you’ll see in Our WordPress Journey: 15 Years of Innovation at Carleton University It’s a tour of nearly two decades of lessons learned, from classic themes to modern block-based architecture and a custom React component library.
Were there bumps on the way? Of course! But rest assured everyone got to the future, safe and sound.
Troy on the Socials
- Website: troychaplin.ca
- GitHub: troychaplin
- BlueSky: @troychaplin.bsky.social
- Twitter: @troychaplin
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/troychaplin
Give Troy a follow, and don’t miss his talk this October in Ottawa! 🍁
And now for something a little Canadian 🇨🇦
What comes to mind when you think of Canada?
“The land. While we have some beautiful, clean cities, the true beauty of our country shines once you leave the city and explore small towns, camping areas, and backroads. I’ve seen a lot of this on the East Coast, and one day I’d love to travel further west and experience the landscapes out there.”
Favourite Canadian artist?
“It’s a toss-up between Propagandhi and The Tragically Hip. I grew up a big punk fan, but it’s hard not to love the Hip around here. Honourable mentions that often show up in my playlists include Our Lady Peace, I Mother Earth, and Barenaked Ladies.”
Canadian food to try in Ottawa?
“One of my favourites is a lesser-known Newfoundland twist on classic poutine called Fries, Dressing, and Gravy. Instead of cheese curds, it uses dressing, essentially baked stuffing, and it’s delicious.”A singer or athlete (or other) you associate with Canada?
“Todd McFarlane. Like a lot of kids, I was a huge comic book fan and loved recreating panels from my favourite books. I even painted a six-foot-tall Spider-Man on the wall of our computer room as a teen. Todd’s art style helped redefine comic art and inspired a new generation of artists, including me. He studied graphic arts, and that’s what I chose to study as well.”