Greetings from the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom (CCWPF)

We invite you to join us at the 19th Annual World Press Freedom Day Awards Luncheon.  Join journalists, politicians, academics, media executives and others who champion the vital role of the press and free expression in fostering democracy and open government.

Our keynote speaker will be Ann Telnaes, the Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoon2st for the Washington Post. Ms. Telnaes creates editorial cartoons in various mediums- animation, visual essays, live sketches, and traditional print. She is also president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, and is a passionate advocate for freedom of speech.

The event will take place at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel Ballroom on Tuesday, May 2^rd 2017 at 11.30 a.m.

On World Press Freedom Day, we will recognize a Canadian Journalist who has defended press freedom, or suffered in its name. Past winners include Glen McGregor and Steve Maher, Daniel Leblanc, Mohamed Fahmy and Kathy Gannon.  We will also celebrate the work of cartoonists in our 17th Annual International Editorial Cartoon Contest.

CCWPF monitors and publicizes threats to press freedom and freedom of expression, and advocated for the release of Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy.  Here are three ways you can contribute:

1. Save the date: Tuesday, May 2. Join us at lunch for frank talk and inspiring conversation at the Fairmont Chateau-Laurier Hotel, in celebration of World Press Freedom Day. Tickets are $65 or $120 for two.

2. Sponsor the World Press Freedom Committee.  Our $2,000 Gold Sponsorship includes a table for eight, with prominent placement, acknowledgement by the moderator, corporate signage on our website, in advertising and in all our promotional material. Silver Sponsorship at $800 buys a table for eight, prominent placement, plus a shout out on that table and in our program. Additional tables are available to all sponsors at $500. At your request, CCWPF can fill your seats with college and university students who are devoted to the issue. Tickets and Sponsorships may be purchased at:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/19th-annual-world-press-freedom-day-awards-luncheon-tickets-32899334796

3. Nominate a Canadian journalist for the CCWPF Press Freedom Award. Each year, we honour a journalist who has made an outstanding contribution in the past year to press freedom, and freedom of expression. The recognition comes with a monetary award and a certificate from the Canadian Commission for UNESCO.

We’ll have more to share about our event in the days ahead. In the meantime, we hope you will join us in support and sponsorship of this essential work.