The versatile 25-year-old, who captained Canada at the 2015 World Cup, will cross from Welsh club Ospreys and join the twice Super Rugby champions for the 2018 season.
At 1.96m and 114kg, Ardron can play at number eight, blindside flanker and lock, and has tallied 22 caps since making his international debut in 2012.
"I can't wait to get to New Zealand and find out what makes Super Rugby the best club competition in the world and be in an environment with such great players and coaches," Ardron said in a Chiefs release.
The Lakeside, Ontario-born Ardron will also play for Bay of Plenty in New Zealand's domestic competition and was a "great signing", according to Chiefs coach Dave Rennie.
"Tyler is a very experienced and dynamic international loose forward," Rennie added.
"He's been keen to test himself in Super Rugby, having been a standout for Ospreys over the past four seasons.
"He's a bloody good man and his leadership and work ethic will align perfectly with the Chiefs."
The Chiefs, who won back-to-back titles in 2012-13, are second in the New Zealand conference of this year's Super Rugby tournament, which also includes teams from Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Japan.
"That competition will be one that will suit him and take his game to the next level," Canada coach Mark Anscombe, the father of former Chiefs and Wales fullback Gareth Anscombe, told Canadian media.
"You look at the company he's going to be keeping, training with and playing against every week. When you're in that environment, you can only improve."
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by John O'Brien)
