CanadianCIO of the Year Awards

The CanadianCIO of the Year Awards
Nominations are Now Open!

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Thank you to our sponsors!

The CanadianCIO Awards return for 2026 at the Arcadian Loft in Toronto, Ontario on October 1st. This national celebration honours Canada’s most exceptional technology leaders—visionaries reshaping industries, driving digital transformation, and delivering measurable value to their organizations and the communities they serve. We are astounded and grateful for the incredible response from the community, receiving 25+ nominations in 2025 representing diverse industries and outstanding leaders across Canada! Thank you to the Nominators, those who took the time and made the effort to recognize the achievements of an IT Leader who has made a difference.

Why this matters: In an era defined by rapid technological change, recognizing and elevating the leaders behind Canada’s digital progress is more than symbolic—it’s essential. These CIOs are not only steering innovation within their organizations, but also setting the pace for national competitiveness, sustainability, and inclusive growth. By spotlighting their achievements, we inspire the next generation of tech leadership, foster cross-industry collaboration, and reinforce the critical role of technology in shaping a resilient and prosperous future for all Canadians.

“It is great to be able to celebrate CIO successes. As one of the tools to help benchmark their organization’s progress and to provide some public recognition of their teams’ triumphs, progressive CIOs leverage the use of industry award programs“

– CIO Award Winners: What does it take?
Gary Davenport, Former President, CIO Association of Canada

Award Categories for 2026

Application Deadline: April 30, 2026

CIO of the Year – Private Sector

Nominate

CIO of the Year – Public Sector

Nominate

CIO of the Year – Not-for-Profit

Nominate

CISO of the Year

Nominate

Fawn Annan Memorial Award

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The Fawn Annan Memorial Award honours a visionary leader whose influence continues to shape Canada’s technology community.

Fawn Annan was a pathfinder, change agent, and extraordinary human being who inspired all who knew her. She had a rare ability to connect with people — making them feel heard, valued, and empowered. Her leadership was defined not only by achievement, but by generosity and heart.

In 2010, she became President and later CEO of IT World Canada, eventually serving as co-owner. At a time when digital disruption threatened traditional publishing, Fawn led ITWC through a bold transformation, making it the first legacy technology publisher in the world to go fully digital.

Fawn founded the CanadianCIO of the Year Awards and ITWC’s CIO Hall of Fame, initiatives that continue today through the CIO Association of Canada. She also launched influential industry events and founded the Canadian Channel Chiefs Council.

Her legacy is one of courage, innovation, and community – with a strong belief in celebrating and encouraging women’s participation in the IT industry and a lasting inspiration to Canada’s technology leaders.

In recognition of Fawn and her many years of dedicated service to women in the IT sector, the CIO Association of Canada will make a donation to a worthy cause in her honour.

All winners will receive a complimentary one-year CIOCAN membership and be inducted into the newly created CIOCAN Hall of Fame, a lasting tribute to Canada’s most influential technology trailblazers.

The event will be supported by national media partners Tech Newsday and Digital Journal, offering widespread recognition and thought leadership visibility.

Who is eligible for nomination? Nominees must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a CIO or hold an equivalent senior IT leadership role.
  • Work for a Canadian company or have a primary office located in Canada.

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Organizations looking to support this landmark event and connect with Canada’s top IT leadership talent can contact Ken Rowley at ken.rowley@ciocan.ca for sponsorship inquiries and partnership packages.

About Tech Newsday

Tech Newsday is a new publication to revive the mission that Fawn Annan and Jim Love shared when they headed IT World Canada. It exists to tell the stories of technology in business and society through a Canadian lens. Publications include Tech Newsday, civicspace.ca and two popular podcasts Hashtag Trending and Cybersecurity Today. Learn more at technewsday.ca.

CanadianCIO of the Year Awards articles from our partner, Digital Journal.

Digital Journal articles

When impact meets integrity: not-for-profits rethink data and AI
As AI adoption grows, not-for-profits face a new test of leadership: turning digital progress into public accountability.
The Cloud reckoning: Canadian CIOs face hard truths on cost and ROI
As cloud adoption expands, Canada’s competitiveness will rely on CIOs building the foundations that turn digital investment into measurable outcomes.
Navigating the AI paradox in cybersecurity
CISOs double down on Zero Trust and identity to counter generative AI-fueled threats
Why digital maturity is now a survival issue for Canada’s nonprofits
With funding stretched and demand rising, nonprofits are turning to digital maturity and data integration to protect their missions and strengthen long-term impact.
Why CISOs are becoming Canada’s strategic risk translators
Cybersecurity has shifted from being a technical headache left to IT to being a critical financial and governance challenge for the Canadian
Canada’s AI push is running into a systems problem
When Catherine Desgagnés-Belzil left her hometown to work in the kitchens of Lake Louise, she didn’t imagine she’d one day oversee a nationwide technology
Inside the Canadian Cancer Society’s award-winning digital transformation
As CIO of the Canadian Cancer Society, Lesa O’Brien shows that innovation in non-profits is about trust, culture, and real impact
How Western University turned cybersecurity into a campus-wide priority
Inside Western University’s effort to make cybersecurity a shared responsibility across a constantly changing campus.
The green light: How Beneva re-architected its future
A merger gave Catherine Desgagnés-Belzil the rare chance to build a modern digital ecosystem from the ground up.
Nova Scotia puts citizens at the centre of its digital health overhaul
A focus on citizen experience is reshaping how Nova Scotians access and manage their health information
Transformation takes centre stage at the 2025 CanadianCIO Awards
The 2025 CanadianCIO Awards highlight how Canada’s technology leaders are rebuilding systems, trust, and institutions for a digital economy.
CIO of the Year Awards return to spotlight Canada’s top tech leaders
Revived honours introduce new categories, national visibility, and a CIOCAN Hall of Fame.
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Photos from the 2025 CanadianCIO Awards

CanadianCIO Awards 2025, Old Mill Hotel, Toronto, ON. Photos by Scott Ramsay, Digital Journal