CIOCAN Hero

Welcome to the
CIO Association of Canada

The premiere community of CIOs, CISOs and IT Leaders in Canada

Join the CIO Association

IT executives are often alone in their organizations. You don’t have to be. Join us today.

Become a Member

Women in Technology Feature

Enjoy new stories and one of the best compilations of Women in Technology content on the web.

Go to the Feature

CIOCAN Peer Forum 2023

The CIO Association of Canada’s annual conference, the CIO Peer Forum, is a vibrant community event for attendees and the profession.

Learn More

We’re setting the standard for IT professionalism

Rocket

Boost your performance

Learn new solutions from your peers, industry experts and vendor partners in a safe environment.

Inspired

Connect and get inspired

Engage in casual and formal networking online and in-person near you. Attend top events like the CIO Peer Forum.

Ladder

Advance your
career

Build a professional profile and develop your leadership skills through training and collaborating with industry peers.

Ripple

Make an
impact

Share your experience with the world. Make an impact on the profession and future generations of IT executives.

Become a member

QRX Technology Group Inc and Slater Hill Digital Join Forces to Revolutionize the Digital Transformation and Print Markets

Posted on behalf of the CIO Association of Canada’s sponsor QRX Technology Group Inc. TORONTO (January 27, 2023) – QRX Technology Group Inc (www.qrxtech.com) and Slater Hill Incorporated (www.slaterhill.com) have …

Read more

The CIO Association of Canada Announces Executive Director Appointment

January 16, 2023 by National President

Welcome Kent Smith, New Manitoba Chapter President

Impacting the economy through Innovation Leadership Security The CIO Association of Canada (CIOCAN) is pleased to announce the election of a chapter president for Manitoba. The Manitoba Chapter is pleased …

Read more

Welcome Peter Holowka, New Vancouver Chapter President

Impacting the economy through Innovation Leadership Security The CIO Association of Canada (CIOCAN) is pleased to announce the election of a chapter president for Vancouver. We welcome Peter Holowka in …

Read more

Welcome Kyoko Kobayashi, New Toronto Chapter President

Impacting the economy through Innovation Leadership Security The CIO Association of Canada (CIOCAN) is pleased to announce the election of a chapter president for Toronto. A big welcome to Kyoko …

Read more

Welcome Ross Ballendine, New Calgary Chapter President

Impacting the economy through Innovation Leadership Security The CIO Association of Canada (CIOCAN) is pleased to announce the election of a chapter president for Calgary. In Calgary Ross Ballendine, Vice …

Read more

Reimagining Your Workplace: A People-First Approach

As the future of work appears closer than ever before, CIOs will play a more integral role in shaping the day-to-day life of organizations than they ever imagined. The choices …

Read more

Meet Me in the Middle Kingston

Connecting at Meet Me in the Middle Kingston

From September 22 to 23, 2022, the CIO Association of Canada brought together its Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal Chapters for the Meet Me in the Middle event in Kingston, Ontario. …

Read more

Women in Tech: My Career in Tech with Catherine Chick

Staying ahead of REvil’s Ransomware-as-a-Service business model

Article by, Oakley Cox, Director of Analysis, Darktrace  REvil, also known as Sodinokibi, is a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) gang responsible for one of the largest ransomware attacks in history. On 14th January …

Read more

How Conti ransomware took down Operational Technology

Article by, Oakley Cox, Director of Analysis, Darktrace Ransomware has taken the world by storm, and IT is not the only technology affected. Operational Technology (OT), which is increasingly blending …

Read more

When Women Sit At The Table…

Studies have shown that organizations which have a fair representation of women in senior leadership generally tend to do better than those that don’t. The diversity that women bring to …

Read more

CIOs: Grace under fire!

How to face difficult problems with “grace under fire” as a strategic leader

Hybrid work’s next phase: 3 lessons for CIOs

Consider these lessons from a CIO and HR leader on how to ensure a safe, smooth hybrid work model, combining office and remote work. Hint: The tools aren’t the hard part. By Dianne Lapierre , Robert Booker

Geopolitical Impacts of Cybersecurity on the Private Sector

The Internet enables almost anyone with a cell phone to connect to any computer, anywhere and copy, edit, or delete any digital asset. It has also opened the door to …

Read more

CIOCAN Supporters

2023 National Sponsors

2023 Top-Tier Peer Forum Sponsors
Additional Peer Forum sponsors can be found here.

Member Insights

Dr. Peter Holowka

Director of Educational Technology, West Point Grey Academy

“I have been a member of CIOCAN for nearly 20 years. It’s a phenomenal organization that allows for the exchange of good ideas (and hard lessons learned) among members across industries. I have always been impressed by the quality of the people who are a part of CIOCAN. Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised by how much is in common across industries when leading IT. From forestry to education to banking to hospitality to municipalities, the IT considerations are more similar than different. I often found that I was able to take the good ideas from other IT leaders in different industries and then become an example for others to follow in my industry –of course, giving credit along the way. The CIO Association of Canada was instrumental in my professional growth and success over the years. If I could be part of only one professional association, this would be the one I would choose.”

Catherine Chick

SVP, IT, Canada Goose

“The CIO Association of Canada is a member-driven organization that provides a forum for technology executives to connect, learn and improve the role and use of technology in society. By becoming involved at both the Chapter and National levels, I have expanded my network of like-minded peers and had the opportunity to participate in dialogue on current topics around emerging technology, leadership and the role of the CIO. Beyond the formal events, the informal meetups have fostered a strong sense of community and collegiality.”

Shaun Guthrie

Senior Vice President, Information Technology, Peavey Industries LP

“A great deal of my career success is because of my participation in the CIO Association of Canada. It’s important to surround yourself with those who are smarter and have more experience, and the Association has given me access to those such people. Being an active member and gaining knowledge from those peers has not only grown me personally but also has had a direct impact on my results at the office. Lastly, the CIO Association of Canada has given me an opportunity to give back to the Technology Community by being part of the local Chapter Board as President and now at the National Board as National Director of Membership. “

Philippe Johnston

CIO – National Research Council

Philippe Johnston is currently the Chief Information Officer for the National Research Council and the
President of the CIO Association of Canada. Prior to joining the NRC in April 2021, he led the IM/IT
Operations for Transport Canada.  Philippe was also the CIO for NSERC and SSHRC, and has been a digital
leader, innovator and transformer for over 25 years.