TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Clayton Seams is AJAC’s Canadian Automotive Journalist of the Year. Clayton’s award was announced in-person at Hockley Valley Resort in Mono, Ont., on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Clayton was recognized alongside a group of Canada’s best auto journalists being awarded for their achievements in 11 categories at the 43rd annual Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) Journalism Awards.
“Range Rover is honoured to sponsor the AJAC Journalist of the Year award for the 43rd consecutive year,” said Taylor Hoel, Director, Marketing and Public Relations, JLR Canada. “Thank you to all of the journalists who submitted work for consideration this year. Congratulations to Clayton Seams on winning Journalist of the Year! Judges felt the writing demonstrated incredible enthusiasm and passion as well as technical understanding. Clayton’s love for the craft jumped off the page. We would like to congratulate Elle Alder on placing Runner-Up.”
“I love presenting the Canadian Automotive Journalism Awards” said AJAC President Evan Williams. “Canada’s professional automotive journalists are always finding new stories to tell and new ways to tell them, and it’s wonderful to get another chance to share and celebrate our work. We are educating, informing, and sometimes even moving the Canadian public. This is the time of year when we get the chance to honour our members and that work. To celebrate and recognize the best in Canadian automotive journalism. Congratulations to all of our nominees this year, to all of our winners, and especially to Clayton Seams, who has received our highest accolade, Canadian Automotive Journalist of the year, presented by Range Rover.”
The full list of awards and recipients at the 43rd Annual AJAC Journalism Awards is as follows:
Journalist of the Year presented by Range Rover
Winner: Clayton Seams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6h305xtXk4
https://driving.ca/feature/chevrolet-equinox-ev-magdalen-islands-road-trip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUC6U6bGgsg
https://driving.ca/feature/bricklin-sv-1-gullwing-gamble-canada-sports-car-failure
Runner-up: Elle Alder
https://driving.ca/auto-news/auto-shows/mazda-vision-x-coupe-x-compact-concept-prototype-rotary-ai-algae-emissions-capture-tokyo
https://driving.ca/feature/alois-estonia-ruf-automobile-tour-drive-pfaffenhausen
https://driving.ca/car-culture/auto-tech/project-arrow-canada-autonomous-electric-car-concept
https://driving.ca/feature/2026-toyota-rav4-woodland-honda-cr-v-hybrid-trailsport-suv-comparison
Automotive Writing Award (Technical Topics) presented by AJAC
Winner: Stephanie Wallcraft
https://www.cargurus.ca/research/articles/planning-road-trip-ev-canada
Runner-up: Sami Haj-Assaad
https://www.autotrader.ca/editorial/car-tech/why-car-touchscreens-are-becoming-a-problem-for-drivers/?srsltid=AU7gw4W219u8grIf_LkZtS3w5ewFBV20EZXJR5ug5YW0c5IB4otFUDn4
Automotive Writing Award (Vehicle Review) presented by Stellantis
Winner: Peter Bleakney
https://driving.ca/reviews/2027-audi-rs5-first-drive
Runner-up: Clayton Seams
https://driving.ca/feature/2026-aston-martin-vanquish-volante-v12-road-test-review
Feature Writing Award presented by Subaru Canada
Winner: Elle Alder
https://driving.ca/feature/alois-estonia-ruf-automobile-tour-drive-pfaffenhausen
Runner-up: Stephanie Wallcraft
https://driving.ca/feature/2025-subaru-forester-hybrid-road-trip-quebec-magdalen-islands
Adventure and Travel Journalism Award presented by Mitsubishi Motors Canada
Winner: Stephanie Wallcraft
https://driving.ca/feature/2025-subaru-forester-hybrid-road-trip-quebec-magdalen-islands
Runner-up: Jeff Wilson
https://www.zinio.com/ca-en/publications/vicarious/40235/issues/716422
Automotive Business Writing Award presented by Kal Tire
Winner: Nadine Filion
https://driving.ca/features/shopping-advice/electric-vehicle-affordability-program-evap-federal-ev-incentive-rebate-canada-qualify-eligible
Runner-up: Isabelle Havasy
https://autosphere.ca/fr/mecanique/2026/04/01/ateliers-mecaniques-nouvelle-vague-transformer-lattente-en-experience/
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award Presented by Genesis Motors Canada
Winner: Dale Edward Johnson
The Old Autos
Runner-up: Stephanie Wallcraft
https://driving.ca/feature/across-the-dunes-of-saudi-arabia-women-rally-for-opportunity
Environmental Journalism Award presented by Hyundai Canada
Winner: Stephanie Wallcraft
https://driving.ca/features/shopping-advice/nrcan-fuel-consumption-guide-natural-resources-canada-most-efficient-cars-shopping
Runner-up: Nadine Filion
https://driving.ca/features/maintenance/old-motor-oil-use-safe-good-expired
Photography Award presented by Mazda Canada
Winner, Published: Clayton Seams
Runner-up, Published: Michael Taylor
Winner, Unpublished: Russell Purcell
Runner-up, Unpublished: Dan Heyman
Road Safety Journalism Award presented by Volvo Car Canada
Winner: Matthew Guy
https://driving.ca/reviews/nokian-hakkapeliitta-01-winter-tire-test-automatic-stud-deploy-retract
Runner-up: Nadine Filion
https://www.protegez-vous.ca/nouvelles/automobile/le-port-obligatoire-de-la-ceinture-de-securite-a-50-ans
Video Journalism Award presented by Toyota Canada
Winner: David Chao
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcEhJQpcGWc
Runner-up: Stephen Elmer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axbE1Yb6soo
Tony Sloga Award
In recognition of distinguished and meritorious service in support of the aims and objectives of automotive journalism in Canada.
2026 Recipient: Garry Sowerby and Lisa Calvi
AJAC Lifetime Achievement Awards
In recognition of an exemplary career in automotive journalism.
Michel Crépault
Richard Russell
About the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC)
The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) is an association of professional journalists, writers, photographers, videographers, and corporate members whose focus is the automobile and the Canadian automotive industry. Collectively, its primary objectives are to promote, encourage, support, and facilitate professionalism in Canadian automotive journalism and to ensure factual and ethical reporting about the automobile and automotive issues to Canadian consumers. This is achieved through the work of its members and AJAC’s annual vehicle testing and evaluation events, the Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY), Innovation Awards, and EcoRun.
SOURCE Automobile Journalists Association of Canada
