The awards are artist-driven with a mandate "To recognize, celebrate and promote Canadian achievements in comedy at home and abroad."

They are run through a non-profit organization and volunteer committees, drawing membership from the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), the Canadian Actors' Equity Association (CAEA), the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC), the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC), and the Comedy Association.

[4] Progosh brought together an advisory board which included himself, Mark Breslin of Yuk Yuk's comedy clubs, Andrew Alexander of The Second City, Sydd Capp, and representatives from the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), the Canadian Actors' Equity Association (CAEA), the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) and the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC).

"[4] Philanthropist Bluma Appel helped to establish the awards, and supported a bursary for emerging comics.

[6] The Comedy Network televised the first two annual awards ceremonies, but due to lack of sponsorship the broadcast deal ended in 2001.

As the festival grew during the following years, The Comedy Network began broadcasting Best of the Fest variety specials.

[8] During this period, categories were also broadened and added to recognize emerging media such as podcasts and web series.

[9] In 2015, the license for the awards expired and control of the Canadian Comedy Awards reverted to the trademark holder, Funny Business, Inc. During this same period, Progosh and the CCFE decided to focus on creating a home for the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame.

[10] Until 2015, the CCA were organized by the Canadian Comedy Foundation for Excellence (CCFE), a non-profit corporation registered in 2003.

Its volunteer committees sought input from comedy professionals on all aspects of the awards: criteria, marketing, programming and communications.

[13] The CCA membership is made up of industry professionals, largely from the following member organizations:[14][15] Writing on the inaugural awards ceremony, Alan Neister described the trophies as "Plexiglas maple leaves, etched with the outline of a happy, dancing beaver.

[19] Categories are divided by format, organized into those for live performances (including stand-up, improvisation, and plays), television, and film.

Internet media was added in 2008 and categories that considered works across different formats were labelled as multimedia.

In 2013, a permanent home was sought for the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame and the CCA presented proposals to the cities of Hamilton, Niagara Falls, and Ottawa, Ontario.

[26] In lieu of a permanent museum, interactive exhibits were set up at ByWard Market during the 2014 CCAF, and school groups were invited to participate in workshops.

[11] The awards ceremonies have been described as placing "gags over glamour", with wit and improvisational skill shown by hosts, presenters and recipients.

Leatrice Spevack of The Globe and Mail noted that the CCAs stood above other award shows on its entertaining acceptance speeches.

The festivals took place over three to five days, depending on sponsorship and the availability of talent, volunteers, and venues.

[32] In 2009, the festival was hosted by Saint John, New Brunswick,[41] with the awards ceremony and Last Laugh Gala held at the Imperial Theatre.

The ceremony was recorded for television, produced by Higher Ground Productions and directed by Bob Sorger.

[14] The following year, showcase performances were taped and aired by The Comedy Network as two variety specials.

[52] The Directors Guild of Canada has uneven representation in Quebec where certain film and television professions are represented by other unions.

Francophone acts were first included at the CCA Festival in 2013, when the Awards were first held in Ottawa, a largely bilingual city on the Ontario–Quebec border.