Canada Light Talks 2026

In recent years, red light therapy has surged in popularity, with enthusiasts promoting it as a near-miracle treatment capable of addressing everything from hair loss and skin issues to low energy and even vision problems. Marketing claims for at-home devices intended to promote hair growth have grown alongside this trend. The aim of this paper is to separate marketing claims from scientific evidence within this specific category of devices. Specifically, it will compare the wavelengths (nanometers) evaluated in clinical studies with those used in at-home devices. It will also examine whether the practical day-to-day use of these devices can deliver the same results as reported in studies. In addition, anonymized manufacturer claims will be evaluated for clarity and scientific plausibility. Finally, the importance of radiometric quantities such as spectral radiant power, irradiance, and energy density is emphasized, with attention to appropriate testing methods and clear communication of product specifications.

Learning Objectives

• Identify which wavelengths and dosing parameters are actually supported by clinical evidence for hair growth
• Recognize common red flags in manufacturer marketing claims, including vague language, cherry-picked studies, and misrepresented specifications.
• Understand the key radiometric quantities (irradiance, spectral radiant power, energy density) well enough to evaluate whether a device can physically deliver what it promises.
• Assess whether real-world usage conditions : treatment distance, session duration, and device coverage area can realistically reproduce the results reported in clinical trials.

We define light using the vision of an imaginary ideal person whose brightness perception matches the V(λ) spectral luminous efficiency function for photopic vision and its scotopic counterpart V’(λ). The first IES Lighting Handbook, published in 1947, had the subtitle “ The standard lighting guide”. Then and now, lighting recommendations provide target values for horizontal illuminances for various tasks and settings; today, they provide guidance for many parameters that characterize a lit scene. Yet even today, lighting documents provide limited guidance on how to modify these targets to account for the individual differences that we know exist; only age modifications to illuminance levels are at all common. The committees writing these recommendations don’t set out to exclude people; the problem is that we have limited knowledge about providing a high-quality lit environment for people of varying sensitivities and needs, and little experience in providing inclusive lit environments. The good news to be shared in this presentation is that by following the principles of designing for high-quality lighting when designing thoughtful lighting, we might find that everyone benefits and no one is left behind.

Most people never learn that the light around them is designed — or that lighting design is a career. This session makes the case that lighting education shouldn’t stop at the profession’s edge. Elaine Cook opens with a look at Equity in Lighting’s first fourth-grade STEAM program, an eight-week pilot that reached 110 students at a New York City public school and earned a 4.4/5 rating from students and 100% approval from teachers. A moderated panel with two Canadian voices then turns to the real question for this room: how do we adapt public lighting education to the Canadian marketplace and school system — the curriculum, the funding, the partners — before the audience joins in.

Key Takeaways

• Why public lighting literacy matters for the industry’s talent pipeline and for the quality of lit environments.
• What made the pilot work — curriculum, a volunteer network of lighting pros, a school partnership, and industry funding.
• How to adapt it for Canada — mapping to provincial science curricula (e.g. Ontario Grade 4 “Light & Sound”) and local delivery.
• Where you come in — concrete roles for Canadian designers, educators, manufacturers, and IES sections.

Lighting that supports human health has been a hot topic for decades now, and there is a proliferation of luminaires and controls to address it. But the complexity is daunting. We need bright days and dark nights. How bright is bright? How dark is dark? Is blue light bad for you? What kinds of light exposures do we REALLY get from daylight, interior lighting, computer screens and cellphones? Do I need tunable white in every room? Is watching late night TV going to kill me? Turns out, this stuff is simpler than you might think. Come to relax and learn about the practical side of healthy lighting.

Some cities possess remarkable architectural and urban spaces that make them unique, reflecting their own cultural and historical identities. These iconic places become part of the collective memory of both residents and visitors. In many cases, lighting is one of the most distinctive elements reinforcing that memory, whether through illuminated advertisements, façade lighting, landmarks, street lighting, or other public lighting systems that mould the city´s nocturnal image.

This presentation examines how lighting expresses and strengthens urban identity through three representative case studies: the dynamic Plaza de Callao in Madrid, the historic and golden city of Prague, and the vibrant Times Square in New York City. Each demonstrates how lighting contributes to the creation of memorable places and shapes the nighttime image of a city.

The conference also explores the evolution of lighting technologies—from torches and gas lamps to neon signs and contemporary LED systems—and how these innovations have transformed the way cities communicate their history, values, and cultural narratives after dark.

Beyond functional and technical considerations, the presentation introduces a neuroscientific perspective by examining the relationship between environmental perception, memory, and brain activity. Drawing upon concepts from collective memory, environmental psychology, and emerging research in neuroarchitecture and neurolighting, it analyses how lighting influences emotional responses, spatial recognition, and the mental reconstruction of place.

This session argues that lighting design must respond to the unique cultural, historical, and urban context of each location. By understanding and interpreting these local narratives, Lighting Designers can develop meaningful lighting strategies that preserve identity, reinforce collective memory, and foster lasting connections between people and the urban environment they inhabit.

Learning Objectives

• Objective 1: Recognize, through case studies, the role of lighting in the collective memory of the urban space.
• Objective 2: Analyze the importance of lighting in the identification and memory preservation of urban landmarks.
• Objective 3: Explore the connection between an illuminated space, perception and brain activity.
• Objective 4: Identify the emotional and sensory impact of lighting in urban environments.

The most beautifully designed homes need good light to be able to fully appreciate them. What makes residential lighting “good”? It is much more than selecting pretty fixtures; we have all experienced washroom lighting that shadow our faces, and kitchens with poor or no task lighting. How do we ensure good visibility for all tasks and create beautiful spaces?

Good lighting design starts with visual programming of each space, and then incorporates the individual needs and wants of the clients. Residential lighting is personal, diverse, flexible, and must reflect the homeowners.

This seminar will explore important lighting principles, and demonstrate their application through case studies of various residential projects, exposing some unexpected challenges.

At the end of the seminar, attendees will:

• Understand the value of “lighting with intention”,
• Recognize how residential project challenges and goals guide the development of a lighting design,
• Appreciate the challenges and opportunities that residential lighting controls present, and
• See how designers can deeply affect perception through lighted effects.

Since the discovery of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells and their ability to impact circadian rhythms, researchers have proposed different models to predict the circadian impact of different light spectra on circadian rhythms. While the different models all broadly agree that blue light can affect circadian rhythms, the actual action spectra differ significantly in terms of peak response wavelength and shape of the response curve. Studies comparing models have suggested potentially large differences in predicted response. This study uses a Monte Carlo method based on measured lighting spectra to compare the predictive capabilities of different models against thousands of different spectra. Statistical analysis shows no significant difference in predictive capability between all models evaluated.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the general properties of light that affect circadian rhythms.
• Identify the standards and their associated metrics for achieving desired circadian lighting impacts.
• Understand the correlations between different circadian lighting models and how to calculate the metrics of one model to another.
• Be able to determine circadian lighting requirements that will meet the requirements of circadian lighting standards, including: CIE S026, WELL v2, UL DG 24480.

Since 2015, researchers at Rensselaer’s Lighting Research Center, have been exploring the possibility of 3D printing functional, end-use components for use in LED lighting fixtures. In these studies, unique high performance components that are difficult to make using traditional manufacturing methods were printed and characterized. This presentation will discuss the short and long-term performance characteristics of 3D printed thermal management and optical subassemblies.

Learning Objectives

• Understand what parts of an LED lighting system can be 3D printed for increasing the value of the system.
• Learn how to design and 3D-print optics that produce custom beams to benefit specific lighting applications
• Understand how the long-term properties of functional components change. This information is vital
• Learn how to quantify benefits not cost

Claims around blue, red, and near infrared emissions and their effects on human vision and human health abound. How do we evaluate the claims? What are the uncertainties? In the lighting industry, we often think in terms of photopic measurements including lumens, candela, lux, and footcandles. Measurements of photopic quantities, however, have little utility for applications based on the "tails" of the visible spectrum. In addition, the amount of light of any particular color or wavelength emitted by a light source is a function of more than just its peak output on an SPD graph.

Subject matter experts Mike Grather and Eric Bretschneider will each take a “tail” of the spectrum, describing the problems and providing helpful suggestions.

Lighting design stands on three essential pillars: electric lighting, daylighting, and controls. For too long, these elements have been treated independently—resulting in fragmented workflows, missed opportunities, and designs that fall short of their full potential.

As the industry moves toward more integrated and performance-driven design, it’s time to rethink how we approach lighting holistically. This session explores a unified workflow that brings all three components together—allowing designers, engineers, and reps to simulate, iterate, and collaborate with ease. From concept to completion, attendees will see how a single platform can support the full spectrum of lighting analysis, empowering teams to make smarter decisions and meet sustainability goals like LEED and WELL.

Whether you're deep in electric lighting workflows or just beginning to explore daylight and controls, this presentation offers a fresh perspective on what’s possible when lighting design is treated as a cohesive system—not a collection of disconnected parts.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the three foundational pillars of lighting design — electric lighting, daylighting, and controls—and why integration is essential for future-ready workflows.
• Explore the limitations of siloed lighting analysis and identify opportunities for more cohesive, performance-driven design strategies.
• Learn how emerging tools are evolving toward unified lighting platforms, enabling faster iteration, better collaboration, and more informed decision-making
• Envision practical applications of integrated lighting workflows, and how they can enhance occupant comfort, energy efficiency, and design outcomes

AI-powered Luminaire Level Lighting Control (LLLC) represents the next evolution in commercial smart lighting. This presentation explores how artificial intelligence transforms lighting controls from systems that require manual programming and commissioning into intelligent, self-governing systems capable of self-configuring and operating with minimal human intervention.

Participants will learn about the underlying technologies that make true self-commissioning possible and what fundamentally differentiates AI-powered lighting controls from the legacy systems available on the market today.

Attendees will also explore the practical benefits of AI-driven lighting controls, including simplified installation, faster project delivery, lower commissioning costs, improved scalability, enhanced occupant experiences, and measurable energy savings. By the end of the presentation, participants will understand how AI-powered self-commissioning is redefining the future of intelligent, energy-efficient commercial buildings.

Learning Objectives

• Identify barriers to LLLC Adoption and describe how AI-Powered LLLC removes those barriers: Recognize the primary challenges limiting widespread implementation of Luminaire Level Lighting Control (LLLC), including installation complexity, commission requirements, and lifecycle costs
• Explain How AI-Powered LLLC’s work, and the underlying technology that makes self-commissioning possible
• Compare Self-Commissioning and Legacy LLLC Approaches.
  Differentiate between AI-driven self-commissioning systems and conventional networked or app-based LLLC platforms.
• Evaluate Real-World Applications and Design Implications of AI-Powered LLLC Analyze how AI-powered lighting systems influence architectural specification, design workflows, and project delivery.