content: <PAGE>   1
       AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 28, 2001
                                                         REGISTRATION NO. 333-____
  
  ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  
                                      FORM S-8
  
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                            DELANO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
  
           ONTARIO                                      98-0206122
   (State or Other Jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
    Incorporation or Organization)
  
                              302 TOWN CENTRE BOULEVARD
                              MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA
                                       L3R 0E8
                      (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
                                --------------------
  
               DIGITAL ARCHAEOLOGY CORPORATION 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
               DIGITAL ARCHAEOLOGY CORPORATION 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                              (Full Title of the Plan)
                                --------------------
  
                                CT CORPORATION SYSTEM
                                  111 EIGHTH AVENUE
                                 NEW YORK, NY 10011
                       (Name and Address of Agent For Service)
  
                                   (212) 894-8940
            (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
                                --------------------
                                     Copies to:
  
                               F. GEORGE DAVITT, ESQ.
                           Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP
                                  High Street Tower
                                   125 High Street
                             Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                                   (617) 248-7000
  
  ================================================================================
  
  <PAGE>   2
  
  
  
  ================================================================================
  
                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  
  ================================================================================
  
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
                                                        PROPOSED            PROPOSED
                                                         MAXIMUM             MAXIMUM
   TITLE OF SECURITIES          AMOUNT TO BE          OFFERING PRICE        AGGREGATE                  AMOUNT OF
     TO BE REGISTERED           REGISTERED(1)           PER SHARE          OFFERING PRICE          REGISTRATION FEE(2)
     ----------------           -------------           ---------          --------------          -------------------
  <S>                        <C>                      <C>                 <C>                      <C>
  COMMON SHARES NO PAR          15,900 shares             $1.89               $30,051                        --
  VALUE, TO BE ISSUED          214,915 shares             $1.45             $311,626.75
  UNDER THE DIGITAL
  ARCHAEOLOGY CORPORATION
  1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
  
  COMMON SHARES NO PAR          13,131 shares             $ .02              $262.62                         --
  VALUE, TO BE ISSUED          991,536 shares             $1.45             $1,437,727.20
  UNDER THE DIGITAL
  ARCHAEOLOGY CORPORATION
  1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
  
           TOTAL:            1,235,482 shares                --             $1,779,667.57                 $444.92
  =====================================================================================================================
  </TABLE>
  
  (1)  This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional common shares
       which become issuable upon exercise of options granted under either the
       Digital Archaeology Corporation 1996 Stock Option Plan or the Digital
       Archeology Corporation 1998 Stock Option Plan by reason of any stock
       dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction
       effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase
       in the number of the outstanding common shares of Delano Technology
       Corporation.
  
  (2)  Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the aggregate offering price and the fee have been
       computed upon the basis of the price at which the options may be exercised.
  
  <PAGE>   3
  
       This Registration Statement registers additional securities of the same
  class as other securities for which a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No.
  333-38602) relating to Delano Technology Corporation Stock Option Plan and a
  Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-38726) relating to Delano Technology
  Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan are effective. Pursuant to General
  Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of the above-listed Registration
  Statements are hereby incorporated by reference.
  
  ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  Exhibit No.     Description of Exhibit
  -----------     ----------------------
  
  <S>             <C>
      3.1         Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (filed as Exhibits 3.1 to the Company's
                  Registration Statement on Form F-1 (No. 333-94505) and incorporated herein by
                  reference)
  
      3.2         Articles of Amalgamation of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's
                  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000 and incorporated
                  herein by reference)
  
      3.3         Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Company's Annual
                  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000 and incorporated herein
                  by reference)
  
      4.3         Digital Archaeology Corporation - 1996 Stock Option Plan (filed herewith)
  
      4.4         Digital Archaeology Corporation - 1998 Stock Option Plan (filed herewith)
  
      5           Opinion of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (filed herewith)
  
     23.1         Consent of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
  
     23.2         Consent of KPMG LLP (filed herewith)
  
     24           Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page of this Registration
                  Statement)
  </TABLE>
  
  <PAGE>   4
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
  certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
  requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
  authorized, in the City of Markham, in the Province of Ontario, Canada on this
  28th day of March, 2001.
  
  
                                     DELANO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
  
  
                                     By: /s/ John Foresi
                                        ------------------------------------------
                                        John Foresi
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer
                                        (Principal Executive Officer)
  
  
                          POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES
  
       We, the undersigned officers and directors of Delano Technology
  Corporation, hereby severally constitute and appoint John Foresi and Thomas
  Hearne, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys, with full power
  to them and each of them singly, to sign for us in our names in the capacities
  indicated below, any amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8
  (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits
  thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
  Exchange Commission, and generally to do all things in our names and on our
  behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Delano Technology
  Corporation, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as
  amended, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by
  our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Registration Statement and all
  amendments thereto.
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities and on the date indicated.
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
               SIGNATURE                             TITLE                                        DATE
  
  <S>                                   <C>                                                   <C>
   /s/ John Foresi                      President and Chief Executive Officer                 March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------       (Principal Executive Officer)
  John Foresi
  
   /s/ Thomas Hearne                    Chief Financial Officer                               March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------       (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
  Thomas Hearne
  
  /s/ Dennis Bennie                     Chairman of the Board of Directors                    March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------
  Dennis Bennie
  
  /s/ Albert Amato                      Director                                              March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------
  Albert Amato
  
  /s/ J. Ian Giffen                     Director                                              March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------
  J. Ian Giffen
  
  /s/ Bahman Kooestoni                  Director                                              March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------
  Bahman Kooestoni
  </TABLE>
  
  <PAGE>   5
  
  <TABLE>
  <S>                                   <C>                                                   <C>
  /s/ Donald Woodley                    Director                                              March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------
  Donald Woodley
  
  /s/ Al Delorenzi                      Director                                              March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------
  Al Delorenzi
  </TABLE>
  
  <PAGE>   6
  
                              AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned
  certifies that it is the duly authorized United States representative of Delano
  Technology Corporation and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be
  signed on behalf of it by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the
  City of Markham, Province of Ontario, Canada, on March 28, 2001
  
                                     DELANO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
                                     (Authorized U.S. Representative)
  
  
                                     By: /s/ Thomas Hearne
                                        ------------------------------------------
                                        Thomas Hearne
                                        Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
  
  <PAGE>   7
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  Exhibit No.     Description of Exhibit
  -----------     ----------------------
  
  <S>             <C>
     3.1          Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (filed as Exhibits 3.1 to the Company's
                  Registration Statement on Form F-1 (No. 333-94505) and incorporated herein by
                  reference)
  
     3.2          Articles of Amalgamation of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's
                  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000 and incorporated
                  herein by reference)
  
     3.3          Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Company's Annual
                  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000 and incorporated herein
                  by reference)
  
     4.3          Digital Archaeology Corporation - 1996 Stock Option Plan (filed herewith)
  
     4.4          Digital Archaeology Corporation - 1998 Stock Option Plan (filed herewith)
  
     5            Opinion of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (filed herewith)
  
    23.1          Consent of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
  
    23.2          Consent of KPMG LLP (filed herewith)
  
    24            Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page of this Registration
                  Statement)
  </TABLE>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "b38117dts-8.txt", "description": "DELANO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12325}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "DELANO TECHNOLOGY CORP", "cik": "0001100043", "assigned-sic": "7389", "state-of-incorporation": "A6", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-57796", "film-number": "1582622"}, "business-address": {"street1": "302 TOWN CENTRE BLVD.", "street2": "MARKHAM, ONTARIO, L3R OE8", "city": "ONTARIO CANADA", "state": "A6", "zip": "00000", "phone": "905-947-2222"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "302 TOWN CENTRE BLVD", "street2": "MARKHAM", "city": "ONTARIO", "state": "A6", "zip": "00000"}}
text: 1
       AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 28, 2001
                                                         REGISTRATION NO. 333-____
  
  ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  
                                      FORM S-8
  
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                            DELANO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
  
           ONTARIO                                      98-0206122
   (State or Other Jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
    Incorporation or Organization)
  
                              302 TOWN CENTRE BOULEVARD
                              MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA
                                       L3R 0E8
                      (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
                                --------------------
  
               DIGITAL ARCHAEOLOGY CORPORATION 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
               DIGITAL ARCHAEOLOGY CORPORATION 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                              (Full Title of the Plan)
                                --------------------
  
                                CT CORPORATION SYSTEM
                                  111 EIGHTH AVENUE
                                 NEW YORK, NY 10011
                       (Name and Address of Agent For Service)
  
                                   (212) 894-8940
            (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
                                --------------------
                                     Copies to:
  
                               F. GEORGE DAVITT, ESQ.
                           Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP
                                  High Street Tower
                                   125 High Street
                             Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                                   (617) 248-7000
  
  ================================================================================
  2
  
  ================================================================================
  
                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  
  ================================================================================
  PROPOSED            PROPOSED
                                                         MAXIMUM             MAXIMUM
   TITLE OF SECURITIES          AMOUNT TO BE          OFFERING PRICE        AGGREGATE                  AMOUNT OF
     TO BE REGISTERED           REGISTERED(1)           PER SHARE          OFFERING PRICE          REGISTRATION FEE(2)
     ----------------           -------------           ---------          --------------          -------------------
  COMMON SHARES NO PAR          15,900 shares             $1.89               $30,051                        --
  VALUE, TO BE ISSUED          214,915 shares             $1.45             $311,626.75
  UNDER THE DIGITAL
  ARCHAEOLOGY CORPORATION
  1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
  
  COMMON SHARES NO PAR          13,131 shares             $ .02              $262.62                         --
  VALUE, TO BE ISSUED          991,536 shares             $1.45             $1,437,727.20
  UNDER THE DIGITAL
  ARCHAEOLOGY CORPORATION
  1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
  
           TOTAL:            1,235,482 shares                --             $1,779,667.57                 $444.92
  =====================================================================================================================
  (1)  This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional common shares
       which become issuable upon exercise of options granted under either the
       Digital Archaeology Corporation 1996 Stock Option Plan or the Digital
       Archeology Corporation 1998 Stock Option Plan by reason of any stock
       dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction
       effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase
       in the number of the outstanding common shares of Delano Technology
       Corporation.
  
  (2)  Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the aggregate offering price and the fee have been
       computed upon the basis of the price at which the options may be exercised.
  3
  
       This Registration Statement registers additional securities of the same
  class as other securities for which a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No.
  333-38602) relating to Delano Technology Corporation Stock Option Plan and a
  Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-38726) relating to Delano Technology
  Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan are effective. Pursuant to General
  Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of the above-listed Registration
  Statements are hereby incorporated by reference.
  
  ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
  Exhibit No.     Description of Exhibit
  -----------     ----------------------
  3.1         Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (filed as Exhibits 3.1 to the Company's
                  Registration Statement on Form F-1 (No. 333-94505) and incorporated herein by
                  reference)
  
      3.2         Articles of Amalgamation of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's
                  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000 and incorporated
                  herein by reference)
  
      3.3         Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Company's Annual
                  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000 and incorporated herein
                  by reference)
  
      4.3         Digital Archaeology Corporation - 1996 Stock Option Plan (filed herewith)
  
      4.4         Digital Archaeology Corporation - 1998 Stock Option Plan (filed herewith)
  
      5           Opinion of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (filed herewith)
  
     23.1         Consent of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
  
     23.2         Consent of KPMG LLP (filed herewith)
  
     24           Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page of this Registration
                  Statement)
  4
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
  certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
  requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
  authorized, in the City of Markham, in the Province of Ontario, Canada on this
  28th day of March, 2001.
  
                                     DELANO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
  
                                     By: /s/ John Foresi
                                        ------------------------------------------
                                        John Foresi
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer
                                        (Principal Executive Officer)
  
                          POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES
  
       We, the undersigned officers and directors of Delano Technology
  Corporation, hereby severally constitute and appoint John Foresi and Thomas
  Hearne, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys, with full power
  to them and each of them singly, to sign for us in our names in the capacities
  indicated below, any amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8
  (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits
  thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
  Exchange Commission, and generally to do all things in our names and on our
  behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Delano Technology
  Corporation, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as
  amended, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by
  our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Registration Statement and all
  amendments thereto.
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities and on the date indicated.
  SIGNATURE                             TITLE                                        DATE
  /s/ John Foresi                      President and Chief Executive Officer                 March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------       (Principal Executive Officer)
  John Foresi
  
   /s/ Thomas Hearne                    Chief Financial Officer                               March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------       (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
  Thomas Hearne
  
  /s/ Dennis Bennie                     Chairman of the Board of Directors                    March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------
  Dennis Bennie
  
  /s/ Albert Amato                      Director                                              March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------
  Albert Amato
  
  /s/ J. Ian Giffen                     Director                                              March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------
  J. Ian Giffen
  
  /s/ Bahman Kooestoni                  Director                                              March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------
  Bahman Kooestoni
  5
  /s/ Donald Woodley                    Director                                              March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------
  Donald Woodley
  
  /s/ Al Delorenzi                      Director                                              March 28, 2001
  -------------------------------
  Al Delorenzi
  6
  
                              AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned
  certifies that it is the duly authorized United States representative of Delano
  Technology Corporation and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be
  signed on behalf of it by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the
  City of Markham, Province of Ontario, Canada, on March 28, 2001
  
                                     DELANO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
                                     (Authorized U.S. Representative)
  
                                     By: /s/ Thomas Hearne
                                        ------------------------------------------
                                        Thomas Hearne
                                        Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
  7
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  Exhibit No.     Description of Exhibit
  -----------     ----------------------
  3.1          Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (filed as Exhibits 3.1 to the Company's
                  Registration Statement on Form F-1 (No. 333-94505) and incorporated herein by
                  reference)
  
     3.2          Articles of Amalgamation of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's
                  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000 and incorporated
                  herein by reference)
  
     3.3          Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Company's Annual
                  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000 and incorporated herein
                  by reference)
  
     4.3          Digital Archaeology Corporation - 1996 Stock Option Plan (filed herewith)
  
     4.4          Digital Archaeology Corporation - 1998 Stock Option Plan (filed herewith)
  
     5            Opinion of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (filed herewith)
  
    23.1          Consent of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
  
    23.2          Consent of KPMG LLP (filed herewith)
  
    24            Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page of this Registration
                  Statement)