Webnames.ca Staff
In 2000, Webnames.ca was founded out of a vision to help Canadians secure and create their own Canadian presence online using the .CA domain on the emerging Internet and World Wide web.
Our taglines then and now are “securing internet identities” and “your ally on the web” – they have stood the test of time. We grew alongside people’s goals for how they needed and wanted to use the Internet for business, community and personal expression.
What began as a spin-off from the pioneering work of our co-founder John Demco, the computer scientist who created the .CA domain in 1987, has grown Webnames to become Canada’s most trusted providers of domain and brand management services.
As we celebrate our 25th year in business, we’ve been reflecting not only on the milestones and achievements, but also on the people, relationships, and values that have brought us here.
In August we gathered with past and present colleagues, longtime friends and supporters at Vancouver’s Science World to celebrate, reminisce, and look to the future and we’re so grateful to everyone who came out to share in this wonderful evening.
Our Roots and Where .CA Began
The Webnames story starts with John Demco at the University of British Columbia. In 1987, John conceived of and launched the .CA domain from a small office in UBC’s Department of Computer Science. For the next 13 years, he managed the registry voluntarily, manually processing every registration until the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) assumed stewardship in 2000.
By then, more than 100,000 .CA domains had been registered.
During the first weeks and months of Webnames.ca the team worked 24-7, rotating shifts and sleeping in the office, managing the website, servers, and processing of new .CA registrations as Canadians sought to secure their digital identities, brands and names online. Webnames CEO and President Cybele Negris was part of this early team, overseeing operations, staff and hiring, implementing processes, and learning every nuance, tweak and turn of registrar operations.
Today, .CA is recognized globally as the online symbol of Canada and we’re proud that its origins are part of our DNA.
The Webnames Difference 25 Years Later
From our start in Vancouver in 2000 to today, Webnames has always been more than just a registrar.
- We’ve remained independently owned and operated, in a landscape increasingly dominated by multinational giants
- We’re Canadian to the core: employing local talent, supporting Canadian innovation, and serving customers coast to coast.
- We’re powered by deep experience: more than half our team has been with us for 10–25 years, bringing unparalleled expertise, continuity, and care to our clients. Our leadership has domain, DNS, and registrar expertise that goes back 35+ years.
- We’ve developed one of the most powerful and feature rich domain portfolio, DNS and SSL management platforms, with workflows, automations and features honed from 25-years of experience working with IT and brand professionals entrusted to manage online brands
- We started Webnames Corporate to provide organizations with large domain portfolios and brand protection requirements a trusted, secure, experienced alternative to large US corporate domain management registrars
This deep bench of talent, expertise and platform means we’re not only solving problems, we are anticipating them, building innovative tools, and keeping our customers secure and one step ahead of domain related challenges in an ever-changing digital world.
Excellence in Choice, Service and Security
In an industry defined by global players, strong competition and continuous change, we’ve stayed true to a simple principle consistent with our core values: put the customer first.
- We pioneered domain management solutions that are simple, secure, and cost-effective.
- We’ve amassed one of largest selections of domain names (850+ and growing), plus DNS services, website creation and hosting options, professional email and SSL options offered by any registrar provider
- We offer enterprise-grade protections like domain monitoring, SSL management, and brand protection services — so client’s needs can protect their brands and delivery of services
- We’ve continued to invest in security protocols and new technologies, ensuring our customers are always ahead of the curve.
And through it all, we’ve kept our corporate culture of being approachable, service-driven, and deeply invested in our clients’ success.
Serving All of Canada, From Startups to Global Brands
Over 25 years, we’ve been honoured to serve tens of thousands of customers of every stripe under Webnames and Webnames Corporate:
- Entrepreneurs securing their very first domain
- Small businesses growing their online presence
- Nonprofits and educational institutions making a difference
- Enterprises, law firms, and governments managing complex global portfolios
- Many of Canada’s most recognized brands, including Canadian Tire, Loblaws, Bell, Rogers, The Globe and Mail, National Bank, KPMG, Quebecor, Lassonde, the Canadian Cancer Society and many more
Whether you own a single domain or oversee thousands, our philosophy and commitment is has been the same: every customer deserves world-class service, enterprise-grade security, and an ally that is invested in their success.
A Culture of Community and Care
Inside our 25 years, we’ve built a culture of mentorship, collaboration, and friendship. Many of our colleagues have been with us for decades, and some since day one.
Externally, we’ve supported initiatives like Science World’s Girls and STEAM Summit, Canadian Cancer Society, and countless entrepreneurial organizations and initiatives over the years with our .CA LiteSite program and other free services. Our leadership has been continuously active on external boards focused on betterment, such as the Prosperity Project, Telus Vancouver and Coastal Community Board, Canadian Internet Registration Authority and others.
We also want to acknowledge our President and CEO, Cybele Negris, whose steady leadership, hard work, and kindness have shaped Webnames into the company we are today. Her mentorship and trust have empowered our team, built long-lasting client relationships, and helped Webnames and Webnames Corporate become a name synonymous with integrity, expertise, and service.
Thank You to Our Customers and Looking Forward
As we reflect on 25 years, we know that none of this would be possible without our customers.
To those who joined us this year, those who have trusted us for decades, and those who have been with us since the very beginning — thank you. You are the reason we do what we do. Every idea launched, every business built, every brand protected under a Webnames registered domain has inspired us to keep pushing forward.
We also want to acknowledge the vital role that the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) has played since taking over management of the .CA registry in 2000. Over the past quarter century, CIRA’s stewardship has ensured that .CA remains one of the most trusted and secure domains in the world, while also reinvesting in Canadian internet infrastructure, cybersecurity, and community programs. We’re proud to have grown alongside CIRA in building a safe, reliable, and distinctly Canadian online space and thankful for their advocacy of .CA.
The Internet of 2025 is vastly different from that of 2000, and it will continue to evolve at an unprecedented pace. What won’t change is our commitment to being a trusted Canadian partner — one who provides not just domains, but security, guidance, and peace of mind. Here’s to 25 years of Canadian tech success — and to many more chapters of innovation, trust, and collaboration ahead.
With gratitude,
Team Webnames
Girls and STEAM 2025
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