Digital Media Literacy Awards
As part of our 30th anniversary, MediaSmarts is proud to launch the inaugural Digital Media Literacy Awards, celebrating the people who are shaping a safer, more informed and inclusive media landscape across Canada.
We’re celebrating a youth and an educator who have made outstanding contributions to digital media literacy in Canada.
Winners will be recognized during Media Literacy Week (October 26–30, 2026), and will take part in a special event to celebrate MediaSmarts’ 30th anniversary in Ottawa on October 28, 2026.
Youth Leader Award
(ages 13–18)
This award celebrates a young person in Canada who puts digital media literacy into action—whether in their classroom, community, online spaces or through independent initiatives. From tackling misinformation to promoting digital well-being or creating original media, recipients demonstrate leadership, creativity and a strong sense of responsibility, highlighting the powerful role young people play in shaping a safer, more informed and inclusive media landscape across all forms of media.
Educator of the Year Award
(K–12)
This award honours a K-12 educator in Canada whose extraordinary commitment to digital media literacy inspires students and others to engage with media thoughtfully, responsibly and creatively.
Through innovation, leadership and dedication, this educator empowers students to navigate the today’s media environment – including the digital landscape – safely, inclusively and confidently, embodying the values MediaSmarts has championed for three decades.
Chloe Kizito — Youth Leader Award Winner 2026
Chloe Kizito is a 17-year-old student from Kitchener, Ontario and a longtime participant in MediaSmarts’ Teen Fact-Checking Network. Across multiple nominations, she was recognized for combining digital media literacy, youth advocacy, journalism, public speaking and community leadership.
Online and offline, Chloe helps young people think critically about what they encounter online and advocates for greater representation of Black and other underrepresented voices in media literacy and digital safety conversations. Her fact-checking work has earned national attention, including appearances on CBC’s The National and CBC Kids News.
Beyond fact-checking, Chloe has contributed to podcasts, blogs and campaigns addressing food insecurity, sustainability and mental health. At St. John’s-Kilmarnock School, she has held leadership roles in several student organizations, helped grow the Model United Nations club to more than 25 members and led a school assembly celebrating Black excellence and leadership.
Chloe’s leadership extends internationally. She has earned awards at major Model United Nations conferences, served as Director of Education for the Model UN Academy, where she leads educational webinars for students around the world, and participated in the 2026 United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum.
In her own words, Chloe sees digital media literacy as the ability to “think beyond what is on the screen” — questioning who created information, why it was created and how it can shape people’s thinking and behaviour. She also sees digital literacy as a responsibility: using online platforms intentionally to share credible information, uplift others and create meaningful conversations.
Dean Vendramin — Educator of the Year Award Winner 2026
“You are not fully literate unless you are digitally media literate.” — Dean Vendramin
Dean Vendramin is an educator at Archbishop M.C. O’Neill Catholic High School in Regina, Saskatchewan with 30 years of experience advancing digital media literacy, digital fluency and educational technology.
Throughout his career, Dean has integrated digital media literacy into subjects including mathematics, robotics, STEM and communication media, helping students become critical thinkers, responsible creators and informed digital citizens. His teaching emphasizes recognizing bias and misinformation, using technology creatively and responsibly and understanding the ethical implications of emerging technologies like AI.
As an Education Leader of Practical and Applied Arts and 21st Century Essential Skills, Dean supports digital learning across his school. He has also served as a divisional technology coach, digital fluency consultant and mentor to fellow educators. A MediaSmarts Teacher Champion, he shares his expertise through national education initiatives and the Think Thank Thunk podcast.
Dean holds a Master of Education in Digital Fluency and has earned numerous professional distinctions, including recognition as an Apple Distinguished Educator, Microsoft Innovative Educator and Google Certified Teacher. His national honours include the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in STEM and the MindShare Learning K–12 EdTech Educator of the Year Award.