Our history: 30 years of impact

MediaSmarts originally came to be as "Media Awareness Network" in the early 1990s—a TV violence initiative launched by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as part of the National Film Board.

Over the years, our work has grown alongside the media environment. We’ve evolved from a focus on traditional media to addressing the realities of a fully networked world, including social media, data privacy, online hate, misinformation and AI.

Today, MediaSmarts is recognized as Canada’s centre for digital media literacy, with programs for educators, parents, youth and people of all ages nationwide. Our history is one of collaboration, adaptation and a shared commitment to helping Canadians engage with media thoughtfully and responsibly.