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  • The Stories Behind North Bay's Centennial Heritage Map

    The Stories Behind North Bay's Centennial Heritage Map
    2026/06/24
    In this episode of Backroads Bill, Bill shares the story behind the North Bay Centennial Heritage Map, a special project created to highlight 100 years of North Bay history.

    He walks through the stories, landmarks, waterways, railways, military history, and community moments that helped shape the city. From the evolution of North Bay's waterfront to its role as a transportation hub and gateway to the North, this episode looks at how the city has changed while still holding onto its roots.

    0:00 – Intro
    4:25 – How the Map Project Came Together
    11:31 – North Bay's Origins, Railways & Early Growth
    17:44 – The Transformation of North Bay's Waterfront
    28:19 – The Process of Creating a Heritage Map
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    45 分
  • How Two YouTubers Document Northern Ontario's Wilderness

    How Two YouTubers Document Northern Ontario's Wilderness
    2026/06/17
    In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Sheri and Jay, the creators behind The Beauty of the Backcountry YouTube channel.

    The couple shares how a love of hiking, canoe tripping, and exploring Northern Ontario grew into a successful YouTube channel that inspires thousands of outdoor enthusiasts.

    From Lake Superior and Killarney to the French River and Wabakimi, they discuss some of their favourite adventures, the challenges of filming in remote locations, and what it takes to capture the beauty of the wilderness on camera.

    We also talk about camping lessons learned the hard way, winter adventures, backcountry travel, and how Jay creates original music for their videos, giving each story a unique personal touch.


    Find Jay and Sherri's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@beautyofthebackcountry

    0:00 – How Beauty of the Backcountry Began
    9:37 – Favourite Canoe Routes in Northern Ontario
    13:42 – The Power of Lake Superior
    16:40 – Essential Backcountry Camping Tips
    29:26 – Creating Original Music for YouTube Videos
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    39 分
  • Mining Industry Helps Canadian Ecology Centre

    Mining Industry Helps Canadian Ecology Centre
    2026/06/10
    This episode explores the impact of the Canadian Ecology Centre's Teachers Mining Tours, which help educators and students get a firsthand look at modern mining and the many career paths it offers.

    The mining sector issues a challenge to help the environmental education centre.

    Our guest is Bryan Wilson, Senior Vice President of Operations, Ontario at Equinox Gold's Greenstone Mine. With nearly 40 years in the industry, Brian shares how mining has changed over the years, from advances in safety and technology to the growing demand for skilled workers.



    0:00 – Intro
    6:53 – Modern Mining & Technology
    13:28 – Mental Health in Mining
    21:13 – Teachers Mining Tours
    30:09 – Careers & Hiring in Mining
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    34 分
  • Charlie Angus on Democracy, Northern Ontario & Canada's Future

    Charlie Angus on Democracy, Northern Ontario & Canada's Future
    2026/06/03
    In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with former Member of Parliament, author, and Northern Ontario advocate Charlie Angus for a wide-ranging conversation about democracy, the North, and the future of Canada.

    After more than two decades representing Timmins–James Bay in Ottawa, Charlie reflects on the issues that defined his political career, from fighting for rural and northern communities to advocating for Indigenous rights, public accountability, and stronger democratic institutions.

    He shares stories from the road, lessons learned from representing one of Canada's largest ridings, and why Northern Ontario's voice remains as important as ever.

    0:00 – Charlie Angus' Northern Ontario Journey
    3:47 – The Adams Mine Battle
    11:20 – Shannon Koostachin's Legacy
    21:14 – Democracy in a Changing World
    46:10 – The Future of Northern Ontario
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    58 分
  • Inside the Mind of a Young Piano Prodigy

    Inside the Mind of a Young Piano Prodigy
    2026/05/27
    In this episode of Backroads Bill, acclaimed Canadian author Christine Fischer Guy returns to the podcast to talk about her brand-new novel, The Instrument Must Not Matter.

    The story follows a gifted young pianist who leaves Toronto for New York City after earning the chance to study under a world-renowned mentor.

    Christine takes us behind the scenes of writing the novel, including the years of research she devoted to understanding the mindset of professional musicians, the influence of legendary Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, and even taking piano lessons herself to better connect with the experience of performing music.

    Find "The Instrument Must Not Matter" and more here: https://christinefischerguy.com/books/


    0:00 – Intro
    5:19 – Building a Piano Prodigy Character
    14:31 – Burning an Entire Manuscript
    22:14 – The Importance of Editors
    32:06 – Taking Piano Lessons for the Novel
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    36 分
  • Living with Lyme Disease: One Northern Ontario Story

    Living with Lyme Disease: One Northern Ontario Story
    2026/05/20
    In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Justin Wood, founder of Geneticks.ca and a staff scientist at the University of Guelph, to talk about the growing reality of Lyme disease in Canada and the personal experience that changed his life forever.

    Justin shares his journey from being a healthy university athlete to suddenly dealing with debilitating neurological symptoms, chronic pain, fatigue, and years of unanswered medical questions. After being bounced between specialists and struggling to find answers, he was eventually diagnosed with Lyme disease, beginning a long and difficult road to recovery.

    We also dive into the science behind Lyme disease, how ticks spread infection, why early detection matters, and the challenges many patients still face when trying to access proper treatment and diagnosis. Justin explains how his own experience eventually led him to create Geneticks, a company focused on tick testing and helping people better understand their risk after exposure.

    Check out Justin's website: https://geneticks.ca/

    0:00 – Intro
    3:31 – What Lyme Disease Actually Is
    6:55 – From Athlete to Seriously Ill
    10:18 – Finally Getting Diagnosed
    16:05 – Turning His Experience Into a Business
    24:29 – The Truth About the Bullseye Rash
    29:07 – The Stigma Around Lyme Disease
    33:39 – How Tick Testing Works
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    37 分
  • Inside the Environmental Battles Shaping Northern Ontario

    Inside the Environmental Battles Shaping Northern Ontario
    2026/05/13
    On this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Brennain Lloyd from Northwatch, one of Northern Ontario’s longest-running environmental advocacy organizations.

    For nearly four decades, North Watch has been involved in some of the region’s biggest environmental debates, from forestry and mining to landfill proposals, nuclear waste storage, and land use decisions that affect communities across the North .

    Brennain takes us through the origins of North Watch in the late 1980s, how the organization grew out of environmental and peace activism, and why public participation in environmental decision-making still matters today.

    0:00 – Intro
    3:40 – Climate Change & Younger Generations
    11:43 – The Nuclear Waste Debate in Northern Ontario
    20:30 – Why “NIMBY” Isn’t Fair
    25:23 – The Risks of Nuclear Waste Storage
    33:52 – The Adams Mine Landfill Controversy
    38:07 – Why Environmental Advocacy Never Stops
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    42 分
  • The Story Behind The Original Bug Shirt Company

    The Story Behind The Original Bug Shirt Company
    2026/05/06
    On this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with the team behind one of Northern Ontario’s most recognizable outdoor products, The Original Bug Shirt Company in Powassan.

    What started as a simple idea to help people enjoy the outdoors without being eaten alive by black flies and mosquitoes has grown into a globally recognized brand worn by campers, hunters, forestry workers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts around the world.

    Julie shares the incredible story of how the company began in the early 1990s, how she started sewing bug shirts from home while raising her children, and how that small operation eventually turned into a thriving Northern Ontario business. We also talk about buying the company in 2019, navigating the uncertainty of COVID, and how the business adapted as more people turned to the outdoors.

    0:00 – Intro
    3:55 – How the Company Started
    8:10 – Buying the Business
    10:03 – Why Bug Protection Matters
    15:21 – COVID & Going Global Online
    20:08 – Shipping Bug Shirts Around the World
    26:13 – New Bug Gear for Kids
    30:24 – Customer Stories from the Outdoors
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    34 分