About Canvas Canada

Celebrating Canadian creative excellence and fostering the next generation of design leaders across our beautiful nation.

Canadian design team collaborating in Toronto office

Our Story

Founded in 2016 in the heart of Toronto, Canvas Canada emerged from a simple yet powerful vision: to create a platform that celebrates the unique voice of Canadian design while connecting our creative community on a national scale.

What started as a small collective of passionate designers has grown into Canada's premier design education and showcase platform. We recognized that Canadian design possesses a distinctive character—one shaped by our multicultural heritage, our deep connection to nature, and our commitment to inclusivity and sustainability.

Today, we're proud to represent over 350 designers from all ten provinces, showcasing work that ranges from innovative urban branding to nature-inspired environmental design, all while maintaining the high standards of craftsmanship that define Canadian creative excellence.

Our Mission & Vision

Our Mission

To showcase the best of Canadian design talent and provide comprehensive design education that blends international standards with Canadian sensibilities. We strive to help designers across Canada connect, learn, and showcase their work to a global audience while preserving our unique creative identity.

Our Vision

To position Canadian design as a globally recognized force for innovation, sustainability, and inclusive creativity. We envision a thriving ecosystem where Canadian designers lead international conversations about responsible design, cultural sensitivity, and environmental stewardship.

What Drives Us

Our values reflect the best of Canadian character and guide everything we do as we build the future of Canadian design.

Community First

We believe in the power of collaboration and mutual support. Our community spans from coast to coast, connecting designers in major cities with those in smaller communities, fostering mentorship and shared growth.

Sustainable Design

Environmental responsibility is woven into everything we do. We promote sustainable design practices and help our community create work that considers long-term environmental and social impact.

Cultural Inclusivity

Canada's diversity is our strength. We celebrate Indigenous design traditions, immigrant perspectives, and multicultural influences that make Canadian design uniquely rich and globally relevant.

Continuous Learning

We're committed to fostering growth through education, workshops, and knowledge sharing. Every designer, from student to seasoned professional, has something to teach and learn.

Excellence in Craft

We uphold the highest standards of design quality while encouraging innovation and creative risk-taking. Excellence and experimentation go hand in hand in the Canadian design tradition.

Authentic Expression

We encourage designers to find and develop their unique voice while staying true to their values and cultural background. Authenticity creates the most powerful and lasting design work.

Meet Our Team

Our diverse leadership team brings together decades of experience in design education, community building, and creative industry leadership.

Sarah Chen

Founder & Creative Director

With 15 years in design leadership, Sarah founded Canvas Canada to bridge the gap between emerging talent and industry excellence. Based in Toronto, she champions sustainable design practices and inclusive creative education.

Michael Tremblay

Head of Education

A former design professor from Montreal, Michael develops our educational resources and workshop programs. His bilingual approach ensures our content serves both English and French-speaking design communities across Canada.

Jessica Whitehorse

Community Manager

Based in Calgary, Jessica connects designers from coast to coast and leads our Indigenous design initiatives. She ensures our platform celebrates traditional knowledge while fostering contemporary creative expression.

David MacLeod

Technical Director

From Halifax, David ensures our platform provides the best possible experience for showcasing Canadian design work. His background in both design and technology helps bridge creative vision with technical excellence.

Amanda Rodriguez

Partnerships Director

Vancouver-based Amanda builds relationships with design schools, agencies, and cultural institutions across Canada. She coordinates our mentorship programs and helps emerging designers connect with industry opportunities.

Robert Kim

Content Strategist

Robert curates our blog content and oversees our educational resource development from our Winnipeg office. His multicultural perspective helps ensure our content resonates with Canada's diverse design community.

Global Recognition

Canvas Canada has gained international recognition as a leading platform for Canadian creative talent. Our work has been featured in major design publications worldwide, and our community members have won prestigious international awards.

We've partnered with design festivals in London, New York, and Tokyo to showcase Canadian work, helping to establish Canada as a significant voice in global design conversations. Our educational resources are used by design schools internationally as examples of community-centered creative education.

Most importantly, we've helped over 350 Canadian designers gain international recognition for their work, from small studio projects to major brand identities that now represent Canadian companies on the world stage.

International design conference featuring Canadian designers