Latest news with #SkipTheDishes
CBC
17 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Food delivery robots in Markham test appetite for high-tech takeout
The next time you order takeout in Markham, Ont., it could get dropped off by a robot and its human companion. A fleet of orange food delivery machines is being tested as part of a pilot project led by Skip, formerly known as SkipTheDishes, and Real Life Robotics, an automation company under the University of Waterloo's startup incubator called Velocity. The project is the first municipally approved sidewalk delivery operation in the country, and it's already had hundreds of successful orders, says Cameron Waite, CEO of Real Life Robotics. "That's a big deal for us. It's a big deal for Canada … the opportunity is potentially huge," Waite told CBC Toronto. It's one of the latest initiatives across Ontario and beyond that's testing the viability of integrating more automation into people's daily lives. Waite says the three-month pilot aims to decipher whether there's an appetite for robot delivery options in urban environments, and what that could look like. The order process is simple. If a customer orders through the Skip app and is located in the piloting area, they'll be given an option to select robot delivery. From there the process is automated. The "cooler on wheels" is programmed to go to the restaurant, collect the order and drop it off with the customers, Waite says. To get the order, the buyer will scan a QR code and enter their password to unlock the robot. The machines are equipped with sensors that give them spatial awareness and, for now, each one is accompanied by a human guide responsible for studying its interactions with pedestrians and users. Markham is "proud to be at the forefront of smart mobility innovation," the city told Radio-Canada in a statement. "This initiative provides a real-world testing environment for Ontario-based companies to pilot next-generation transportation technologies," the statement says. Concerns about safety and comfort Not every city or everyone is excited about the prospect of robot delivery options. In December 2021, Toronto banned the use of micro-utility devices, which includes food delivery robots, on its sidewalks and bike lanes, in response to concerns about maintaining accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities. While safety might be manageable, as these kinds of robots travel at low speeds, a bigger issue is comfort and how robots share space with pedestrians, says Bilal Farooq, an associate professor in transportation engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University. "They need to have not just perception, but they should have social awareness of what other pedestrians are doing," he said. For example, Farooq says, the robots should be able to sense whether there are multiple people walking toward it and know to travel around them, not through them. That kind of awareness is something currently being discussed in studies, he says. "These sort of pilots are a good way to test and apply that research," Farooq said. Impacts on employment 'going to happen,' prof says Another concern is whether these robots will get so popular that they start to replace workers. Automation has been happening over the last few centuries and it's likely to impact food delivery eventually, says Harry Holzer, professor of public policy at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. "It seems to me that it's going to happen," Holzer said. "It's not hard to envision that robots will do this more cheaply and more cost-effectively." When asked about the decision to opt for robots instead of people, Waite said the pilot is about learning what the consumer prefers. "The idea here is to figure out, 'Is there value in having an additional option for deliveries in areas like this?" he said. According to a new release by the University of Waterloo
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Ontario man charged in Skip the Dishes hack at business east of Edmonton
A person types on the keyboard of laptop. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg An Ontario resident has been charged with fraud after money from Skip the Dishes for a Sherwood Park business was diverted into another bank account through online hacking. Police received a complaint about the hack on July 26, 2024. After an investigation police issued a warrant for a 49-year-old man, who turned himself in at the Strathcona RCMP detachment on May 20. He has been charged with fraud. The suspect was released from custody with a court date of June 4 in Sherwood Park.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Autonomous robots take to GTA sidewalks in food delivery pilot
John Vennavally-Rao has the story of a three-month pilot program in Markham, Ont. involving four robots delivering takeout to hungry customers. Autonomous delivery robots are rolling along sidewalks in Markham, Ont., turning heads and dropping off food as part of a new pilot project that could pave the way for expansion across the country. The three-month project involves four delivery bots equipped with insulated compartments that can carry nearly 60 kilograms of food. The bots are outfitted with a screen that displays friendly facial expressions, designed to navigate sidewalks and deliver meals within a two-kilometre radius of participating restaurants. 'Kids have no hesitation. They go up to the robot. We've seen kids hug the robot. They see it like a friendly community member,' said Sharif Virani, head of growth at Real Life Robotics. The Waterloo, Ont.-based company has partnered up with Skip, formerly known as Skip The Dishes, for the project. Isaac Muriuki reacted after watching a robot pass by on the sidewalk, 'I think they're cool to be honest, and I like to see technology progress like this.' And when it comes to sidewalk sharing? 'I mean, as long as there aren't like 50 of them blocking the sidewalk, then no problem,' said Muriuki. Food delivery robot pilot project Four delivery bots are now taking food from restaurants to customers in Markam, Ont. (CTV News) The robots operate daily between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m., rain or shine. Customers who live in the pilot area can now select robot delivery when placing orders from certain local restaurants on the Skip app. Virani says the initiative began with an initial test phase and marks a major step forward. 'It was the first municipally authorized public robot delivery trial in the history of Canada,' said Virani. A similar program by Tiny Mile was halted in Toronto when the city banned such robots from sidewalks four years ago. Some worry they can pose a hazard to those with vision challenges, as well as seniors and people with disabilities. Ottawa also imposed a ban in 2022. But Virani believes the robots are safe and framed the project in broader economic terms. 'In Canada right now, we have entrepreneurship at an all-time low, (the) death of the Main Street, and you're seeing the cost of operating a business at an all-time high,' he said. 'So we need innovation like this. We need to start taking some bold, ambitious moves if we want to look at recovering our Canadian economy.' Proponents say robotic delivery can reduce carbon emissions and avoid the traffic congestion that slows some traditional couriers. The robots can travel 5 km/h, which is slightly faster than a person walking. While the bots can operate independently, for now at least, a human guide is following them to make sure there are no problems. There's also a remote operator who can take control if needed. Real Life Robotics aims to deploy up to 500 delivery robots across Canadian cities within the next three years. Robot food delivery Skip pilot project Customer Soban Khan uses an app on his phone to open the robot's lid and retrieve his ordered lunch. (CTV News) CTV News watched as Soban Khan stood outside his workplace, waiting for his robot-delivered lunch. He used an app on his phone to unlock the lid and retrieve the food. 'Pretty awesome experience, pretty new experience for me. And seems like a great innovation,' said Khan, who added that he would use robot delivery again. The initiative drew largely positive responses from people CTV News approached on the street. 'I personally haven't talked to anybody with a negative reaction so far,' said Josephine Yang, who is working as a robot guide. Asked how pedestrians should react when they encounter a delivery bot, Yang says they should go on with their day, like how they normally walk. 'They can just treat the robot as another pedestrian,' he added. Ryan Liyanage, another passerby, raised broader questions about public interaction. 'Its ok for me I don't mind it. But I suppose others might,' said Liyanage. He wondered if people would try to abuse it or tip it over. 'That would be interesting to see how decent our society can get along with the robots, right?'
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Taking a shot
Romi Mayes wants to make live music an on-demand experience. Last month, the Winnipeg blues artist, event producer and booking agent launched Sure Shot Bookings, an online platform to help connect the public with musicians-for-hire across the country. 'It's kind of like SkipTheDishes, but for music,' Mayes says. SUPPLIED JD Edwards is one of the local musicians on the Sure Shot roster. Named after the Beastie Boys classic of the same name, Sure Shot currently has a roster of about 150 artists working in Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Customers looking to book an act for a public, private or corporate event can submit a request and Mayes — currently the company's sole employee — will get to work liaising with the musician or band. 'For any event there is, live music is an enhancement. You choose who you want, when you want it and I try to facilitate that,' she says. Mayes is a Juno-nominated, Western Canadian Music Award-winning singer-songwriter who released her seventh studio album, Small Victories, last year. Event planning and logistics have always been part of her decades-long music career. 'Even as a teenager I was doing things, putting on talent shows, volunteering to help out at the synagogue. I didn't realize it was going to be such an important skill set that was also going to be my passion,' she says. When Mayes became a professional musician, she hosted local songwriter events, booked tours for other artists and co-ordinated outdoor concerts during the pandemic. She's been nominated several times for agent of the year by the Canadian Live Music Association. Sure Shot is the culmination of that experience and an attempt to create more industry opportunities. 'The goal is to bring live music to music lovers and to add work for fellow musicians. I see how hard it is to get work, to maintain work as an independent Canadian musician without really being able to expand into the U.S. anymore,' Mayes said. Beyond the current political climate down south, getting a work visa to perform in the United States is a long and expensive process and the dollar discrepancy can cut into profits made on the road. 'I'm hoping to get some more work out of it,' says JD Edwards, one of the Manitoba musicians on Sure Shot's roster. 'I'm not doing as much international touring as I have in the past, but I do like to stay connected with my community and I still love to perform. SUPPLIED Winnipeg musician and booking agent Romi Mayes has launched her own cross-country live music platform. 'I think any help artists can get to get gigs is gonna be good.' Mayes has tried to enlist artists from a range of backgrounds and genres. Other locals include Mitchell Makoons, Bobby Dove, Joe Curtis, Amber Epp, Rodrigo Muñoz, Sol James and the Sturgeons. Edwards is also looking forward to playing for audiences outside of his usual stomping grounds. Every Second Friday The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. 'People might not necessarily come out to the Times Change(d), they might not go out to other venues to see artists, so this will give more exposure,' he says. One such venue is the Bar Italia patio, where Edwards will be among several Sure Shot musicians performing in a new summer concert series beginning this weekend and running every Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. until July 13. Sure Shot offers 45- or 60-minute performance slots for virtually every kind of event — birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, yard parties, corporate functions, community events and cultural holidays. Bookings include liability insurance and rates are discounted for non-profit organizations. The musicians supply their own sound equipment. Visit for more information. Eva WasneyReporter Eva Wasney has been a reporter with the Free Press Arts & Life department since 2019. Read more about Eva. Every piece of reporting Eva produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Hamm radio
Jon Hamm is coming to Winnipeg in the fall to star in an eight-episode TV adaptation of the 2022 podcast American Hostage, according to a story in Variety. Emmy-winning actor Hamm (Mad Men,Your Friends and Neighbors), who also starred in the podcast version of American Hostage, will play Fred Heckman, an Indianapolis radio reporter who, in 1977, was 'thrust into the middle of a life-or-death crisis when hostage-taker Tony Kiritsis demanded to be interviewed on his popular radio news program,' according to an MGM+ press release. JORDAN STRAUSS / INVISION FILES Jon Hamm has made a name for himself in both dramatic and comedic roles, not to mention SkipTheDishes ads. JORDAN STRAUSS / INVISION FILES Jon Hamm has made a name for himself in both dramatic and comedic roles, not to mention SkipTheDishes ads. Sony Pictures Television will distribute the series internationally. The Directors Guild of Canada website confirms a Sony-produced series will go into production here from Sept. 22 to Dec. 19. But the show might not stop there. The series is planned to be an anthology, Variety reports. Shawn Ryan (The Shield) and Eileen Myers (Big Love) are the co-creators of the series and serve as executive producers. Hamm will executive produce in addition to starring alongside Connie Tavel, Sharon Hoffman and Marney Hochman. Winnipeg is currently playing host to the shoot of Silent Night, Deadly Night, the second reboot of the notorious slasher that was pulled from theatres during the holiday season of 1984 when protesters picketed the film due to the concept of a crazed killer dressed as Santa Claus. It stars Rohan Campbell (The Hardy Boys) and Ruby Modine (Happy Death Day). Directed by Mike P. Nelson (the 2022 iteration of Wrong Turn), it started shooting April 13 and is scheduled to wrap on May 10. Also shooting in town is a neo-noir thriller titled Briefcase, 8, starring and directed by James C. Clayton in which he plays a hitman on the run. (Clayton's feature film debut was in K-19: The Widowmaker, the Harrison Ford submarine thriller that shot in Gimli in 2001.) The film will also star Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice), Mena Suvari (American Beauty) and Cam Gigandet (Twilight), making a third trip to Winnipeg after Violent Night and Love Hurts. The film will shoot until early June, when production will move to Kamloops, B.C. November 1963 goes into preproduction next week and is scheduled to shoot from June 18 through to the end of July, confirms producer Kevin DeWalt of Mind's Eye Pictures. As previously reported, it will star John Travolta, Mandy Patinkin and Dermot Mulroney. DeWalt's Mind's Eye Entertainment will produce along with screenwriter Nick Celozzi's Le Monde Productions. SUPPLIED Yellowstone star Jefferson White will play Lee Harvey Oswald. SUPPLIED Yellowstone star Jefferson White will play Lee Harvey Oswald. DeWalt confirms a recent report in Deadline that Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty) has been added to the cast in the role of Jack Ruby, alongside Jefferson White (Yellowstone) as Lee Harvey Oswald. The film will be directed by two-time Oscar nominee Roland Joffé (The Killing Fields). Celozzi told Variety the script for the film is based on the accounts of Pepe Giancana, brother of Chicago Mob boss San Giancana, who asserted the Mob's involvement in the assassination. Randall KingReporter In a way, Randall King was born into the entertainment beat. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
