“It Feels Like Year One”: Canadian Game Awards Founder Carl-Edwin Michel On Canada’s Important Role In The Gaming Industry & The CGAs Big 2025 Comeback

Video game awards season continues this weekend with the Canadian Game Awards, highlighting some of the very best contributions to the industry and its community in 2024. Held at the TIFF Lightbox in Toronto, the celebration will air on February 15 at 8 PM Eastern time, and fans who can’t attend in person will be able to stream the ceremony online. The event will be hosted by Naomi Kyle, known for her work with IGN and The Daily Fix.

The Canadian Game Awards were first created by founder Carl-Edwin Michel in 2020, and this year marks the event’s in-person return after a pause in 2024, and with its return, we are partnering with the event, with ScreenRant serving as the official media partner for the event, and Valnet as the title sponsor.

Canada is home to an impressive set of game developers across the country, including AAA companies like BioWare and three Ubisoft studios in Montreal, Quebec, and Toronto, alongside indie powerhouses like Cuphead‘s Studio MDHR and 1000xResist‘s Sunset Visitor. This year the CGAs will feature 16 awards total across a myriad of categories, with a focus on esports and Canadian developers.

In planning for the event, where I’m also serving as a judge again this year, I caught up with Carl-Edwin Michel to discuss how far the event has evolved since its inception, the importance of the Canadian Game Awards categories, and what fans can expect from the big return of the event this weekend.

The Evolution Of The Canadian Game Awards

ScreenRant’s Rob Keyes: Let’s go back to the beginning – tell me how the Canadian Game Awards came to be, since there have been other versions in the past?

The Canadian Game Awards were created in 2020, following the cancellation of the Canadian Video Game Awards in 2016. After speaking with several game studios, I realized there was a strong need to celebrate the industry, and they believed I was the right person to take on this challenge, given my experience producing the last three Canadian Video Game Awards from 2014 to 2016.

The 2020 edition was originally planned for March, but as we all know, the world was turned upside down that month. We had to pause and later returned with a pre-recorded show, which continued for the next few years. After a challenging in-person return in 2023, we took a break in 2024. Now, in 2025, we’re back in full force.

Canada has a significant footprint in game development – how important is it to recognize Canada’s contributions to gaming?

It’s incredibly important to celebrate our industry. Canada is one of the top countries in the world for game development, with incredible studios from coast to coast. We have some of the biggest AAA studios globally, but we also have a thriving indie scene. The games developed here—both the massive blockbusters and the small yet mighty titles—make a significant impact worldwide.

What Fans Can Expect From The Canadian Game Awards

Naomi Kyle, The Eh! Game Expo, & Partnership With TIFF Lightbox

Naomi Kyle is hosting this year’s CGAs – how was she selected, and what does she bring to the CGAs?

Naomi was at the top of my list of dream hosts for the show. She has made her mark on the industry at an international level, having been a host at IGN for many years and continuing to be deeply involved in gaming. She currently hosts an excellent gaming podcast, This Week in Gaming. Like many of the amazing games created in Canada, not everyone knows that Naomi is Canadian—and a French Canadian at that! So for me, having her as our host was a no-brainer, and I’m thrilled she accepted the invitation.

Alongside the Canadian Game Awards, there’s also a gala during the day, free for attendees. Tell us about this event and why local gamers should check it out.

Yes, there is an expo during the day, which we call the Eh! Game Expo—a fun nod to our Canadian identity. During the event, the general public will be able to play over 15 games developed by indie studios from across the country at TIFF Lightbox. It’s a fantastic opportunity for developers to showcase their games and for attendees to discover incredible talent and exciting new titles.

This year’s event is held at TIFF Lightbox and the CGAs have just signed a deal with them to be the home for the CGAs going forward. What can you tell us about this venue and partnership?

This partnership is a game-changer for us. TIFF Lightbox provides a prestigious, recognizable venue in a prime Toronto location. It serves two key purposes: hosting the Eh! Game Expo with great foot traffic and providing a beautiful setting for the awards ceremony. This collaboration gives us a home for the next few years, allowing the event to grow and evolve.

Click here to buy tickets to the Awards

The Challenges & Future Goals Of The Canadian Game Awards

The Role of Esports, Overcoming Hurdles, & New Beginnings

Esports are also recognized in the CGAs – why is esports an important element to you?

Esports is one of the three pillars of the gaming industry, alongside game development and content creation. These pillars are even reflected in our trophy design—the structure symbolizes these essential parts of the gaming ecosystem. Fun fact: the trophy was designed by Society Awards, the same company that created the original VGA trophy and even the Grammy Awards.

What’s the greatest challenge in organizing the CGAs, and what have you learned over the years running the show?

One of our biggest challenges is ensuring that the general public knows about this event. This isn’t just for industry insiders to celebrate themselves—it’s an opportunity to engage with gaming communities across Canada. Another challenge is making the show sustainable. While we have incredible partners this year, we need to continue bringing in more resources to expand and improve the event. I have so many ideas to make this show even bigger, and we’ll be looking for all the support we can get to make it one of the most significant gaming celebrations in the country—because it truly deserves it.

What can attendees expect this year, and are devs from the nominees able to attend?

This year feels like a relaunch. Even though it’s our fifth anniversary, in many ways, it feels like Year 1. That’s why we’re taking a look back—exploring what makes this industry so great, how it was built, who its pioneers are, and where we’re headed in the future. We’re incredibly lucky that most of the developers will be attending in person, and for those who can’t, someone will be there to accept the trophy on their behalf.

We’re looking forward to this show more than ever. This year, we’re officially laying the foundation for the future of the Canadian Game Awards and the Eh! Game Expo. Personally, this is a 10-year vision for me, and I’m committed to making it a lasting success.

Canadian Game Awards

Location

Toronto, Canada

Description

Founded in 2020, the Canadian Game Awards honor Canada’s thriving gaming industry. Originally aimed at industry professionals, it now celebrates both creators and fans, emphasizing Canada’s global leadership in interactive entertainment and its dynamic gaming community.

Dates

February 15, 2025

Website

https://cgameawards.com/

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Source: Canadian Game Awards