The Canadian Game Awards are growing into something far bigger than a yearly celebration of games. In this conversation, Carl-Edwin Michel shares the long-term vision behind the event, why community and accessibility now sit at the center of the awards, and how Canada’s gaming industry continues to shape global culture. From indie developers and esports organizations to podcasters and accessibility advocates, this discussion highlights the people driving the future of gaming in Canada and beyond.

Carl-Edwin Michel reflects on the origins of the Canadian Game Awards, tracing the journey back to his early work with the former Canadian Video Game Awards and the decision to revive the concept in 2020, just as the pandemic reshaped the industry. What began as an awards show focused on recognizing game developers has evolved into a broader celebration of the gaming ecosystem, including esports, creators, podcasters, accessibility advocates, and grassroots communities.

The conversation explores Canada’s role as a major force in gaming, with titles like EA Sports FC and Assassin’s Creed developed by Canadian studios that many players around the world don’t realize originate here. Carl also discusses his long-term vision to position the Canadian Game Awards alongside major entertainment events like the Junos and Screen Awards, while still maintaining strong community roots.

Accessibility and inclusion are another major focus of the episode. Carl explains why introducing accessibility categories and expert-led judging processes was important to the future of the awards. The discussion also touches on the rise of esports in Canada, partnerships with organizations like Make-A-Wish Canada and the Canadian Podcast Awards, and the importance of bringing the industry together during a challenging period for gaming.

The Canadian Game Awards take place May 21st at the John Bassett Theatre and will also stream live on Twitch.

Relevant Links
Canadian Game Awards: https://www.canadiangameawards.ca
Canadian Podcast Awards: https://canpodawards.ca
Hand Eye Society: https://handeyesociety.com
Make-A-Wish Canada: https://makeawish.ca

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The video doorbell category has come a long way since Ring helped create it, and this conversation covers exactly how far. Marc and Dave dig into the current generation of Ring products, including the first-ever battery-powered doorbells with 2K and 4K resolution, and what that jump in clarity actually means in practice — think six-times zoom on 2K and ten-times on 4K, with the image detail to help identify faces, read license plates, and capture the kind of footage that actually holds up when law enforcement comes knocking.

Marc shares firsthand stories of Ring footage helping catch burglars in his neighborhood and of suspects visibly skipping his house when they spotted the camera. Dave Ward doesn't just let that land as a testimonial — he connects it to the broader design philosophy at Ring: making products that feel set-and-forget, that don't require technical knowledge to install, and that work just as well for someone's 70-something mom as for a tech-forward homeowner.

The episode gets into AI features that are changing the daily experience, including smart video descriptions that tell you exactly what's happening at your door before you even open the notification — a person, a brown bag, a dog — so you can decide whether to engage. There's also a practical look at the quick-release battery pack upgrade, solar options, and how Ring's software update approach means older devices keep getting better over time.

Marc pushes on the subscription question directly, and Dave gives a clear answer: every Ring product works out of the box with no plan required. The Ring Protect subscription layers on features like six months of cloud storage, smart video descriptions, and familiar face recognition — all of which require real processing power behind the scenes.

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When Bob Millar's mother began losing her ability to use phones and tablets as her cognition declined, he didn't find a solution on the market — so he helped build one. Paige is a large-format digital clock that displays photos of family members. When a loved one taps a face, it triggers a video call to that person's phone. No typing. No navigation. No confusion. Just a familiar face on a screen.

Marc shares his own experience as a caregiver for his mother-in-law, who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia after a broken leg led to a rapid decline. That personal backdrop makes this conversation feel less like a product pitch and more like two people trying to solve a problem that millions of families quietly face alone.

Bob talks about the deliberate choice to keep Paige focused on one thing — connection — and why adding features like pill reminders or photo galleries would undermine the core mission. He draws on his enterprise software background, including five years at BlackBerry, to explain why "simple is the Swiss Army knife" when the user is someone who has been left behind by modern technology.

The episode also covers Paige's enterprise integration for care facilities, how the device works on both Wi-Fi and SIM card, the current pricing model (including a $200 discount at time of recording), and the broader issue of how little guidance families receive after an Alzheimer's or dementia diagnosis. Bob and Todd both emphasize that tools like Paige deserve a place in government-supported care frameworks — not as a luxury, but as an essential resource.

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