By John Kerr

Kerrwil had the opportunity to sit with Daniel Silverstein, Co‑President of Liteline, whose career at the company began on the shop floor as a junior fabricator building counter‑top displays a grounding that still shapes how he thinks about product, process, and people today.

His energy and passion for the business were on full display as we toured Liteline’s expanded Canadian manufacturing and testing facility, where a 65‑person team builds Liteline products domestically in more than 20,000 square feet of dedicated manufacturing space in their 160,000 square‑foot Canadian headquarters, a clear signal of the company’s commitment to making lighting solutions in Canada rather than offshoring that capability.

As Daniel walked us through the factory, he repeatedly connected what we were seeing on the floor to the story his parents began nearly five decades ago. That tour became a live narrative of how a family company that started with lenses has evolved into a vertically integrated, design‑driven manufacturer of LED and smart‑lighting solutions.

Founded in 1979 by Steve and Helen Silverstein to solve a specific anomaly, a distributor struggling with custom‑cut lenses in a fluorescent world, the company grew as a classic founder‑driven venture during the mature incandescent/fluorescent paradigm. From an apartment and a single truck, Steve built Liteline into a national presence and Canada’s largest independent lighting manufacturer.

For four decades, Steve embodied the incumbent paradigm of leadership: a visible founder cultivating deep relationships with agents and distributors, reinvesting earnings into manufacturing capacity, and personally championing the Liteline brand. The early business was built around lenses and components, solving practical problems for distributors and contractors and steadily expanding its catalog as it mastered the fluorescent and early electronic eras.

As LED emerged and began to disrupt the industry’s assumptions shifting value from lamps to integrated systems, optics, and controls the family recognized that the old playbook would not be enough. The move from lenses and components into fully integrated LED solutions marked a true paradigm shift for Liteline, changing not just what it sold, but how it thought about design, manufacturing, and innovation.

Under Steve Silverstein’s leadership, and with Sarah, Mark and Dan deeply involved, Liteline began operationalizing this new LED paradigm through product families such as LUNA, Sigma, Helios, Genesis, KLICK and FORUM. These series introduced features like field‑selectable CCT and wattage, innovative trimless solutions, and high‑output, low‑glare performance to address persistent “anomalies” of legacy fixtures: SKU proliferation, installation complexity, and inflexible light. FORUM was first to market with a colour‑selectable switch, and LUNA led the market as the industry’s first wet‑location‑rated adjustable downlight, earning IES recognitions along the way.

This shift in product strategy required a corresponding shift in manufacturing and infrastructure. The expanded manufacturing and testing facility in Richmond Hill is more than a capacity upgrade; it is a strategic statement that the future of Liteline innovation will be engineered, built, tested, and refined in Canada. Liteline engineers, configures, wires, tests, and finishes fixtures and solutions domestically, turning a bill of materials of imported and Canadian components into architectural and commercial lighting products for the North American market.

Daniel’s own progression from junior fabricator to Co‑President mirrors this evolution. His early years assembling displays and seeing firsthand how products are presented to distributors and contractors give him a grounded sense of what matters on the counter, on site, or at the designer’s desk: installation ease, clear value, and a story that resonates in seconds. That frontline perspective is especially important in a world of never‑ending paradigm shifts, when the industry is moving from conventional luminaires to intelligent, connected systems and needs leaders who understand how abstract technology changes the day‑to‑day of those who specify, stock, and install the product.

Today, Liteline’s second‑generation leadership is deliberately building on that foundation with an even sharper focus on innovation, ease of installation, and application‑driven design. The co‑presidency model shared by Daniel, Mark, and Sarah reflects the complexity of modern lighting: one sibling may lean deeper into operations and manufacturing, another into sales and customer relationships, and another into product and brand strategy. Together their shared leadership structure reduces dependence on any one individual and creates a built‑in forum for challenging assumptions, exactly what is needed when an industry is navigating a paradigm shift and the rules for success are being rewritten.

With that leadership model in place, Liteline has continued development of the Richmond Hill facility. What was once expanded for capacity is now structured for flexibility. Beyond assembly and testing, the facility incorporates board-level integration and specialized configuration areas, allowing Liteline to install LED boards in-house and move further upstream in the manufacturing process. This added depth is not simply vertical integration for its own sake; it enables tighter quality control, faster iteration, and the ability to respond to project-specific demands.

The practical result is a growing range of small-aperture and architectural fixtures capable of full-colour and tunable-white performance, assembled and validated domestically. By controlling more of the production environment in Canada, Liteline can balance two pressures that increasingly define the market: customization and simplicity. Contractors require efficiency and predictability on site; designers seek flexibility and nuance in light. The expanded facility is designed to serve both.

Looking ahead, Daniel sees controls as the next major paradigm shift: a world where DMX, Wi‑Fi, and other protocols make colour, intensity, and distribution as flexible as the spaces they serve. Liteline is already positioned for that future with OnCloud products for Wi‑Fi‑based control and a growing range of RGBTW fixtures compatible with DMX, giving designers and integrators a platform for dynamic scenes, tunable environments, and immersive experiences across applications.

From custom-cut lenses to fully integrated LED platforms, Liteline has consistently evolved alongside the industry’s defining shifts. Today, innovation and ease of installation remain foundational, even as expectations around interoperability and control continue to expand. The company’s growing in-house capability and its emphasis on adaptable product design reflect a practical understanding of where the market is headed — toward more configurable, more connected environments that still demand simplicity at the point of installation. Under second-generation leadership, Liteline’s trajectory is not a departure from its past, but a continuation of its core discipline: respond to change with engineering depth, operational control, and products that make complexity manageable.

To learn more about Liteline, visit their website HERE.

Guillevin.com was built as a digital working tool, designed to support the way their customers plan, search for, and purchase products today. The goal is simple: to offer a fast, reliable, and intuitive online platform capable of supporting real-world operations; both on the job site and in the office.

A platform built around the customer experience

The development of Guillevin.com is based on a customer-centric approach. Every decision was guided by one clear principle: making access to information, products, and features simpler and more efficient.

The site was designed to support:

• fast access to information
• purchase planning
• online transactions
• project and account management

A modern, fast, and reliable infrastructure

Guillevin.com is built on a robust infrastructure designed to deliver smooth navigation and consistent performance. The platform can support a high volume of users and transactions while maintaining a stable and secure experience.

It also reflects the realities of the Canadian market, including bilingual support, regional considerations, branch-based operations, and locally relevant information; ensuring a consistent experience regardless of location.

A partnership with Shopify for a strong, scalable e-commerce platform

Guillevin.com relies on Shopify, a globally recognized e-commerce platform known for its reliability, performance, and scalability. This technology provides a faster, more stable, and better-structured website to support product searches, transactions, and online account management.

For customers, this means smoother navigation, faster load times, and a consistent experience; even during peak traffic periods. Shopify delivers a solid technological foundation that allows Guillevin to continuously evolve the platform while maintaining a reliable and secure online experience.

Smarter search powered by Coveo’s artificial intelligence

To further improve the search experience, Guillevin partnered with Coveo, a Canadian technology company specializing in intelligent search and digital experience solutions. Coveo uses artificial intelligence to better understand user intent and deliver more relevant results.

On Guillevin.com, this technology helps customers find the right products and information faster; without changing how they search. The result: less time spent navigating and greater efficiency in day-to-day work.

A refreshed brand aligned with the digital experience

The launch of Guillevin.com is also supported by a refreshed brand image. The visual identity has been modernized to reflect a forward-looking organization while remaining consistent with the company’s values.

This evolution results in clearer presentation, better content structure, and a visual experience aligned with current digital standards. The goal is to provide a more current, readable, and enjoyable online environment that complements the new platform.

In summary

Guillevin.com is a modern platform designed to make distribution simpler, more efficient, and better aligned with today’s realities.

A digital tool built for customers, supported by strong technology partnerships and a brand identity in step with its time.

By Electro-Federation Canada

Following EFC’s recent update on our 2026 Ottawa Day, we are pleased to share photo highlights from two days of engagement on Parliament Hill, where members met with federal decision-makers to discuss the future of Canada’s electricity system.

More than 40 EFC member leaders and Government Relations representatives travelled to Ottawa to participate in a full schedule of meetings with Members of Parliament, Senators, and federal officials to discuss the role of the electrical and automation industry in supporting Canada’s energy transition.

Meeting with MP Ernie Klassen (South Surrey—White Rock) 

Over two days, EFC delegations participated in more than 25 meetings with parliamentarians, senior policy staff, and federal departments, sharing insights from across the electrical supply chain and highlighting the importance of expanding and modernizing Canada’s electricity grid.

Ottawa Day provides an important opportunity for EFC members to bring their expertise directly to policymakers. Through these conversations, participants discussed reliable electricity infrastructure, resilient supply chains, and the technologies needed to support Canada’s growing energy demand.

Visiting House of Commons Question Period 

In addition to meetings with parliamentarians, EFC delegations also engaged officials from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), and Environment and Climate Change Canada, as well as senior policy advisors responsible for energy systems, industrial strategy, and trade.

Below are some of the parliamentarians EFC members had the opportunity to meet with during Ottawa Day:

• MP Michael Barrett (Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes)
• MP David Bexte (Bow River)
• MP Raquel Dancho (Kildonan—St. Paul)
• MP John-Paul Danko (Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas)
• MP Ted Falk (Provencher)
• MP Iqwinder Gaheer (Mississauga—Malton)
• MP Bernard Généreux (Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata)
• MP Jacques Gourde (Lévis—Lotbinière)
• MP Lori Idlout (Nunavut)
• MP Ernie Klassen (South Surrey—White Rock)
• MP Alexandre Mendes (Brossard—Saint-Lambert)
• MP Dominique O’Rourke (Guelph)
• MP Blake Richards (Airdrie—Cochrane)
• MP Mario Simard (Jonquière)
• MP Eric St-Pierre (Honoré-Mercier)
• MP Shannon Stubbs (Lakeland)
• MP Cory Tochor (Saskatoon—University)
• Hon. John Zerucelli (Etobicoke North)

Meeting with Hon. John Zerucelli (Etobicoke North) 

Continuing the Dialogue on Canada’s Electricity Future  

Ottawa Day highlights the value of direct engagement between EFC members and federal decision-makers. By bringing industry expertise to Parliament Hill, our members help ensure policymakers understand the practical realities of building and modernizing Canada’s electricity system. 

These conversations are a key part of EFC’s ongoing advocacy efforts, and we look forward to continuing to work with government and industry partners as Canada’s electricity transition accelerates. 

Robust linear floodlights feature precision optics, integrated controls and 18 dedicated mounting options

Hydrel has announced the introduction of its Ridge luminaire. With its low-profile linear form, enhanced beam control, and 18 mounting options, Ridge seamlessly integrates in a variety of lighting schemes and projects of all sizes.

The Ridge luminaire family features RGBW Quad Tech designed with a Power Scaling driver to deliver vibrant color saturation without sacrificing lumen output. Precise resolution can be controlled down to just one foot, enabling highly detailed and accurate lighting designs. Ridge delivers up to 2,100 lumens per foot for static white and 1,700 lumens per foot for RGBW, depending on the selected options.

In addition to its low-profile design and tighter LED packaging, Ridge offers precise beam control and excellent thermal management.

Ridge is available in 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-foot nominal lengths, with a continuous run option. Its 1-foot length can be used in non-linear, circular projects.

With 18 adjustable mounting options, the Ridge linear family empowers designers to create highly detailed and accurate lighting designs, even with short setbacks or limited space. Its broad range of outdoor applications includes towers, bridges, tunnels, stadiums, and building facades. 

All Ridge luminaires feature a robust die-cast aluminum construction that provides an impermeable barrier, backed by IK10 and IP67 ratings. Certain mounting options are certified to 3G and 5G vibration levels, making the luminaire ideal for large-scale projects like bridges and high-rise buildings.  

Ridge is compatible with a wide range of industry-standard control protocols, including 0-10V, phase dimming, DMX, and DALI. It is also enabled for Acuity Brands’ Animate Controller by nLight®. 

Arani’s DLC approved dimmable 2ft x4ft LED ceiling panels, the perfect choice for commercial lighting needs. These versatile LED panel lights are designed to seamlessly integrate into drop ceilings and false ceilings, offering a sleek and modern lighting solution.

Experience effortless control over your lighting environment with the convenience of a wireless remote. Customize the colour temperature of these 2×4 LED panels, ranging from warm 3000K to cool 5000K, to create the desired ambiance for any space. Achieve the perfect brightness level with the dimming feature, adjustable from 0% to 100%.

Arani’s LED backlit panels feature a frosted lens that ensures an even and beautifully diffused light output, adding a touch of elegance to any setting. Whether you prefer recessed, surface-mounted, or suspended installation, these thin and backlit panels are designed to meet your needs.

Perfect for offices, commercial buildings, and various other commercial applications, these dimmable LED panels offer exceptional lighting performance. They are compatible with a regular wall switch and require a 120-277VAC power supply for operation.

Remote Control (PL-V3-REMOTE) is sold separately.

NETCO has announced they have added two new courses to their Learning Management System, Electrical Safety – Arc Flash & Shock Based on Z-462-24 and Solar Photovoltaic Installation and Maintenance Training for Construction Electricians.

NETCO’s courses are online and self-paced. Contact your IBEW Canada Training Centre for information on enrollment.

Electrical Safety – Arc Flash & Shock Based on Z-462-24

Arc flash and Shock Safety is designed to educate electricians on proper safety measures and procedures to prevent accident or injury caused by arc flash and electrical shock. Participants will learn about the dangers and causes of arc flash and electrical shock, the types of personal protective equipment (PPE) required, and how to properly use and maintain PPE.

This course will cover Canadian regulations and standards related to arc flash and shock safety, as well as best practices for working safely on electrical equipment. Following course completion, participants will have the knowledge to keep themselves and their colleagues safe, while working with electrical equipment.

Solar Photovoltaic Installation and Maintenance Training for Construction Electricians

The Construction Electrician (NOC 7241) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems Certified (PVSC) Personnel Certification has been developed by CSA Group in conjunction with the National Electrical Trade Council (NETCO) and industry stakeholders to provide assurance that an individual possesses the competencies deemed necessary to perform the job function of a Solar Photovoltaic Systems Certified electrician.

This certification has been developed in compliance with the ISO 17024 standard. ISO 17024 is the global benchmark for organizations operating personnel certification programs and outlines the methods and procedures required to ensure the objective and unbiased assessment of a candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Passing the PVSC examination will indicate that the candidate possesses the knowledge, skills, and decision-making abilities necessary to practice the proper techniques to pre-plan, implement, configure, install, commission, troubleshoot and maintain solar PV systems.

Liteline brings the simplicity of DMX control to small-aperture, full-color point source lighting, from rich RGB accents to powerful tunable white. Designed for seamless integration across lighting layouts, fixtures can be individually addressed through constant-current DMX decoders or grouped together within a single system. The result is greater flexibility and control, with full-spectrum color tuning and smooth, flicker-free dimming from 100% to 0%, with no dropout.

Create warm, inviting scenes or vibrant, energetic spaces all with smooth dimming, white tuning, and rich RGB color that responds exactly how you want. Liteline’s professional-grade, small-aperture point source lighting is compatible with DMX control, including downlights, track, and pendants.

Designed for seamless integration across lighting layouts, fixtures can be controlled individually or grouped to create an integrated experience across your projects. From performance venues and houses of worship to custom homes, hospitality environments, and architectural interiors, our fixtures are designed to work cohesively together within a single system.

Wiha’s colour coded nut setters are designed with high-visibility colour-coding and laser-engraved size callouts for quick and easy identification. The nut setters have a solid shaft to provide strength and durability for long-lasting repetitive use. Wiha colour coded nut setters are impact-rated for use in power tools.

The nut setters feature industrial-strength magnets that securely retain fasteners to give you the freedom of one-handed work applications. 6-inch long magnetic nut setters come with a standard 1/4-inch hex drive making it easy to work in limited access environments. This three piece SAE set includes 1/4″, 5/16″, and 3/8″ sizes for a wide variety of applications. Wiha nut setters are built for a long duration. Colour coded nut setters are made of premium quality CrMo tool steel and have a durable finish for corrosion protection.

Nut setters are precision-formed for exact-fit to reduce fastener cam-out that can lead to injury or damage to finished materials. The socket openings feature a beveled rim for easy fastener engagement with a broached and smooth finish for prolonged life.

Features

• Set included 1/4″, 5/16″, and 3/8″ SAE Nut Setters
• High-Visibility Colour Coding – Allows quick and easy size identification for faster, more efficient work.
• Magnetic Nut Setters – SAE sizes on a standard 1/4-inch hex drive provide universal compatibility with common tools.
• Exact-Fit Precision Machined Tip – Reduces cam-out and protects fastener heads during operation.
• Impact Rated to 700 in/lbs – Delivers maximum performance with Li-ion impact drivers for demanding applications.
• Cold-Forged Chromium-Molybdenum Alloy Steel (CrMo) – Ensures exceptional strength, toughness, and long-term durability.
• Broached and Clear-Coated Openings – Provide added corrosion protection for extended tool life.
• Radiused Corners – Prevent fastener head round-off for safer and more reliable use.
• 6-Inch (152 mm) Overall Length – Offers extended reach for fasteners in recessed or hard-to-access areas.
• Standard 1/4-Inch Hex Drive – Provides universal compatibility with a wide range of power and hand tools.
• Backed by the Wiha No Hassle Guarantee

The NEXUS Modular Light Bar is a refined, low-profile solution for coves, cabinetry, retail or hospitality spaces, and architectural environments.

Seamless runs up to 20 meters and precision connectors enable custom configurations and continuous lighting.

The Nexus features a slim extruded aluminum housing and frosted polycarbonate lens, delivering smooth, uniform illumination within a low-profile architectural form. Designed for precision and visual continuity, the Nexus connects effortlessly to form clean, lines of light, featuring multiple lengths and easily linkable components that create seamless, continuous connections.

Amendments to existing legislation will mean more housing, improved efficiency in the sector and better alignment of related agencies.

The changes extend the Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality and give the Minister of Housing new authority to ensure housing projects aren’t delayed.

“We are strengthening how we plan, build and deliver housing across the province,” said John White, Minister of Housing. “These changes will help us act faster and reduce the barriers that slow down housing projects so that more Nova Scotians will have access to the homes they need.”

Changes to the Housing Supply and Services Act:

• make the Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency advisory board optional to provide flexibility and ensure consistency with other government agencies
• repeal interim board provisions.

Changes to the Housing in Halifax Regional Municipality Act:

• extend the Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality by two years
• give the Minister of Housing new order-making authority with Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and Halifax Water to improve co-ordination of water, wastewater and infrastructure that enables growth so housing projects can move ahead without delays and stay affordable over the long term.

Changes to the Municipal Government Act and the Halifax Regional Municipal Charter:

• give councils the ability to delegate oversight and performance management of a municipality’s chief administrative officer (CAO) to a council committee
• give councils explicit discretion to exclude or limit participation of their CAO in discussions and training sessions related to their performance
• clarify councils’ ability to manage CAO participation on external boards and committees, aligning CAO priorities with council expectations
• clarify councils’ ability to decide on long-term delegation of their CAO’s responsibilities during extended absences
• introduce mandatory orientation training for newly elected municipal councillors to ensure consistent understanding of responsibilities across the province
• provide the Minister of Municipal Affairs with temporary regulated authority to amend HRM’s urban service area boundary to build out the infrastructure needed to support sustainable growth.

Updates are also being made to some of those acts and the Short Term Rentals Registration Act to reflect the current ministerial title and appropriate departmental oversight.

The legislation, titled An Act Respecting Administrative Measures for Housing, is part of the Province’s ongoing commitment to increase housing supply.

Quick Facts:

• the executive panel on housing has helped advance more than 60,000 housing units in HRM
• housing has been identified as one of six key priority areas to grow the economy and strengthen Nova Scotia’s gross domestic product; this priority is supported by the government’s five-year housing plan, Our Homes, Action for Housing

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