Echo Essentials Podcast
The Echo Essentials Podcast ties together all the elements of the North Bay Echo Community Podcast Network, hosted by Essentials newsletter editor Dave Dale and Echo's principal partner Scott Clark. Guests on the weekly show will reflect the challenges and issues facing North Bay while Scott and Dave discuss the topics and podcasts featured in the newsletter ... as well as upcoming projects. References to the To North Bay With Love, Backroads Bill, Frontline and Cheap Seats episodes will be common. The Echo Essentials Podcast drops online each Thursday at 2 p.m. Billed as North Bay's oddest couple, Scott and Dave are patently different in both manner and outlook despite being born within a mile of each other and a month apart in 1965. Scott was born for theatre and built up a 20-year career in radio in split between Toronto and North Bay before entering the marketing game with Clark Communications celebrating the 20-year milestone in 2024. Dave took the print media route, beginning in 1986 as a Canadore College student and taking a journalism journey through B.C., North Bay, Kapuskasing and Orillia before a seven-year stint with the Anishinabek News and 18 years as a Nugget reporter, photographer and columnist. He is also the publisher of the Back in the Bay Magazine, a quarterly print product with 12 editions since launching in 2021. Explore more North Bay podcasts and stay updated on local events and news at NorthBayEcho.ca. To inquire about being a guest or commenting on content, please email editor@northbayecho.ca Production Credits: Hosts: Dave Dale & Scott Clark Producer: Ben Sargent Content Specialist: Dave Dale Produced by Clark Communications
Episodes
We also talk about the newest bills that have past in the province and he gives his take on why the Near North District School Board should not be taken over by the ministry.
Isaac shares a bit about his background, what drew him to Echo, and how he hopes to shape the stories we tell going forward.
Chris also shares his future plans and how he will remain connected with Echo
0:00 – ...
In this week's episode of Echo Essentials, host Chris Piekarski sits down with Liza Vandermeer and Carol Hansman to detail the shocking story of PFAS contamination in Trout Lake, North Bay's main drinking water source.
From discussing how the decades-long dumping and use of firefighting foam and how it's contami...
The City of North Bay has been buzzing after Mayor Peter Chirico’s expense controversy, and former host Dave Dale is back to break it all down with Chris.
From questionable meal claims to battalion tickets and golf outings, we dive deep into what the integrity commissioner said in his report, and whether 60 days of docked pay was enough to satisfy th...
From Pierre Poilievre’s missed opportunity to Trump’s impact on Canadian trade and how Mark Carney is toeing the line for centrist policies, Anthony shares what life is like post-politics and offers his unfiltered take on Canada’s political future.
Does Anthony think the Cons...
They share the story of how one emotional moment sparked a movement that's bringing churches from across the City together, by providing unhoused persons with essentials, and challenging the stigma around homelessness in our community. Leah and Lisa also detail their upcoming annual informati...
Bernadette and Chris detail the surprising dollar n...
From confront...
Beverley reveals the reason why lot creation was frozen in the 90s, what 400+ new lots could mean for Trout Lake, and how phosphorus, septic systems, and shoreline buffers are now at the center of North Bay’s environmental planning.
They also d...
Brannyn shares the years-long journey behind this project, what makes this development unlike anything else in the region, and how it was designed for northern Ontarians. From luxu...
From strategic budgeting and expanding STEM programs, to supporting international st...
From new suicide grief support groups to free SafeTALK training, discover how CMHA is equipping people with the tools to save lives and heal from traumatic loss. The conversation dives into stigma, the power of restorative storytelling, supporting high...
In this episode of Echo Essentials, Dillon explains what inspired him to join the longest ballot, how he legally ran in a province he doesn’t live in, and why he thinks Canada’s electoral system needs a serious overhaul.
02:30 – The Longest Ballot Committee
05:30 – Protest or Interference?
11:00 – Campaigning Withou...
Mayor Kathleen Rochon of West Nipissing joins Echo Essentials to share the highs, lows, and behind-the-scenes stories of running a geographically vast rural community. From fixing broken council culture to taking a stand on controversial environmental issues, Kathleen shares her thoughts.
Mayor Rochon and Chris discuss some local stori...
In this week's episode of Echo Essentials, host Chris Piekarski sits down with Detective Constable Zach Dagg and Constable Merv Shantz from the North Bay Police Service (NBPS) to dive deep into the frightening world of fraudsters and scammers. From door-to-door “contractors” and impersonation scams, to AI-generated voices pretending to be loved ones, their methods are evolving!
The of...
In this episode of Echo Essentials, host Chris Piekarski catches up with Matt Suszter (President, NUSU) and Abby Noonan (Administrative Assistant) for a candid, behind-the-scenes look at life inside the Nipissing University Student Union.
From student politics and leadership to battling food insecurity on campus, this episode dives into the rebranding of the on-campus food bank, ...
Greg shares hilarious behind-the-scenes stories, emotional war memorial moments, and how covering news in a small city can get personal fast.
00:00 – Intro
03:0...
From fierce city hall controversies to the inside story of the Echo Podcast Network's inception, Dave tells all! Alongside Dave, Chris Piekarski is also joined by former Echo Essentials co-host Scott Clark, dive deep into the ethics of journalism, political heat in covering stories aroun...
From discussing what the role of journalism is like in small communities, to the future of local media in the age of clickbait and shortened attention spans, Will shares his opinions and details his proces...
In this episode of Echo Essentials, hosts Chris Piekarski and Dave Dale sit down with Falyn Katz, CEO of Melanoma Canada, to break down the rising rates of skin cancer, the free screening mobile unit visiting North Bay, and the biggest myths that put Canadians at risk.
This episode is full of personal stories, science-backed facts, and easy, life-saving tips. If you’ve ever skipped usi...
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