No, that’s not a Zamboni on the shoreline. It’s a BeBot — Canada’s first remote-controlled beach cleaning robot.
The unique device was unveiled this week by the not-for-profit group Pollution Probe, which plans to dispatch the contraption this summer to various beaches across Ontario.
The vacuum-like robot — which covers 3,000 square meters per hour — targets food wrappers, bottles, cigarette butts and plastic fragments.
Melissa De Young, the CEO of Pollution Probe, joins us on tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’ to explain how the robot works, why it’s important — and what beach-goers say when they spot it.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, this new daily podcast goes beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.
New episodes of ‘Closer Look’ drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. across the Village Media network, or wherever you find to your favourite podcasts. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Have something to say? You can reach us at [email protected].