On Demand | IPMI Learning Lab

How to Make Parking Work for People: Kitchener’s Trust-First Approach to Parking Tech

📆 Presented May 2025

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AI-based enforcement makes parking enforcement safer and more consistent by solving several practical challenges. Officers no longer need to stop and park in busy school zones, fewer drivers avoid penalties by leaving when they spot enforcement in progress, and staff face fewer confrontations and safety risks.

Officers still review tickets before they are finalized, which helps reduce errors and increases the acceptance rate for tickets in school zones.

AI cameras can automatically detect violations as officers drive through, which means every violation is captured more evenly. That reduces claims of unfair ticketing, lowers the need for in-person confrontations, and helps create safer conditions for officers.

By doubling parking enforcement to twice a week in every school zone, Kitchener authorities saw a significant 25-35% increase in parking ticket revenue from November 2024 to June 2025.

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Ticket-by-Mail for On-Street Enforcement

Learn how Ticket-by Mail and Invoice-by Mail work.

View the Infographic

Meet the Speakers

Mike Bourre

VP Sales & Marketing,
gtechna
Mike is an expert in Electronics and Instrumentation Technologies and has more than 30 years of experience in the tech industry. He brings with him practical experience in a variety of tech business ventures across a number of verticals spanning a global market. Mike’s been with gtechna for 10 years as VP of Sales and Marketing.
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Ian Misheal

The City of Kitchener,
Innovation in Parking Operations and Programs Award Winner
Ian Misheal leads parking enforcement initiatives for the City of Kitchener and has helped pioneer an innovative approach to school zone safety using AI-powered License Plate Recognition (LPR) and Ticket-by-Mail enforcement. The program, the first of its kind in Ontario, improves safety around schools by automating violation detection, providing clear photo evidence, and reducing the need for direct officer intervention.
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Ben Pisch

VP Clients and Markets NA,
SenSen
Ben Pisch is a seasoned parking management expert with over 8 years of experience in overseeing and enhancing parking operations. His leadership roles at the City of Calgary and the University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan have provided him with extensive knowledge in managing large-scale parking systems. Ben is particularly skilled in enforcement strategies and ticket-by-mail operations, and is known for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of parking services in complex urban and institutional environments. Since joining SenSen in 2021, he has successfully paired his deep operational expertise with AI-driven technologies, giving him a well-rounded ability to tackle parking management challenges through innovative, technology-based solutions.
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About Kitchener

The City of Kitchener is one of Canada’s fastest-growing urban centers. It’s located in Ontario, about 100 kilometers west of Toronto and part of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, along with its "twin city" Waterloo and the neighboring city of Cambridge.

  • City Population: 292,000 people
  • Metropolitan Population: 670,000 residents
  • Student Population: Over 100,000 students in the region
  • Urban Density: 1,900 people per km²

The city’s rapidly growing population is putting a strain on parking capacity, making efficient management and enforcement crucial to ensure safety, maintain accessibility, and keep traffic flowing smoothly, particularly in the busy downtown areas and near schools. 

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Measurable Results

100%

more tickets issued
in first 6 months

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35%

increase in ticket volume after compliance improved over 6 months

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100%

acceptance
rate in school zones

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50%

education in enforcement coverage time

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Impact in Enforcement Coverage

  • Fewer errors/fewer complaints ⇒ photo records enable reviews
  • Consistent enforcement ⇒ reduced claims of unfair targeting
  • Safer officers ⇒ reduced in-person confrontations
  • Positive public perception ⇒ strong support for fairness and safety​
  • Internal pride and morale ⇒ staff feel empowered, proud to work in a “smart city” using cutting-edge tech
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