Canada Light Talks 2025

This session delves into how colour changing light technology works as well as the “whys, whens, and whats” to consider in application to projects. The presentation carries increasing relevance due to the ever-growing usage of dynamic light in our cities, from large commercial/institutional developments to personal properties; this type of technology and application considerations is only becoming more expected for design consideration, if not final inclusion. With this presentation I hope to prepare your team to better understand the technology and how it best fits (or doesn’t) within a design.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Learn to speak and understand the nomenclature of Dynamic Lighting
• Understand how Dynamic Lighting devices work and connect.
• Gain insight into core Dynamic Design principles.

For over a decade the lighting industry has attempted to bring the benefits of healthy lighting to market, across a number of sectors. Most of this work has focused on Sleep and Circadian responses and patterns. These have proved to be difficult to implement in real world settings. Efforts have fallen short of hopes and expectations despite being built on a good foundation of scientific evidence. Why is this? Perhaps we need new ideas by looking at the science, applications, and benefits of healthy light from new perspectives. This will inform us with new ways of addressing markets, selling products, and generating revenue.

We will start by looking at how light affects the brain and nervous system. There is more to this than meets the eye; the body maintains a dynamic balance between a number of physiological processes affecting arousal, alertness, pain, mood, mental health, immune function, eye health, and other things.

Moving beyond the physiological functions of light, we will discuss how lighting can be applied to address a number of the health concerns that our fellow human beings live with in their daily lives. These can be neurological, psychological or just an expression of personal preferences. They range from addressing immediate needs to the long-term management of chronic conditions. When applied in these ways, lighting can be a bridge between scientific knowledge and support of deeply humanistic core values. Isn’t that the business we aspire to be in?

Finally, we will consider ways to tangibly deliver on the promise of lighting as a Health and Wellness solution. What products and services should we be offering and selling, and with what capabilities? How do we deliver both tangible and intangible value to customers? What knowledge and skills will be required to do so? Which markets offer the best opportunities to do so? How do we demonstrate that we have delivered on what we are promising? The good news is that the technology to deliver beneficial effects of lighting already exist, and nobody will have to go back to school to learn a new skill unless they wish to. Instead we are re-framing our offerings, engaging customers in meaningful and value-based ways.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Gain an understanding of how light affects the brain and the nervous system in a physiological manner.
• Obtain a basic understanding of how light can be used to address a number of health concerns for a better quality of life.
• Articulate the need of suitable and effective lighting for health considerations to clients.
• Apply lighting for health beyond circadian for home and client’s projects.

This panel will spotlight the power of collaboration between Interior Designers and Lighting Designers through two compelling case studies. By walking through real projects, our panelists will reveal how early partnership, shared vision, and integrated design decisions elevate both function and aesthetics. Panelists will share how working together from the start doesn’t just enhance the design process, it delivers better, more impactful and more inspiring spaces.

When designers work together, spaces shine brighter.

Session Overview

This ARIDO Lunch Panel will showcase how collaboration between interior designers and lighting designers has shaped award-winning projects. By highlighting the unique contributions of both disciplines, this session will demonstrate how intentional collaboration enhances design outcomes and creates spaces that truly resonate with users.

Through case studies, panelists will share insights into the design process, challenges, and successes achieved when lighting design and interior design come together.

Key Takeaways

• Understand how early collaboration between interior designers and lighting designers leads to innovative and functional solutions.
• Explore real-world case studies demonstrating how lighting elevates interior design concepts.
• Gain practical strategies for integrating interdisciplinary perspectives into project workflows.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify the unique roles and contributions of lighting designers and interior designers in creating cohesive project outcomes.
• Analyze and help identify where collaboration between the two disciplines can directly impact the functionality, aesthetics, and user experience of a space.
• Apply strategies for integrating lighting design considerations early in the interior design process to enhance project success.
• Evaluate best practices for fostering effective interdisciplinary collaboration to achieve innovative and sustainable design solutions.

Find out what you need to know for your next exterior lighting project from these lighting professionals covering best practices in both design and product. Learn strategies to balance human and environmental needs, reduce wasted light and skyglow, and create effective, responsible night-time-active spaces.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe trends and issues shaping outdoor lighting design.
• Consider the balance between the need for outdoor lighting and the need for beneficial darkness.
• Understand ways to specify, compare, and select lighting products.
• Identify outdoor lighting design and application resources available within the IES Lighting Library.

The vast majority of lighting design research is focused on architectural and human-centric lighting. A knowledge gap exists between lighting designers, manufacturers and distributors and horticultural lighting practices. As interest in controlled-environment agriculture grows, the need increases for lighting professionals to create effective horticultural lighting systems in environments where the needs of plants, rather than people, dictate the lighting strategy. This paper provides a broad overview of horticultural lighting, including key metrics, luminaire choices, and the current state of the field. We also highlight key differences between horticultural and human-centric lighting, with the goal of orienting lighting professionals to the unique requirements of plant growth. We discuss the differences in how light is quantified for plants, using spectral quantum flux as opposed to spectral power, as well as the active spectral ranges for human visible light and plants (PAR and PBAR). Topics also include the effects of different wavelengths, light quantity, timing, and duration of lighting, as well as the spatial distribution of light. By outlining these critical distinctions, this paper aims to bridge the knowledge gap for designers, manufacturers and distributors in adapting their expertise to meet horticultural demands. Note that the article is not intended to provide a comprehensive review, but rather an overview and introduction to the key concerns in horticultural lighting design.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify the various important lighting metrics and how they differ from human needs.
• Be aware of the difference between spectral quantum flux and spectral power in how the former is the required manner to gauge lighting for horticulture.
• Identify some critical distinctions such as the effects of different wavelengths, light quantity, timing, and duration of lighting, as well as the spatial distribution of light.
• Understand there is a knowledge gap for adapting design expertise to meet horticultural demands and being able to articulate the those differences.

Building on last year’s Sustainable Lighting session, this presentation explores the next frontier: integrating daylight, renewable energy, storage, and advanced lighting controls. We will examine how daylight harvesting, dynamic shading, on-site solar PV, and battery storage can reduce reliance on artificial lighting while improving comfort and resilience. A key focus will be networked lighting controls (NLCs) and their ability to support demand response and peak load reduction, especially through Ontario’s Save on Energy incentives. Attendees will see how combining storage, predictive controls, and renewable-aware strategies enables buildings to actively support grid flexibility, carbon reduction, and long-term sustainability.

Learning Objectives

• Explain how daylight harvesting, dynamic shading, and renewable integration reduce artificial lighting demand while improving occupant comfort.
• Evaluate the role of battery storage and DC microgrids in supporting resilient, renewable-powered lighting systems.
• Identify how networked lighting controls (NLCs) enable demand response and peak load reduction, and how these are supported by Ontario’s Save on Energy incentives.
• Apply predictive and grid-interactive lighting strategies to help buildings actively contribute to grid flexibility and decarbonization.

Understanding marketplace dynamics is essential when introducing disruptive lighting products or services, whether powered by AI or not. Artificial Intelligence is currently the most disruptive technology this century. This session will explore why groundbreaking innovation fails without market alignment. We’ll explore how to identify the five buying groups, their consistent patterns, starting with early adopters. Provide an overview the 5 W’s of AI – Who, What, When, Where and Why. Key implications for the Canadian Lighting Industry, Lighting Companies and You – As Investors, Owners, Management and Employees.

"Seek first to understand, then to be understood." – Steve Covey.

Recommended prerequisite – Overviews of Geoffrey Moore’s Crossing the Chasm and Zone to Win.

Learning Objectives

• Understand Why AI-Driven Digitization Reshapes Lighting Workflows: Attendees will grasp the implications of Bold’s 6 D’s (Digitization, Deception, Disruption, Demonetization, Dematerialization, Democratization) on lighting industry workflows, using the film-to-digital camera analogy to recognize patterns of resistance and transformation. They’ll reflect on questions like “Why do lighting workflows resist digitization?” to anticipate changes, such as Ontario’s LED retrofit (80% in 15 years)
• Recognize Why Adoption Patterns Determine Competitive Positioning: Attendees will learn why AI’s adoption follows the Crossing the Chasm model (Innovators, Early Adopters, Majority, Laggards) and its implications for their roles in Canada’s lighting industry (Slide 3). By reflecting on “Why is my workplace on this curve?” and noting stats like 12.2% Canadian businesses using AI, they’ll assess their position and the risks of lagging behind.
• Explore Why Implications Are Central to Navigating AI’s Future: Attendees will understand the FOCIS framework (Facts, Opportunities, Challenges, Implications, Solutions), with a focus on why implications (e.g., 60–80% job offload, privacy risks) drive strategic thinking in a rapidly shifting AI landscape (Slide 4). Interactive discussion prompts (e.g., “List one implication for your role”) will encourage them to identify personal and industry-specific “why’s,” reinforced by Canada’s $4.4B AI Strategy.
• Adopt a Forest-View Mindset for Ongoing AI Reflection: Attendees will learn to apply a high-level, forest-view perspective to uncover unseen AI implications (e.g., Musk’s moveable power plant, 10x–1000x productivity gains) and commit to ongoing reflection through actions like writing a “why” question post-talk (Slide 5). Resources like The Rundown AI (therundown.ai) will equip them to stay updated on high-level AI trends, ensuring they remain ahead in the $

Join three leading experts in lighting research and design as they reveal how syncing with nature’s rhythms can improve our health, enrich our environments, and transform the spaces where we live and work. At its core, this interactive discussion focuses on reconnecting with nature—using what we now know about light’s impact on well-being, applying technology wisely, and recognizing when less is more.

Learning Objectives

• Understand how artificial lighting can, or cannot, replicate natural conditions, and the potential risks and benefits of relying on artificial lighting.
• Analyze new findings in lighting science should prompt us to reconsider our current approaches to lighting, considering their impact on energy and our overall well-being.
• Identify simple solutions are the best solutions for our human condition, yet they are frequently overlooked or underutilized.
• Be aware of how widely divergent interests often create tensions, and why it’s essential to educate ourselves on these topics.

The panelists will guide us through a clear and accessible overview of smart lighting system integration with building management platforms, highlighting how these technologies optimize energy efficiency and enhance occupant comfort.

We’ll explore how advanced controls and sensors contribute to sustainability goals and support certifications such as LEED and WELL, while also delivering strong returns on investment.

We’ll discuss trend applications in both residential and commercial environments, emphasizing human-centric lighting and intuitive interfaces that improve accessibility.

As technology continues to evolve, adaptive lighting is emerging as a cornerstone of sustainable design.

Learning Objectives

• Learn to embrace lighting controls and feel comfortable with the terminology and technologies.
• Develop an awareness of the lighting control trends in both residential and commercial and their strong return on investment.
• Identify the sustainability goals adherent with LEED and WELL certifications.
• Articulate to you customer the symbiotic relationship between lighting controls and energy and financial savings.

Navigating LED specification sheets can be overwhelming due to the abundance of choices and technical details. This workshop is designed to demystify the process for specifiers, contractors, builders, and sales representatives, guiding you through the complexities of multi-page lighting cut sheets to ensure accurate and effective specification. In this practical seminar we will showcase project examples and real-life challenges that highlight why specific options are chosen, emphasizing the importance of context in decision-making. You will gain a clear understanding of how to interpret and utilize lighting specification sheets, making the selection process more straightforward. Pre-registration is required to receive the package that you will need to participate in the workshop. Learning objectives:

Learning Objectives

• Understand the information available on specification sheets
• Appreciate the importance of the fine print
• Identify the range of products available in a product family
• Recognize when more information is needed.

SWOT – Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. We will talk with 2 award winning lighting designers and an expert in disruptive technologies and have an unscripted discussion on where we are and where we want to be going forward. “Getting ahead of the curve”, has never been more important.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the variety of expertise, skills, and occupations in the lighting industry via network development examples.
• Analyze the skill sets that will still be required using AI: Human judgment. Complex problem-solving. Emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking.
• Understand the pros and cons, ups and downs, threats and opportunities that AI can provide the lighting specifier industry.
• Embrace the professional opportunities AI can provide the lighting design community.

This session features two renowned lighting professionals who will discuss their approaches to career advancement, effective networking, building a team, and mentoring others. The presenters will share their expertise from both design and manufacturing sectors, offering best practices for career development and personal growth at all stages of your career.

Learning Objectives

• Articulate an overview of the variety of expertise, skills, and occupations in the lighting industry via network development example
• Be able to discuss how effective networking skills are the foundation of building a team and mentoring others.
• Understand the coordinated application of diverse expertise diversity to the products, usage, and standards available and trending topics.
• Learn how to identify personal career goals through evaluation and alignment.

What if, in the next 3 to 5 years, designers could not only specify the products in their projects, but actually take a more active role in delivery from start to finish?

This talk explores a major shift in the role of the designer or specifier. Instead of simply making recommendations, they may soon be able to guide the entire process through to final purchase.

With emerging tools powered by AI, better access to structured product data, and direct integration with quoting systems, the landscape is changing quickly.

Designers will soon be able to:

• Start projects by defining design intent, without searching across hundreds of websites or sending dozens of emails
• Use AI to determine the best products based on application, performance, and budget.
• Collaborate directly with manufacturers to build product codes and confirm availability, connected to their inventory and configuration tools
• Generate a bill of materials and send it to approved manufacturers for pricing
• Deliver a quote to the GC or owner that can be acted on immediately

This brings forward an important question. As better procurement and product recommendation technology takes hold, and designers can better carry the spec all the way to order, do they become competitors to traditional agents? Or are we seeing the rise of a new hybrid model, where roles shift and new value is created?

We’ll look at where the industry is now, what’s around the corner, and how different players in the supply chain need to respond. Whether you're a manufacturer, rep, distributor, or part of a design team, this session will help you understand how your role is evolving and what new opportunities are emerging.

Learning Objectives

• Obtain an awareness of potential changes with specifying projects as well as the tools available to help navigate these coming changes.
• Embrace the changes within the lighting industry and arm oneself with knowledge to stay ahead of said changes.
• Explore new procurement and product recommendation technologies and how they can help with your projects.
• Understand how the specification and supply chain will be impacted by new technologies and software.