BusPatrol betting on Québec’s AI expertise for company’s growth
The safety technology company creates 150 jobs at its new Montréal office
BusPatrol, a technology company specializing in school transportation safety, announced the official opening of its Montréal office, which will include its technological development centre. In order to meet growing demand in the North American market, more than 150 jobs will be created in the next two years. The company is experiencing booming success installing smart cameras on school buses to record dangerous driver behaviour, such as illegal passing of stopped school buses.
BusPatrol first developed its operations in several US states, but the company quickly decided to set up in Montréal to take advantage of its AI ecosystem. “Several BusPatrol executives are from Québec, but it wasn’t a return to their roots that motivated the opening of our Montréal office. The qualified talent pool in tech and especially in AI is really outstanding,” explained Jean Soulière, CEO at BusPatrol. “Greater Montréal is truly a world leader in the field. We want to contribute to the world-wide reputation of the ecosystem by showing how AI can be used for public safety, especially for school transportation safety.”
“Artificial intelligence serves as a stepping-stone to propel businesses to new heights, as is the case with BusPatrol,” said Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy and Innovation. “Artificial intelligence technologies can be applied in a multitude of sectors and generate significant economic and social benefits. Montréal is rightly recognized as one of the three major artificial intelligence sites in the world and is home to many of the best researchers and specialists in this field. The arrival of BusPatrol in Montréal will contribute not only to the creation of many high-quality jobs, but also to the international reputation of Québec expertise,” added Minister Fitzgibbon.
Over the next few years, BusPatrol plans to set up a few projects, such as implementing a new supply chain in Québec to acquire the material to deploy its services in the Canadian and US markets. The company also wants to develop new technological solutions to improve crosswalk safety and reinforce the application of regulations on reserved public transit lanes.
“The arrival of BusPatrol in this city shows once again the strong attraction of Montréal’s AI ecosystem. The company’s plan to set up a new supply chain in Québec is also excellent news,” said Stéphane Paquet, President and CEO of Montréal International, Greater Montréal’s investment promotion agency. “It should be noted that foreign subsidiaries actively contribute to local SME development. They make about $17 billion worth of purchases every year from Québec suppliers, according to AppEco. They are a key driving force for the local economy.”
“The opening of the Bus Patrol’s Montréal office confirms that Montréal remains one of the most attractive places to develop the technologies that will accompany us on a daily basis,” said Hubert Bolduc, President of Investissement Québec International. “This new fruitful collaboration between the company, Investissement Québec and Montréal International demonstrates the strength and relevance of our service offerings in attracting and maintaining foreign investment in Québec. Investissement Québec International will continue to work very hard, here and elsewhere, to showcase the talent and the many advantages of doing business in Québec. »
About BusPatrol (www.buspatrol.com)
BusPatrol is a technology company specializing in school transportation safety. Its objective is to raise drivers’ awareness about their dangerous behaviour when school buses are on the road, so the journey to and from school can be safer. BusPatrol uses innovative technological solutions such as smart cameras to improve compliance with stop-arms on school buses. The company can manage all aspects of traffic violation reduction programs, from installing equipment to coordinating with law enforcement to send out fines.
