Welcome to VanLUG, the Vancouver Linux Users Group!
The Vancouver Linux User Group, or VanLUG, is a non-profit association of computer professionals in the Greater Vancouver area. With over 1,000 members (as of December 2023), and is one of the largest such groups in the world. VanLUG focuses on promoting information and facts about Linux, the premier free operating systems. VanLUG is one of several active Linux user groups in North America.
While VanLUG provides a forum for technology professionals to meet and discuss issues pertaining to Linux and Open Source Software, the group is dedicated to helping newcomers to Linux to connect with people, companies and consultants in the Vancouver area who can assist them. To these ends, VanLug holds regular monthly meetings at various locations featuring guest speakers from both local and international companies speaking about Linux and related subjects.
The Purpose of Vanlug
We exist to fulfill the following mandates:
(a) To promote the use of GNU-Linux (aka LINUX), a freely distributable, UNIX-like operating system developed by Linus Torvalds and a team of International collaborators. Linux follows the ‘free, open source software’ (FOSS) principles created by Richard M. Stallman who headed the GNU project. We also promote other variants of Linux (called Distros) and other UNIX versions (like GNU, BSD, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, etc), by individuals, businesses, organizations, institutions, and others, particularly those in the Greater Vancouver Area and the Pacific North-West.
(b) To promote Free, Open Source and other software development models under which GNU-Linux and related software are being developed.
(c) To foster collaboration and cooperation between GNU-Linux / Unix users and developers, particularly those in the Greater Vancouver Area and the Pacific North-West.
(d) To provide a focus for GNU-Linux / Unix users and developers, particularly those in Greater Vancouver Area and the Pacific North-West.
(e) To organize events of various types in Greater Vancouver Area and the Pacific-North West, that promote the GNU-Linux / UNIX and related software and products to the larger community.
Current Team
As a registered non-profit society in British Columbia, VanLUG is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Elections are held annually at our AGM. New volunteers are always welcome. Please contact us.
Our current Board of Directors for 2024 is as follows:
President: Kim Kulak
Vice President: John Weintraub
Treasurer: Iain Kyte
Communications: Nestor Balce
Directors-at-Large:
Bill McGrath 
Jeff Wilkins
William Graham
Cecilia Vargas
Christopher Kilger
Rahul Khopkur
Vancouver Linux Users Group 