Ep. 51 - Inside the 2026 Canadian Game Awards

Ep. 51 - Inside the 2026 Canadian Game Awards

From Dr. VR by Justin Baillargeon, Ph.D

May 13, 2026 · 60 min · Season 1 · Episode 51

About this episode

A discussion with Carl-Edwin Michel about the evolution and significance of the Canadian Game Awards in celebrating local talent.

I’m joined by Carl-Edwin Michel, founder and executive producer of the Canadian Game Awards, for a timely conversation about the evolution of the CGA and the importance of celebrating Canadian talent in the video game industry. Together, we discuss how the awards have grown, why this year’s edition feels especially significant, and what it means to build visibility for Canadian creators on a larger stage. We also dive into the adjudication process behind the awards, the challenge of defining what makes a game truly Canadian, the balance between blockbuster productions and smaller independent projects, and the current state of the industry in a period marked by both uncertainty and creativity. Carl-Edwin also shares his thoughts on the return of the Best VR/AR Game category, the growing momentum around XR and location-based experiences, and his long-term vision for the Canadian Game Awards both nationally and internationally.

People in this episode

Host: Justin Baillargeon, Ph.D

Guest: Carl-Edwin Michel

Topics covered

  • Canadian Game Awards
  • video game industry
  • celebrating talent
  • adjudication process
  • VR/AR games
  • independent projects

Keywords

  • Canadian Game Awards
  • video games
  • Carl-Edwin Michel
  • VR/AR
  • independent games
  • adjudication process
  • Canadian creators

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Canadian Game Awards

Places: Canada

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