Leamington Business Convicted and Fined $100,000 for Hiring an Unlicensed Electrical Contractor

EIN ESA Leamington 400

Nov 11, 2020

On February 7, 2020, Great Lakes Greenhouses Inc. of Leamington pled guilty and was convicted in an Ontario Provincial Offences Court for hiring an unlicensed contractor to do electrical work and fined $100,000 plus a victim surcharge fee, for a total of $125,000. In 2018, Great Lakes Greenhouse hired an unlicensed contractor to perform certain work, including electrical work at their greenhouse facility. 

An Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) investigation determined that a worker received a fatal shock while working on wiring carrying 600 volts of electricity that had not been disconnected from power. ESA charged Shawn Reidl, operating as SR Sprinklers, with operating as an unlicensed electrical contractor. The matter is currently before the court and is awaiting trial. 

“Allowing unlicensed and untrained electrical contractors to work with electricity can lead to tragic consequences for all concerned. A family lost a loved one; a business was convicted and fined and will continue to operate with knowledge of this incident and a community of Leamington was shocked and devastated,” says Soussanna Karas, Director of Licensing, Electrical Safety Authority. “This is an important reminder that business owners and operators must understand legal requirements when hiring people to do electrical work. It’s the law in Ontario that only Licensed Electrical Contractors can be hired to do so.”

In Ontario, any business that offers or performs electrical work must be licensed by the Electrical Safety Authority. The Licensed Electrical Contractor must abide by the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, and other applicable laws. As per the terms of the licence, the Licensed Electrical Contractor must meet obligations related to the supervisory, administrative and safety requirements of carrying out electrical work.

Great Lakes Greenhouse Inc.’s fine includes a 25 per cent victim surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

To learn more about the obligations related to electrical work, go to the ESA website at esasafe.com. Resources there include a searchable database of all Licensed Electrical Contractors in Ontario.  

Source

Related Articles


Latest Articles


Changing Scene

  • Luxxbox Launches Quick Ship Program to Accelerate Project Timelines

    Luxxbox Launches Quick Ship Program to Accelerate Project Timelines

    July 16, 2025 Luxxbox announces the launch of its new Quick Ship Program, designed to provide architects, designers, and project managers in the United States and Canada with expedited access to a curated selection of their most in-demand acoustic lighting products. With a two-week turnaround from order to dispatch, the program ensures that project timelines… Read More…

  • ECS Earns Platinum Status for 8th Consecutive Year in Canada’s Best Managed Companies Program

    ECS Earns Platinum Status for 8th Consecutive Year in Canada’s Best Managed Companies Program

    July 16, 2025 Electrical Cable Supply (ECS), Canada’s largest independently owned wire and cable distributors, is proud to announce its re-certification with the prestigious Platinum designation in Deloitte’s Canada’s Best Managed Companies program for the eighth consecutive year. This announcement recognizes ECS’s sustained excellence in strategy, innovation, culture, and strong financial performance. The Canada’s Best… Read More…

  • Nexans Canada Partners with Skills Compétences Canada to Sponsor WorldSkills Team Canada 2026

    Nexans Canada Partners with Skills Compétences Canada to Sponsor WorldSkills Team Canada 2026

    July 16, 2025 Nexans has announced its partnership with Skills Compétences Canada (SCC), a not-for-profit organization that actively promotes careers in skilled trades and technologies. As part of the partnership, Nexans will sponsor WorldSkills Team Canada 2026 as they prepare to compete at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, taking place in Shanghai, China, from September 22 to 27, 2026. “At Nexans,… Read More…

  • OEL Apprentice Success Project Available Until March 2026

    OEL Apprentice Success Project Available Until March 2026

    July 14, 2025 With renewed funding by Ontario’s Skills Development Fund, the OEL Apprentice Success Project is now available for another year until March 2026. The project is part of OEL’s Employer Engagement Program (EEP) consisting of wage, training, and equipment subsidies for apprentices. These funding opportunities are available to OEL Members and non-Members. For… Read More…