World Press Freedom Canada | Championing press freedom, defending democracy

The theme of the Press Freedom Day Awards Luncheon is Courage of Conviction

World Press Freedom Canada (WPFC) is pleased to announce David Frum will be the keynote speaker at this year’s annual World Press Freedom Day awards luncheon taking place on April 29.

Frum is a staff writer at The Atlantic and host of 2026’s The David Frum Show Podcast. A Canadian-American based in Washington, D.C., he is a distinguished voice on Canada-U.S. relations and is considered one of the most influential political commentators of our time.

Annabelle Cloutier, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Arts Centre, is the emcee. Cloutier is the first francophone woman to hold those roles at the NAC. She has served at the highest levels of the public and cultural sectors at the intersection of arts, public affairs and diplomacy.

The theme of this year’s luncheon is Courage of Conviction.

In addition to Frum’s address, the WPFC luncheon will recognize journalists or media workers committed to press freedom and whose public-interest work was frustrated by a cloak of secrecy, legal maneuvers, political intimidation, or tactics that put their safety or career at risk in the following five categories:

Press Freedom Award
Press Freedom Award, Local Journalism
Career Achievement Award, in honour of Spencer Moore
Student Achievement Award
International Editorial Cartoon Contest, which recognizes a cartoonist who best captures this year’s theme, Tough Times

“The journalists we will honour this year have demonstrated courage in the pursuit of the story and the conviction of refusing to be silenced by threats or fear,” said Heather Bakken, president of World Press Freedom Canada.

The Press Freedom Day Awards Luncheon will take place in Ottawa at the National Arts Centre, Canada Room, on April 29. It marks World Press Freedom Day, which the United Nations proclaimed as a reminder to governments of their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics, as well as a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint or abolition of press freedom.

Tickets are available through our website.

The Press Freedom Awards Luncheon is made possible through our Patron sponsor, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO; our sustaining sponsor the Canadian Bankers Association, and our diamond sponsor, Power Corporation. Please reach out to info@worldpressfreedomcanada.ca for information about sponsorship opportunities.