Marco Cheng-Perri receives 2026 Municipal Information Systems Association (MISA) Ontario Special Recognition Award
Township of King, Ont. (June 23, 2026) — King Township has been recognized at the provincial level for leadership in municipal artificial intelligence (AI), driven by the work of Marco Cheng‑Perri, Manager of Digital Transformation, Data and Corporate Performance, who has received the 2026 Municipal Information Systems Association (MISA) Ontario Special Recognition Award.
Presented at the MISA Ontario Annual Conference and Trade Show on June 8, the Special Recognition Award honours individuals who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the municipal technology community through innovation, leadership, collaboration and advancing municipal information systems.
Cheng‑Perri was recognized for his contributions to advancing municipal AI and for chairing MISA Ontario’s AI Special Interest Group, where he has driven knowledge sharing of AI maturity across municipalities province‑wide. He regularly collaborates with municipal peers throughout the GTA, MISA, AMCTO and Municipal World panels to exchange architectures, lessons learned and implementation strategies to accelerate AI adoption.
Driving innovation in King Township
At King Township, Cheng‑Perri has led the design and implementation of a modern AI and analytics ecosystem that is transforming how the municipality delivers services, makes decisions and operates internally.
Key accomplishments and progress include:
- Development of an enterprise AI program aligned with King’s Digital Transformation Framework, improving operational efficiency and enabling data‑driven decision‑making.
- Launch of Kingsley, an AI-Powered Virtual Assistant on king.ca.
- Implementation of a cloud‑based data and AI platform (Snowflake) to reduce data silos and significantly accelerate time‑to‑insight.
- Integration of Microsoft Copilot and agentic AI tools to automate manual reporting and repetitive tasks, freeing up staff time for higher value customer-centric work that is more complex and creative.
- Deployment of data warehousing and analytics tools that enhance performance measurement and service delivery outcomes.
- Advancement of responsible and ethical AI practices, with a focus on governance, interoperability and scalability.
This work highlights King’s commitment to leveraging emerging technologies to enhance organizational efficiency and support smarter, data‑driven service delivery for residents.
Recognition builds on King’s growing reputation in AI innovation
King Township is an award-winning municipal leader in AI adoption. In 2025, the Township received dual honours for its AI program, earning both the MISA Ontario Excellence in Municipal Systems Award and the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) E.A. Danby Award.
About MISA
MISA Ontario is a member‑driven, non‑profit organization that brings together municipal IT professionals and organizations to share knowledge, strengthen capacity and advance the effective use of technology in local government. Through collaboration and its annual awards program, MISA Ontario recognizes municipalities and individuals who are setting new standards in innovation, service delivery and excellence across the sector. Learn more at misa-asim.ca.
Quotes
Mayor Steve Pellegrini
“On behalf of Council, I want to congratulate Marco Cheng-Perri on this well‑deserved provincial recognition as a leader in advancing AI adoption at the municipal level. This speaks to the kind of forward‑thinking work happening right here in King Township. Marco’s leadership is helping the Township deliver better, more responsive services for our residents, making it easier to get information, improving how we make decisions and ensuring we’re using taxpayer dollars wisely. It’s this kind of innovation that continues to strengthen our community and position King for the future.”
Daniel Kostopoulos, Chief Administrative Officer
“At a time when municipalities are navigating the rapid and largely unregulated emergence of AI, Marco Cheng-Perri has proven to be a true pioneer. His leadership is strengthening how King Township delivers services through greater operational efficiency, transparency and accountability. His progressive approach to leveraging technology is grounded in strong governance, ethical data use and scalable solutions that enhance decision‑making and service delivery, ensuring the Township optimizes its resources while meeting evolving community needs.”
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Media Contact(s)
Township of King
Andrea Gyarmati, Manager of Communications and Public Engagement
Township of King | Phone: 905-833-5321 | Email: media@king.ca