MediaSmarts names TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey inaugural Champion of Digital Media Literacy
New award recognizes Bailey’s leadership in advancing critical engagement, diversity and representation in Canadian media
OTTAWA, October 15, 2026 – MediaSmarts, Canada’s centre for digital media literacy, is proud to announce Cameron Bailey, Chief Executive Officer of TIFF, as the inaugural recipient of the MediaSmarts Champion of Digital Media Literacy Award.
Created to mark MediaSmarts’ 30th anniversary, the new award recognizes an individual whose work has inspired critical thinking, creativity and meaningful engagement with media.
For more than three decades, Bailey has helped shape how audiences in Canada and around the world experience and engage with film. Beginning his career as a film critic before joining TIFF as a programmer, he went on to become CEO of one of the world’s most influential film festivals and one of Canada’s leading cultural institutions.
“Media literacy is about understanding how media shapes the way we see ourselves, each other and the world around us,” said Kathryn Ann Hill, Executive Director of MediaSmarts. “Throughout his career, Cameron Bailey has championed stories and perspectives that invite audiences to think more deeply, question assumptions and connect across cultures. We couldn’t imagine a more fitting first recipient of this award.”
Under Bailey’s leadership, TIFF has championed Canadian and international cinema while creating space for diverse and underrepresented filmmakers and stories. His work has helped broaden which perspectives are seen and heard on screen and encouraged audiences to engage thoughtfully with questions of culture, identity and representation.
That commitment reflects values that have been central to MediaSmarts since its founding in 1996. Over the past 30 years, the organization’s work has evolved alongside a rapidly changing media environment – from early education about advertising, media stereotypes and the internet to today’s challenges around algorithmic bias and influence, deepfakes, online hate and misinformation.
Bailey’s contributions to Canadian arts and culture have been recognized nationally and internationally. He was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2026 and selected as a member of the inaugural Michael D. Eisner Arts and Culture Fellowship at the Aspen Institute. He is also a Chevalier in France’s Order of Arts and Letters and a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Bailey will receive the Champion of Digital Media Literacy Award at MediaSmarts' 30th anniversary celebration in Ottawa on October 28, 2026 during Media Literacy Week.
Media Literacy Week is a national event taking place October 26–30, 2026 to promote digital media literacy, with activities and events taking place in classrooms, libraries, museums and community groups across Canada.
About Cameron Bailey
Cameron Bailey is the Chief Executive Officer of TIFF and the Toronto International Film Festival, the world’s largest public film festival and one of Canada’s leading cultural brands.
Born in London, Bailey grew up in England and Barbados before migrating to Canada. He began his career as a film critic before joining TIFF as a programmer, where he curated Canadian, African, and South Asian cinema.
Bailey has taught film curation at the University of Toronto and holds an honorary Doctor of Laws from Western University. He is a voting member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and a Chevalier in France’s Order of Arts and Letters. In April 2025, he was awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his outstanding achievements and significant contributions to Canada. In 2026, he was appointed to the Order of Ontario. This same year, he was also selected as a member of the inaugural cohort of the Michael D. Eisner Arts and Culture Fellowship at the Aspen Institute.
For 14 consecutive years (2012–2025), Toronto Life has named him one of the city’s 50 Most Influential People.
About MediaSmarts
MediaSmarts is Canada’s bilingual centre for digital media literacy. For 30 years, the charitable organization has helped Canadians develop the critical thinking skills they need to use, understand and engage with media confidently. MediaSmarts works with educators, families, youth, researchers, community organizations, industry and government through research, educational resources, programs and national awareness initiatives. MediaSmarts is also home to the iconic house hippo campaign.
Learn more about MediaSmarts’ 30th anniversary at mediasmarts.ca/30th-anniversary.
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Media contact:
Tricia Grant
Director of Marketing & Communications
MediaSmarts
[email protected]
613-224-7721 ext. 231