
Yarbo Donates Two Autonomous Snow Blowers to Mon Sheong Foundation
In a ceremony held at Richmond Hill Municipal Offices, robotics company Yarbo donated two of its autonomous snow blowers to the Mon Sheong Foundation, marking the first commercial deployment of these devices in North America.
“We are very committed to ensuring that our residents are safe and to creating a peaceful environment,” said Eumie Leung, Mon Sheong Foundation chief operating officer. “This donation of autonomous snow blowers will help us in two ways. First, it will save our maintenance staff time by clearing the snow. Second, it will ensure that our facilities remain safe and accessible.”
Mon Sheong Foundation, established in 1964 as Canada’s first registered charity focused on serving the Chinese community, operates four long-term care centres providing around-the-clock care for seniors. The organization has expanded its services to include senior apartments, a Chinese school, youth programs, and community services.
The Yarbo Snow Blower is a part of Yarbo’s outdoor robot platform, which the company has been developing since its founding in 2015. Using AI-enhanced navigation and a two-stage snow-clearing system, the Yarbo Snow Blower can autonomously clear snow over rough terrain and operate without human supervision.
“We are thrilled to announce a donation of two Yarbo Snow Blowers to the Mon Sheong Foundation,” said Kenneth Kohlmann, co-founder of Yarbo. “Our slogan, ‘innovative technology that cares: safe winters for seniors,’ perfectly encapsulates the spirit of this donation. This donation is about more than just providing snow removal equipment. It’s about fostering vital connections. It’s about ensuring that seniors in the long-term care center remain connected to their loved ones, especially during the challenging winter months.”
The event was attended by Richmond Hill municipal representatives, including Richmond Hill City Mayor David West.
“Thanks to Yarbo for supporting such an important organization in our community, one that has been doing and will continue to do great work in supporting our seniors,” said West in a press release. “Snow creates mobility challenges for everyone, and it’s particularly difficult for the elderly. Anything that can be done at a facility like Mon Sheong to make things safer is greatly welcomed.”
The Yarbo Snow Blowers will be used to clear snow from walkways and high-traffic areas around Mon Sheong Foundation’s long-term care facilities during the winter months.