In May 2026, the City of Kitchener approved a one-year police surveillance camera pilot program, which allows the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) and automated license plate recognition (ALPR) systems on municipal infrastructure.
The program’s initial deployment sites include downtown Kitchener along King St. and the Fairview Park Mall area, utilizing existing city and regional infrastructure such as utility and light poles. It’s also a part of a broader regional phase to install 52 cameras across 10 high-priority locations in Waterloo Region, ranging from downtown commercial hubs like King St. and downtown Galt to major intersections in Waterloo and Highway 401 corridors in North Dumfries—chosen by police based on three years of crime data, high traffic volume and accessible light pole infrastructure.
While the program ultimately received council approval, the vote was not unanimous. Mayor Berry Vrbanovic questioned whether Kitchener needed to be on the leading edge of widespread surveillance and raised fundamental concerns about where society draws the line on ubiquitous cameras.
Some individuals, like Ward 6 councillor Paul Singh, defended the initiative as an important tool to ensure greater safety and give confidence to residents.
To relieve local privacy concerns, police previously promised that there would be no live monitoring of neighbourhoods and that facial recognition software would be turned off. However, automated license plate readers remain active.
WRPS states that camera placement relies on data-driven reviews by its Crime Analysis Unit, positioning cameras in high-traffic public spaces with documented safety and investigative needs.
“While infrastructure assessments were required to confirm power availability and suitable mounting locations, we have been able to identify appropriate infrastructure within the areas originally selected through the analysis,” Inspector Jarret Brown from the Innovation and Modernization Unit in the WRPS said.
Brown confirmed that at this early stage, the 30-day retention period was proven to be appropriate for operational and investigative needs.
“The retention period was established to balance public safety and investigative requirements with privacy considerations and the principle of retaining information only as long as necessary,” Brown said. “Footage that is required for an investigation is preserved and transferred into WRPS evidence management systems, where it is retained in accordance with applicable records retention requirements.”
To address privacy concerns regarding potential function creep, WRPS emphasized that access to the system is restricted to trained and authorized members, and all access is logged and auditable. Officers accessing the system are required to articulate a legitimate law enforcement purpose backed by a formal Privacy Impact Assessment and supervisory oversight.
While Kitchener’s pilot program shares identical privacy safeguards, retention periods and access controls with ongoing deployments in Waterloo, Cambridge and North Dumfries, WRPS noted that the physical infrastructure at each location is unique, meaning installation approaches vary based on local pole ownership and power availability.
For the 12-month review cycle, WRPS is tracking operational metrics including camera usage, footage requests and ALPR queries. Formal reporting will be delivered through the Waterloo Regional Police Service Board, with WRPS sharing information publicly through the Board process, consistent with its commitment to transparency and accountability.
“The city is working with the WRPS on finalizing an agreement that will allow for the use of existing City of Kitchener infrastructure to support this program,” Nasreen Nasreen, the Strategic Communications Officer for the Office of Mayor and Council at the City of Kitchener, said.
“Following the one-year pilot, the WRPS and City staff will report on outcomes and determine if the agreement should be extended. The City of Kitchener remains focused on ensuring the safety of all Kitchener residents and is pleased to support the WRPS through this pilot,” she said.
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