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World Press Freedom Canada is proud to announce that Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa will be the keynote speaker at the 21st World Press Freedom Day Awards Luncheon on May 3, 2022.

Ressa, co-founder of the Rappler online news site, will be addressing the audience by video. Ressa won the 2021 Nobel prize for her effort “to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace,” in recognition of her long-time work to defend against disinformation.

The Awards Luncheon, held annually on UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day, will be a hybrid in-person and online event that will take place at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

“We’re thrilled to be able to host Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa who has worked tirelessly to defend freedom of the press under extenuating circumstances,” said World Press Freedom Canada president Heather Bakken. “Democracy and a free press go hand-in-hand. That’s why we’re also proud to announce this year’s Press Freedom Award winners and celebrate their achievements at the luncheon.”

In addition to the keynote speech and Q&A with Ressa, the following awards will be presented:

• Press Freedom Prize is awarded to a nominee who demonstrates their public-interest work was frustrated by a cloak of secrecy, legal maneuvers, political intimidation, or tactics that put their safety or career at risk.
• Spencer Moore Award for Lifetime Achievement honours the work of a Canadian journalist in pursuit of press freedom and freedom of information.
• International Cartoon Contest is awarded to a cartoonist who best captures this year’s theme, ‘Silence is Golden’ (with a focus on cancel culture).

This year’s emcees are CanoVision President Catherine Cano and National Observer Executive Editor Karyn Pugliese.

Tickets are available online: https://bit.ly/WPFC-Luncheon2022 

Can’t make it to the live luncheon at the National Arts Centre?

Register for the live stream here.

Special thanks to our event partner the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and to our major corporate sponsor the Canadian Bankers Association.