Webnames.ca Celebrates 25 Years as Canada's Original .CA Registrar
October 21, 2025 - Webnames.ca, Canada's pioneering .CA domain registrar, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year as an ally on the Web to Canadians and one of Canada's original and most trusted providers of online services. Since its founding in 2000, the company has been instrumental in helping Canadian businesses, organizations and individuals establish and grow their online operations.
Webnames' roots trace back to internet visionary and company co-founder John Demco, who first established the .CA domain in 1987, managing the original registry with help from a small group of volunteers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) - a prescient move that ensured Canada would have a national identity and dedicated space online. Today, under the leadership of President and CEO Cybele Negris Webnames.ca continues this legacy as a trusted partner to many of Canada's most respected brands and organizations, helping them navigate the complexities of domain portfolio management, brand protection and digital threat protection.
Preserving Canadian Digital Identity
Twenty-five years after transitioning the .CA registry from UBC to CIRA and the start of Webnames.ca, .CA remains one of most trusted Top-Level Domains globally. Reflecting on the continued relevance of his early work, John Demco noted: “When I established the .CA domain, the objective was to provide Canadians their own corner of the internet. Today, .CA is more than just a web address, it’s a foundational part of Canada’s digital identity. The Webnames.ca team has been a partner in maintaining that vision, helping generations of Canadian businesses take their brand online, providing expert guidance and advocating the use of .CA.”
A Quarter Century of Canadian Innovation
From its Vancouver headquarters, Webnames.ca grew from a domain registrar and webhost into a leading provider of enterprise domain portfolio, DNS and digital certificate management and security solutions, all while maintaining its commitment to Canadian ownership and values.
"Every day, we see how critical a strong, reliable, Canadian rooted foundation is for Canadian businesses that operate online," says Cybele Negris, President & CEO. "For 25 years, we've been more than just a service provider, we've been innovators in the domain name space, developing world class features and managements tools, as well as invested partners in our clients' success. Whether it's a startup securing their first domain or a global brand managing hundreds of web properties, we understand what Canadian businesses need to succeed and remain secure online."
The Enduring Importance of .CA
According to CIRA’s latest survey, 88% of Canadians believe a .CA is best over a .com for a business that wants to be easily identified as Canadian. With online commerce and communication especially vital for businesses this year, the .CA domain has not wavered as a trusted symbol of Canadian identity. “We are proud to have partnered with Webnames.ca since 2000,” said Byron Holland, President and CEO of CIRA. “As Webnames.ca celebrates 25 years, we recognize the key role they played in shaping the history of .CA. They have been one of our longest-standing partners in our mission to connect, protect and engage Canada’s internet community. It has been an extraordinary journey to share with an organization that embodies our values and passion.”
Looking Forward
As Webnames marks this significant anniversary, the company remains focused on adapting to new technologies and threats while staying true to its core mission of serving Canadian businesses.
"We're proud of our history, but we're even more excited about the future," adds Negris. "We intend to keep developing the tools and services Canadian businesses need to stay competitive and secure online – just as we have for the past 25 years. We're very grateful to the hundreds of thousands of customers that have trusted Webnames over the years, including many who have been with us since our first day of operations. Thank you for being part of our journey."
Join the Celebration
To learn more about Webnames.ca's 25-year history and its impact on how Canadian businesses operate online, visit www.webnames.ca/twenty-five.
About Webnames:
Webnames.ca is Canada's original domain registrar. Established in 2000, Webnames has been Canadian owned and operated since its inception. The company operates through two distinct lines of business: Webnames Corporate (https://webnamescorporate.com), which specializes in corporate domain management, and Webnames.ca (https://www.webnames.ca), where Canadians can find website solutions, domain names, hosting, professional email and the online security tools needed to establish a strong presence online.
Contact
Julianna Horvat, Media Relations
Webnames.ca
604-633-3097
Email: marketing@webnames.ca
Website: www.webnames.ca