About Webnames.ca
Webnames.ca is Canada's original domain registrar and a one-stop convenience for the online needs of individuals, small businesses, nonprofit organizations and corporations.
Canadian owned and operated since 2000, Webnames.ca began as a spin-off from the Internet pioneers who founded the .CA country code in 1987. We have registered hundreds of thousands of domain names, host thousands of websites and manage domain portfolios for many of Canada's Fortune 500 through our Corporate Services division, including Yellow Pages Group, CanWest Global, ING, Canadian Tire and many others.
Our mission is to connect clients with the tools they require to create, protect and promote their online presence. Our bilingual customer support team is the heart of our company and the foundation of our relationship with you. In addition to being the best and the brightest, our team is passionate about customer service.
In an industry geared for self-serve, Webnames.ca takes a very different approach. Our telephone response times average under 30 seconds to talk to a live person. If you don't understand something, we will explain it. If there is a problem, we will resolve it. We strive to be more than a great service provider, but "an ally on the Web" to all our customers. Our difference is that we support our customers above and beyond their use of our products. We are committed to helping our customers achieve their online goals by providing information, recommendations and resources about all things Internet.
Our high-touch service is complemented by advanced domain management tools and leading-edge systems. Every domain includes unlimited toll free technical support and free services such as domain forwarding, parking, email channeling and metatag tools to drive traffic and help you get found online.
We realize that excellence is not measured by business success alone. Webnames.ca strives to make a positive impact in the community by supporting local organizations and charitable initiatives. We mentor, sponsor and participate on the boards of numerous nonprofit technology, small business and entrepreneurial organizations. We are furthermore committed to reducing waste and energy consumption in our daily activities.
So whether you are an individual registering your first domain name, a small business launching a new website or an international organization with thousands of domains to manage, you can trust Webnames.ca to do it right.
Webnames.ca History
Webnames.ca was created from the original .CA registry at the University of British Columbia in the fall of 2000 by four partners, John Demco, Cybele Negris, Stephen Smith and Matthew Lane.
The most recognizable symbol of Canadian identity on the Internet, .CA was conceived in 1987 by John Demco, Computer Facilities Manager at the University of British Columbia who had the foresight to protect a uniquely Canadian presence on the World Wide Web. Back in the old days - that is, before 2000 - all .CA domains were personally administered and registered by John in his UBC office. .CA registrations were done manually and required documentation supporting each application and John’s office had faxes stacked to the ceiling.
A small team was brought together to build automated systems to modernize processes, to help with growing the demand for .CAs and manage the transition of the Registry to the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA).
Cybele Negris came on board to provide leadership and provided structure and systems in the area of operations. Stephen Smith handled business development and provided corporate leadership. Matthew Lane was contracted to develop the first generation online registration system that have since developed into Webnames.ca's leading-edge systems. The team grew quickly to 30 people in the matter of 4 months. Along with an amazing group of UBC students and staff hired to assist with .CA registrations and administration - this mix of talent and technology was the foundation of Canada’s most experienced domain registrar.
With John's foresight, what began in a cramped UBC office has since evolved into the current .CA landscape where a significant majority of Canadians prefer .CA over .com for online banking (86% vs. 14%), online shopping (85% vs. 15%), and searching for news and current events (85% vs. 15%). Nearly 90% of Canadians see .CA as an important resource for Canadians. A UBC spin-off company, Webnames.ca was incorporated on September 23, 2000 and has come a long way to become the company you know today. Over the years, extensive energy has been put into developing the industry’s most powerful and user-friendly online systems, as well as hiring the best customer and technical support representatives available. We are 100 percent Canadian owned and operated and our motto and number one core value “Amaze Every Customer with Exceptional Service” - is also our guarantee.
Awards & Achievements
Webnames.ca is committed to our core values, ‘Amaze every customer with exceptional service’, ‘Always be improving’ and ‘Make a positive difference’. We are honoured to be recognized for our efforts with numerous awards and achievements.
Better Business Bureau
BBB's mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. BBB accomplishes this mission by creating a community of trustworthy businesses, setting standards for marketplace trust, encouraging and supporting best practices, celebrating marketplace role models and denouncing substandard marketplace behavior. Businesses that earn BBB Accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization's high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB is the preeminent resource to turn to for objective, unbiased information on businesses and charities.
Webnames.ca maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
PROFIT W100
Ranking Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs on a composite score based on the size, growth rate and profitability of their businesses, the PROFIT W100 profiles the country’s most successful female business owners. Published in the November issue of PROFIT Magazine and Chatelaine magazines and online at www.PROFITguide.com and www.chatelaine.com, the W100 is Canada’s largest annual celebration of entrepreneurial achievement by women. Webnames.ca President, Cybele Negris and Webnames.ca have been named to the list for nine consecutive years, from 2004 through 2012.
Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women
The Canada’s Most Powerful Woman: Top 100 Awards is Canada’s most recognizable Award for the country’s highest achieving female leaders in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Annually in December, in addition to a celebratory gala for the winners, WXN also hosts a leadership Summit and networking day that aims to inspire women in leadership roles and the next generation of female leaders.
Webnames.ca President and Co-Founder Cybele Negris was honoured in 2011 and 2012.
Influential Women in Business
The Influential Women in Business Awards recognize successful women in business in British Columbia. The honourees are selected based on outstanding achievements in business, contribution to their industry, and influence in the business community. This award is run by Business in Vancouver. Webnames.ca President, Cybele Negris was honoured with this award in 2010.
Business In Vancouver Top Forty under 40
Each year, 40 top business leaders under the age of 40 are selected by an independent judging panel assembled by the newspaper. Nominees are judged on their professional accomplishments, professional recognition, and community and charitable involvement. Established fifteen years ago, this prestigious award Top 40 under 40 Award celebrates Vancouver men and women who have become outstanding leaders in their chosen fields before reaching 40 years of age. Webnames.ca CEO, Stephen Smith was chosen as one of the top young business talents in 2006. Webnames.ca President, Cybele Negris was chosen as one of the winners in 2003.
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Webnames.ca was a proud finalist of this award in 2005 in the category of Information Technology. The Entrepreneur Of The Year program was founded by Ernst & Young to celebrate great entrepreneurs and heighten awareness of the economic impact of entrepreneurial ventures. The program is nationally sponsored by Global Television Network, National Post, La Presse, RDI and Roynat Capital. To learn more about the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards, visit www.eoy.ca.
Progressive Employers of Canada
The purpose of the Progressive Employers of Canada List is to encourage organizations to consider the value they offer employees in innovative ways and to share this information with a national network of savvy, educated, professional moms. This list is designed to enhance the dialogue between these employers and working moms and ultimately identify more supportive workplaces for women. Webnames.ca was recognized in 2009 & 2010.
New Pioneers: Stories of 100 BC Women Entrepreneurs
This book, New Pioneers: Stories of 100 BC Women Entrepreneurs is a celebration of the pioneering spirit of 100 contemporary women entrepreneurs from around the province. The book was compiled and published by the Women's Enterprise Centre where they feel it is not only important to recognize and celebrate our entrepreneurial roots, but also essential to record those accomplishments for the generations to come. Webnames.ca President, Cybele Negris was featured in this publication in 2008.
YMCA Women of Distinction Award
The Award honours individuals whose activities and achievements contribute to the well-being and future of our community. The Award criteria requires that candidates inspire others and achieve outstanding success by: being a leader and role model; breaking new ground or old barriers; participating actively as a volunteer, guiding, supporting and encouraging the development of others; showing vision, creativity and initiative; making a sustained commitment and significant difference; and being respected by her community for her contributions. Webnames.ca President, Cybele Negris was honoured as a finalist in 2007.
Canadian New Media Awards
The Canadian New Media Awards are presented in partnership with the Department of Canadian Heritage, Telefilm Canada, CBC.ca and Delvinia. Produced by CANEMA, the Awards recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of individuals and companies in the Canadian new media industry. The Awards also help promote the new media sector and provide inspiration for those preparing to enter the industry. John Demco was recognized in 2006.
Contact Centre Association Awards of Excellence
The BC CCA Awards of excellence single out the leaders in the contact center industry in four categories, reflecting both service and sales orientation: Contact Centre of the Year, Community Spirit, Vendor of the Year, and Employee of the Year Awards. The Contact Centre Employee of the Year recognizes an employee who is working on the front lines or behind the scenes who goes the extra mile to ensure their company's customers get the best service possible. Webnames.ca employee, Shawn Yakobina was recognized for his efforts in 2006.
University of Alberta Alumni Honour Award description
The Alumni Honour Award recognizes the significant contributions made over a number of years by University of Alberta alumni in their local communities and beyond. Webnames.ca Co-Founder, John Demco was awarded in 2003.
BCNET Network Builder Award
The Network Builder Award is presented annually to members of the community who volunteer their time and energy to help shape the direction, expansion and enhancement of British Columbia’s high-performance network backbone for research and education. Webnames.ca Co-Founder, John Demco was recognized in 2001.
Canarie IWAY Awards
Canada's prestigious CANARIE IWAY Awards (IWAY is short for Information Highway) were developed by CANARIE Inc., Canada's leader in Internet technology innovation. The Awards recognize "frontier" technology and celebrate the exceptional achievements of visionaries in the field of advanced broadband innovation. Webnames.ca Co-Founder, John Demco was the recipient of the Community Service Award in 2001.
Demco Student Learning Centre at UBC
Webnames.ca Co-Founder, John Demco was honoured by the University of British Columbia in 2008, for creating the .CA country code top-level domain for Canada and managing it on a volunteer basis for more than 10 years. In recognition of John's efforts, the Dept. of Computer Science at UBC named its undergraduate computing learning facility "The Demco Student Learning Centre". The name is a tribute to John's tremendous achievements, his foresight in preserving a uniquely Canadian identity on the World Wide Web and his positive impact on the reputation of UBC in this field.
Our Values
Webnames.ca Vision Statement
Webnames.ca and its team will strive to be the best domain name registrar and provider of Internet services.
Webnames.ca Mission Statement
To accomplish our Vision, our mission is to connect clients with the tools they require to create, protect, build and promote their online presence. We will consistently earn the trust and exceed the expectations of our customers by offering the best customer support in the industry, by offering value through industry leading products and services, and highly reliable systems that offer powerful functionality to all clients.
We emphasize the importance of integrity, community involvement and building a workplace which enriches the careers of our team while we ensure our profit and growth goals are met.
Core Purpose
Webnames.ca started as a spin-off of the original .CA registry in Canada. The vision from 1987 by John Demco was to secure an online identity for all Canadians. As an extension of this, Webnames.ca's purpose is now to be an "Ally on the Web" to help clients, everywhere, reach the full potential of their online presence.
Core Values
1. Amaze every customer with exceptional service.
To achieve this we will:
- attract and retain people who are passionate about and believe in delivering an exceptional customer experience
- provide continuous education and thorough training for our staff
- listen to customers and give them what they want
- continuously work on lowering response times while increasing the depth of responses to customers including providing useful and relevant resources and information even when it is not asked for
2. Always be improving (striving for excellence).
To achieve this we will:
- hire people who have exceptional work ethic, are highly skilled in their area of specialty, who have a "whatever it takes" attitude to get the job done, who believe in constant improvement
- offer industry leading products and services
- budget for systems and technology improvements on a continuous basis
- continuously review our processes to maximize efficiency, productivity and quality
- build a great work environment of teamwork that also provides opportunity to recognize individual excellence and fosters the growth of employees through their career path
3. Make a positive difference.
To achieve this we will:
- contribute financially and participate in charitable organizations and events
- participate on the boards of entrepreneurial, governmental and other organizations
- offer a program that provides charitable organizations with a discount on products & services
- encourage staff to volunteer and contribute in their communities and support green initiatives
