Canada has a long standing history of contributions to the field of photonics. Photonics research occurs at a number of universities across the country as well as in government research labs. The Canadian photonics industry includes small start-ups to large scale corporations, many of which are involved in research. It is estimated that photonics is a $6 billion industry in Canada that employs more than 24000 people. Photonics clusters can be found in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City—cities that are also home to universities where world renowned photonics research takes place. In this special issue, we present a highlight of recent research activities in Canada. Prominent researchers across the country have contributed papers on topics ranging from optical and wireless communications, fiber and integrated technologies, and quantum photonics.