Marking three decades of digital media literacy education
In celebration of MediaSmarts’ 30th anniversary, we held a special reception during Media Literacy Week at the Ottawa Art Gallery. Guests – including friends, colleagues, partners and supporters – gathered for drinks, appetizers and engaging conversation. The evening’s program included activities (like a house hippo hunt), a presentation of awards for MediaSmarts’ inaugural Digital Media Literacy Awards and a fireside chat with the Digital Media Literacy Champion Award winner, Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF.
“The fundamental idea behind our work hasn't changed: Canadians need the skills to think critically about the media they consume, create, and share to be able to participate confidently and responsibly in our digital world” - Kathryn Ann Hill, Executive Director, MediaSmarts
Recognizing Canadian leadership in digital media literacy
During the reception, MediaSmarts recognized three individuals helping shape the future of digital media literacy in Canada. First, MediaSmarts’ Executive director Kathryn Ann Hill honoured Youth Leader Award winner Chloe Kizito and Educator of the Year Award winner Dean Vendramin. Our final award of the evening, the Champion of Digital Media Literacy Award, went to Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Cameron was joined onstage by Nana Aba Doncan, award-winning journalist and valued member of MediaSmarts’ Board of Directors, for a conversation about how the media we consume shapes who we are and how we think about the world.
Learn more about MediaSmarts inaugural Digital Media Literacy Champion Award
"(Media is) everywhere, it's all around us. We are swimming in it in ways that we didn't before. It used to be a choice... you go to the movies, you come home from the movies. You think about what you've seen.
But now we are so immersed in it... it's not really about limiting the screen time anymore. It's about understanding that we are surrounded by a media landscape and that we have to navigate it constantly. We have to ask those questions constantly. And that's just a part of being a citizen now." - Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF
Supporting the next 30 years and beyond
“Thirty years! That's quite a milestone for any organization, but especially for a registered charity.” - Kathryn Ann Hill, Executive Director, MediaSmarts
We’re truly grateful to those who joined us to celebrate this major milestone, as well as those who have supported us over the first 30 years of MediaSmarts’ growth.
Donations help keep MediaSmarts’ research, resources and workshops free and accessible to kids, families, educators, seniors and communities across Canada.
A special thank-you to those who made this event possible
Thank you to our supporting sponsors for making the evening possible: Bell, Meta, Snap Inc., TikTok Canada, DoubleTree by Hilton Ottawa Downtown and Le Germain Hotel Ottawa.
