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.

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.

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.

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Conducted By:

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.

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Today, controls are no longer an option. Lighting controls as well as controls for practically every human endeavor are ubiquitous. Just ask Siri, Alexa, or Samantha from the film released in 2013. How do the different functions relate to each other and how do we ensure smooth communication, gain the most from it and try to stay ahead? Join us for this and bring your questions.

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:

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.

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.

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.