Wikipedia is to information seekers what porn is to pervs: an absolute essential. The on-line encyclopedia was founded in 2001 and now contains the expertise of hundreds of thousands of obsessed volunteer editors on everything from the Abu Dhabi Cycling Race to ZZ Top. Recently the site named its most prolific editor, Toronto’s own Craig Schiller (user name: Bearcat). We tracked him down to find out what fuels his fetish.

In your profile, you call yourself an underemployed, gay freelance writer of Franco-Ontarian stock who votes NDP, hangs out at the Church and Wellesley Timothy’s, doesn’t exercise enough, and has at least two pieces of body art. Anything else we should know about you?
Not really. I’m from Sudbury.

How many hours a day do you devote to Wikipedia?
About two to three hours. Up to 12 hours when I’m really into something.

Why do you love Wikipedia so much?
It’s the best way to keep track of the developing story. Last year, when that bridge collapsed in Minneapolis, someone had started a wiki page within five minutes of the news breaking. Wikipedia mobilizes hordes of people, all wanting to get it right.

Do you have any fortes, information-wise?
I do a lot of entries on Canadian fiction. I like Margaret Atwood, Michael Winter, Timothy Findley. Also alternative music—The Weakerthans and New Pornographers. I can’t stand dance anthems. I don’t like going to clubs much, which is why I have so much time for Wikipedia.

You have worked on almost 200,000 entries. Were you surprised to learn that you are the most prolific editor out there?
Totally. You just do little bits here and there and somehow they all add up. I started in 2004, so I’ve been at it longer than most.