Daniel Germain

Daniel Joined the Board of Directors of the CPA in 2010, and has served as a director and in each of the Executive Positions on the Board.  He is currently the Past President.

Daniel German experience spans over 30 years with his initial introduction  in parking equipment sales with Cincinnati ( Amano) to the  parking management side  as an Operations Manager and Shareholder  with Gestiparc in 1998.

At that time, Gestiparc  was a  new Quebec based company operating in Montreal but under his leadership, contributed to its unprecedented  growth  expanding in Ottawa with the eventual sale  to a leading global parking company VINCI Park in 2004.

Since 2004 and to his eventual retirement in 2021,  he lead VINCI Park ( now Indigo) in the capacity of Operations Vice-President/COO  to become one of the leading National Parking Management companies based on size, market share and contract value.

He provided the proven leadership, innovation and management philosophy to expand  by  opening new offices throughout Canada ( Vancouver to Halifax)leading all  due diligence and eventual     acquisition  of  7  parking companies and driving new business lines and sectors including a successful Airport Division.

Daniel was instrumental in fostering a new philosophy in the parking management industry  be delivering new and innovative  ideas  and   each  corresponding success  eventually  changed the industry as a   whole.

Some of his many achievements include:

• Providing incentivized parking contracts based on hitting targets, SLA’s and other benchmarks with a focus  on the parking operator to produce results and away  form  traditional contracts.
• Establishig a Business Intelligence Division to provide further analytical data and insight to support each contract.
• Creation of  a 24/7  Customer Assistance  Support service that was Nationally used  and Bilingual to support all parking locations.
• Introduction of a “white glove”  valet component to compliment  a full turnkey parking management  solution required in many airports, hotels and retail setting across Canada.
• First to deliver pay by phone, cashless payments and live  intercom assistance to any  National transportation contract deploying Pay by Plate only technology.
• Instrumental in the conversion of non gated to fully automated gated systems throughout Canada and utilizing various companies.
• Integrating reservation platforms with most equipment suppliers across Canada.
• Lead a team of  over 2500 employees including 10 regional offices.

In addition to Daniel’s many accomplishments, he has been, and remains a mentor to many in the industry.

When Anna Marie first joined the parking industry in 2001, she knew the pathway to success would be in creating a superior customer experience, focused on anticipating need and delighting the customer. Over the years, Anna Marie has transformed the parking experience at the City of Guelph. Her strong commitment to the customer would be the main driver of her hard work and passion for years to come. Anna Marie’s approach was to follow customer insights and respond by integrating physical and technological advances to achieve both operational and customer-friendly benefits. Anna Marie is a leader in driving the industry forward.

In April of 2001, Anna Marie accepted the position of Parking Technician with the City of Guelph. Anna Marie’s hard work, dedication and “do whatever it takes” attitude resulted in her promotion to a management position as Supervisor of Parking Facilities in April 2004.

Continuing to pursue parking excellence, Anna Marie received the CPA designation “Canadian Certified Parking Facility Manager” in 2006 and was awarded the Ed Keate Award for outstanding contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the parking industry in 2007.

In her role as supervisor at the City of Guelph, Anna Marie has consistently demonstrated her commitment to employee development, learning and enrichment. A keen mentor, Anna Marie has provided leadership and enthusiasm to the team over her tenure as they faced new challenges, new technologies, changing customer expectations and an ever-evolving industry.

It is difficult to assess the impact Anna Marie has had on parking operations in the City of Guelph and in the industry in Canada. Her contributions are varied and many. Recognized repeatedly for her innovative and exceptional commitment to customer service, Anna Marie has been the recipient on behalf of the City of Guelph or personally of numerous Canadian Parking Association industry awards and is regarded at the City of Guelph as an early-adopter of technology, a strong presence in her industry and a trusted mentor to whom her team turns for knowledge, problem solving, passion and a strong focus on delighting the customer.

Nigel Bullers, EasyPark

Nigel first joined the parking industry in 2013, he knew the pathway to success would not only require a superior customer experience, but also finding new and innovative ways to reach the market through messaging and branding. Nigel embarked on a consumer-focused product development innovation strategy. Nigel set out to find out what the industry needed. By listening to employees and customers and responding to their feedback, Nigel knew that creating a collaborative environment and fostering relationships with all stakeholders was the best way to be able to not only deliver what they wanted and needed, but also was the type of transparency that has been one of the keys to growth as a company.

The transformation started within the organization. Establishing a strong cultural commitment to employees, was critical to the success he envisioned over the next 5 years. He understood that it was his job to first inspire and support the dedicated women and men that made up the organization. He knew that their hard work and passion would be the main drivers for years to come.

With the internal transformation taking shape by empowering leaders, recruiting top talent and enabling the teams to innovate and explore ways to disrupt the parking industry, the next phase began to take shape in regards to reinventing the Corporate Brand in the marketplace. The reassessment of all EasyPark locations with a key focus to modernize, adopt leading edge technology, adopt innovation, expand reporting capabilities, upgrade fraud detection and reduction analytics began. Nigel’s approach was to seek integration of physical and technology components to achieve both operational and customer friendly benefits.

Some of the key milestones include:

• Unprecedented growth in EasyPark mobile payment services for EasyPark App and Verrus PaybyPhone measured in increased usage, user adaption, realized revenue, reduced operating costs, improved customer safety and satisfaction. Current statistics show some locations at 70% – 75% app usage following marketing initiatives. EasyPark started at 3-5% 5 years ago and the current industry average is 15 – 20%.  EasyPark has 24 locations that are now App only.
• Increased payment capabilities for EasyPark customers by launching the acceptance of Debit, Credit Card Express entry & exit, Apple Pay, EasyPark’s own reloadable/draw down multi-site FlexPass, AliPay, and WeChat Pay for all attended facilities. In addition, PayPal launched at all unattended locations.
• Explored, implemented, and integrated data analytic platforms. Realized the beneficial use of dashboards to develop capabilities of improving brand visibility
• Increased the number of EV Charging Stations, introduced a Waterless Eco Carwash Program, and a hybrid and fully electric fleet.
• First in North America to integrate and accept multiple mobile payment applications. Currently accepting EasyPark Parking App, Honk Mobile, PayByPhone (Verrus) and soon to be accepting ParkMobile.
• Implementation of TIS – Automated Parking Guidance System (APGS) at the flagship CF Pacific Centre location – changed the way customers parked by utilizing vehicle detecting systems, saving parkers time an increasing operational efficiency. First to North America, and now leading the way for other facilities to utilize this innovation in their facilities.

This hard work and tremendous innovation resulted in a 7-year growth from $28M in 2013 to an astounding $46M in 2019. Nigel’s innovation, leadership and passion for the parking industry has helped the organization reimagine how parking shapes the community in which we do business.

Randy Topolniski, Winnipeg Parking Authority

The Winnipeg Parking Authority has continued to build on their record of technical and organizational achievements over many years including:

• One of the first Canadian Cities to use digital photography to support its enforcement process;
• One of the first to deploy GPS solutions for enforcement officer safety and performance;
• An early adopter of LPR technology to transition to virtual parking permits;
• Use of real time wireless systems to connect enforcement officers with tow truck services;
• Adoption of A.I. based intuitive routing/dispatching systems to guide service requests;
• Transfer of Taxi Board functions to the Winnipeg Parking Authority;
• Active promotion of Pay by Cell technology to a current use rate of about 30%.

For their dedication to continuous improvement and the adoption of innovative systems and technology, Randy Topolniski – Chief Operating Officer and the Winnipeg Parking Authority are the 2018 Ted Seeberg Award winners for their “Outstanding Contribution to the Canadian Parking Industry”.     

Rick Duffy, WPS Canada Inc.

As immediate Past President, Rick has served the Canadian parking industry in many ways including service on the CPA Board for eleven years as President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary, after several years as a Director.  Rick represented the Supplier and Vendor sector, providing insight into exhibiting suppliers’ needs and concerns, as well as contributing to the development and understanding of industry trends regarding parking access and revenue control (PARCS) technology.

He has facilitated discussion and advanced technical knowledge in his capacity of Chair of the Toronto Chapter by moderating panels and making presentations at many conferences.

With tongue in cheek, it has been noted that when Rick first joined the board he did not have any grey hair!

Janice Legace, Parking Manager, City of Fredericton

Janice has been in the position of Parking Manager for the City of Fredericton for over 15 Years and has been an active member of CPA for the same amount of time. During her years as a member of the CPA, she sat on the Board of Directors in early 2000 representing the Atlantic Provinces and Municipality sector for a few years. Recently, Janice rejoined the Board and is currently holding the Executive position of Secretary to the Board.

Over the years, Janice has been instrumental in keeping the geographically challenged Atlantic region as a cohesive group. She has been involved with assisting the CPA to organize the Saint John Conference in 1998, the Charlottetown Conference in 2005 and being instrumental in organizing and chairing several CPA Atlantic Chapter events and recruiting new members.

Janice actively participates in much of the networking by engaging discussion, asking the tough questions and offering advice and perspective from her experiences working in parking, sometimes taking the opposing positions on hot topics to keep the discussions informative and fun. Janice’s evolvement in parking goes without notice and for these reasons, is a very worthy recipient of the Ted Seeberg Award.

“I want to let everyone know how very delighted I was to receive the2015 Ted Seeberg Award.  It is quite an honour because it comes from those that matter— those that know what it means to be a Parking Professional.  We all contribute in our own way to the parking industry.  Here’s to all of you for all you do.   You are all award winners in my book.”

Lorne Persiko

From behind the scenes, Lorne Persiko has influenced the parking industry, not only by his own contributions but also by how he influences others. He is a strategic thinker, and an innovator, but more than that, he’s a catalyst. Not shy about speaking his mind, Lorne stimulates discussion and thought beyond our Canadian context through presentations at places like Atlantic City and Chicago, and at the World Parking Symposium in various countries.

But it’s not just about ideas and talk, Lorne has been a tireless contributor who simply gets things done.  Congratulations Lorne, and thank you for your contribution to the Parking Industry, in Canada and beyond.

Norma Carswell

The Ted Seeberg Award was presented to Norma Carswell for her commitment and outstanding contribution to the parking industry that goes beyond her organization. In  1988 Norma Carswell began her career in the parking industry, the department grew and became increasingly complex.  Norma embraced new technology and led her department to become pioneers in many new areas.  She has worked tirelessly to support the CPA and encourage professionalism in the industry.

Carole Whitehorne

Carole Whitehorne is the Executive Director of the CPA.  Carole would tell you that the strength of the CPA is due to the work of many people, and she’s right.  But she played a huge part in the CPA’s success.  The Canadian Parking Association is a strong, vibrant and above all financially strong organization that brings tremendous benefit to its members.

Carole’s guidance and fiscal management were major factors that helped the CPA to become as strong finanicially as it is today.  Carole’s vibrant and forceful personality has influenced the CPA’s growth and success.  It has been said that “she knows when to swing a big stick and when not to”.

Sharon Lewinson

ACT Canada

Sharon Lewinson is a professional engineer focused on transportation demand management and has been a trailblazer in the area of sustainable mobility.  She is the President of the national Canadian TDM/Sustainable Mobility association, ACT Canada and has been on the Canadian Parking Association Board of Directors since 2018.   She is also the CEO of RideShark, a company delivering commute management platforms across North America.

She recently received the Institute of Transportation Engineers Canada National Capital Section 2023 AM Khan Lifetime Achievement Award, the Algonquin College 2022 Outstanding Contribution to Algonquin College Cooperative Education Award, has been on the Transportation Research Board Transportation Demand Management Committee.

Sharon Lewinson has made a difference by working hard to educate people regarding the link between parking and transportation demand management by volunteering and collaborating with the Canadian Parking Association, starting back in 2006.

Working together with Carole Whitehorne, our CPA Executive Director, Sharon helped to ensure that parking and the CPA was part of every ACT Canada event, Similarly, Sharon helped to bring a sustainable mobility lens to the CPA through joint conferences, speakers, or articles.

Thank you, Sharon, for helping the CPA understand the trends in mobility affecting the parking industry and for helping us educate others in the transportation planning world regarding the importance of parking.

Scott Wallace

As a long time member of the CPA, Scott joined the Board of directors in 2006, serving as Director for several years. Scott was appointed to the Executive Committee and served as Vice President, President and Past President from 2016 – 2019.

As an accomplished Professional Structural Engineer with RJC Engineers (Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd.), Scott has lead and been involved with the Structural and Functional plan designs of dozens of parkades across Canada and across the world, including some very large designs under the beaches of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and for Airports in the rapidly expanding the Far East. His biggest positive impact of course has been right here at home where he has been appreciated best. He has assisted many University, Airport, Municipal, Residential and Commercial operators of parkades in their efforts to successfully resolve functional plans and cost effective designs for their much-needed renovations and new infrastructure needs.

Past leaders of RJC were contributors to successful parkade design as early as the 1950’s and 60’s; long before Scott came along but, he has built upon the work of people like Ted Seeberg, Ted Stone and Norm Webster, to create a lasting legacy of parking knowledge within RJC.

His commitment to the parking industry has extended beyond RJC for a number of decades with his involvement with the CPA, many of those years as a member of the Board and the Executive. Throughout his time with the CPA, he made it a mandate to share his knowledge of parkade design with all members through conferences, publications, as well as informal discussions in the Exhibition Halls and networking sessions over the years. He has presented innovative parkade project designs so members may appreciate what is possible when they are considering their parking needs.

It is with great pride, and without hesitation, that I nominate Scott Wallace for this year’s Ed Keate Award.

Brett Bain, Edmonton International Airport

Brett comes with a long history of Parking management experience, starting with private parking with IMPARK and then moving into the technology side with Time Business machines. Over 11 years ago, Brett moved into Airport Parking Operations with the Edmonton International Airport, and was able to bring to airports a different perspective on parking operations that allowed him to use his vision on service and technology and merge the two to create impact for both the parking public and deliver exceptional growth to the airport.

That experience and knowledge and those achievements have been invaluable to the airport parking industry. Brett is an active participant of that segment of the industry and actively participates as a subject matter expert (SME) at Parking Conferences, internationally. Brett travels the globe to speak and attend parking conferences and to share his vision and strategies for success. As a result of his leadership, Brett has transformed the Edmonton Airport Parking Operations to exponential growth driven by policy, data analytic s, technology and innovation.

The most significant impact on the industry in Canada in general has been the adoption of Reserved parking options for customers and airports. Brett researched the best reserved parking practices in Europe and brought that concept to parkers at the Edmonton International Airport. As he showcased this new offering for Canadians, he worked to share the financial and service successes with peers throughout the airport industry, leading to the adoption by other major airports of reserved parking options with more creative options and loyalty programs layered in. For customers at Canadian airports that means more options and peace of mind when travelling, for airports it means greater revenue potential and the ability to deliver dynamic pricing, and for the industry it means that Canada is now seen as forward thinking as other countries in terms of technology and options.

This adoption of Airports in Canada will likely lead the way for reservation parking in non airport parking sites as customers seek to have those same options in other facilities, and that may lead the way for a significant change in parking operations and ability to deliver greater services for individual parkers or fleets of vehicles.