The Backroads Bill Podcast
It’s time to hit the backroads of Northern Ontario and beyond with Backroads Bill! Tune in every Wednesday to explore the history and beauty of Northern Ontario. Alongside host and producer Ben, Bill (who is the founder and the GM of the Canadian Ecology Centre) goes more in depth to the stories he has been sharing for years on CBC Radio and Village Media. Whether it’s a “day-trip” “overnight-trip” or “Sunday drive” you will discover your next great adventure! Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill and on Twitter: @steertonorthONT For the video version of this episode or to explore more North Bay podcasts and to stay updated on local events and news go to NorthBayEcho.ca. For exclusive North Bay updates and insights, subscribe to our newsletter Echo Essentials. Stay connected with Echo on social media: @NorthBayEcho Production Credits: Host: Backroads Bill Producer: Ben Sargent Produced by Clark Communications
Episodes
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, shipwreck diver and storyteller Ric Mixter shares what it was really like to visit the bottom of Lake Superior and come face to face with one of Canada’s most haunting maritime disasters. He talks about what he saw down there, how the dive changed him, and why some parts of th...
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we sit down with Gah-Ning herself to talk about how a simple letter to a beloved children's author turned into a storybook character, a lifelong friendship, and a connection that still means everything decades later.
She shares what it was like ...
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, Mayor Cheryl Fort shares how the town is leaning into that identity and turning it into something meaningful.
She talks about Hornepayne’s railway roots, the challenges of being remote, and the pride that comes from building trails, drawin...
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we meet Ray Gionet, a rockhound who has been hunting Yooperlites along the shores of Lake Superior.
He shares how he first discovered these glowing stones, what they actually are, and why people are traveling from all over to find them.
0:00 Intro to Yooperlite...
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, Cameron shares what it’s like to live and work off the grid. He talks about buying the same camp he once worked at as a teenager, learning to maintain old cabins, and welcom...
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, CBC producer Melody Jacobson joins us to talk about her work on a new CBC special that dives into the history of trains in Canada.
From the role of sleeping car porters to the impact on Indigenous communities to rock concerts that rolled across the country, Melody shares what she...
It's the true story of Hubert Darrell, a Canadian solo explorer who vanished in the remote north nearly 100 years ago. Most people have never heard his name, yet his influence was felt throughout history books.
Adam walks us through how he stumbled across Darrell's story, wh...
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, longtime pillar of the North Bay community Peter Handley shares the inspiration behind his newest book, Vis-à-Vis: North Bay in Deed & Tale.
We talk about how the project came together, how he chose who to interview, what surprised him most, and why capturing local stories is more important than e...
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we head into the hills above Lake Superior to visit Amethyst Mine Panorama. Owner Tim Lukinuk shares how his family turned a glint of purple in the dirt into a destination that draws visitors from around the world.
We talk about the history of the mine, what makes Thunder Bay amethyst so unique, and wh...
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we sit down with Matthew Eberly and Robert James of the Wilderness Canoe Association to talk about what it really means to explore the backcountry. They share their favourite trips, the friendships they’ve built along the...
Now they’re back, and they’ve done it. In just six days and 22 hours, they paddled over 1,000 miles, slept only a few hours a night, and landed a top-three finish.
In this follow-up episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, Sean and Lauren talk about what really happ...
Suzanne Charron, author of "Wolf Man Joe Laflamme: Tamer Untamed", shares Joe’s wild story. It starts with him dodging the law and living off the land, but it doesn’t end there. Joe became a performer, a public figure, and a legend.
In towns like Gogama an...
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, Clermont shares stories from a life in art and in nature. He talks about his early years painting wolves and canoes, what it's like to paint in compl...
In this episode, she shares how she turned her love for the outdoors into a business, what it's like being a yo...
For episode 100 Bill talks about the Canadian Ecology Center. How it started and how it turned into the hub for education and outdoor events that it is today.
Bill also looks to the future following the devastating downburst earlier this summer and how the Canadian...
From backcountry safety to urban attractants, Rich breaks down what really brings bears too close to people — and what works best to keep them away.
00:00 - Intro: What Is BearWise?
06:15 - Why Bears Show Up Where You Live
13:40 - Bear Spray vs. Gun...
After receiving a cancer diagnosis, Claire began writing not just about danger out there, but the uncertainty inside her own body.
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, Claire reflects on grief, nature, storytelling, and resilience — and how Algonquin Park, literary ficti...
Franco shares how his passion for biology and the natural world helped shape the early days of the centre. From bringing in live beavers and flying squirrels, to building exhibits that changed how kids (and adults) understand science...
Bill and friend of the show Brian Emblin where planning to take a Denny and his family up to the crash site so they could honour his father's memory with a plaque.
Unfortunately Denny unexpectedly passed away days before the trip. Bil...
For roughly 10 days, they will paddle 18 hours a day, braving storms, sleep deprivation, and total isolation with only a GPS and each other to rely on.
The toughest part? Getting accepted into...
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