EchoBot was born in a UBC classroom, where our team first connected over shared experiences navigating language barriers in healthcare. What started as a brainstorming session quickly grew into a meaningful idea: a hands-free translation tool designed for long-term care. We submitted our prototype to a pitch competition, earned support, and have been building EchoBot ever since.
Tune into our radio segment on CBC’s Daybreak Kamloops with Shelley Joyce from 1:52:26 to hear more about how we started.
Our Founding Story
Canada’s long-term care sector serves an increasingly diverse population of older adults, many of whom speak languages other than English.
Although multiculturalism is a defining characteristic of the country, language barriers remain a common experience for residents with limited English proficiency (LEP). These barriers can restrict autonomy, compromise safety, and limit meaningful engagement in daily care.
At EchoBot Translation, our mission is to provide accessible, hands-free translation support that strengthens communication between residents and care staff, reduces preventable misunderstandings, and promotes equitable, culturally informed care across long-term care homes in Canada.