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
May 15, 2024 • 37 mins
Today’s Backroads Bill podcast is a tale about resilience and innovation. Chris Miller was an avid mountain bike racer until he had a stroke 10 years ago. He was kept from his favourite pastime until discovering recumbent trikes, which have allowed him to enjoy the trails in a new way.
Chris now has an accessibility trail in B.C. named after him, “Miller Time” for those who find regular trails difficult to traverse.
Follow Bill on F...
Chris now has an accessibility trail in B.C. named after him, “Miller Time” for those who find regular trails difficult to traverse.
Follow Bill on F...
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May 8, 2024 • 42 mins
Bruce Murphy of the Hilliardton Marsh Research and Education Centre joins the show to talk about his work bird banding.
He also speaks to the education work the Marsh does with students and what trends he has noticed lately in bird activity.
You can check out find more info on the Hilliardton Marsh here: https://thehilliardtonmarsh.com/
You can listen to Bird Banter w...
He also speaks to the education work the Marsh does with students and what trends he has noticed lately in bird activity.
You can check out find more info on the Hilliardton Marsh here: https://thehilliardtonmarsh.com/
You can listen to Bird Banter w...
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May 1, 2024 • 36 mins
Johanna Rowe a local author and owner of J. Rowe Heritage Consulting joins the show to talk all about Wawa Ontario. The trio delve into the big goose which is one of the most visited tourist attractions in North America, the Heritage Door project and the famous “Group of Seven”.
You can check out Johanna’s Websites here: https://www.wawahistory.com/ ...
You can check out Johanna’s Websites here: https://www.wawahistory.com/ ...
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April 24, 2024 • 40 mins
Hap Wilson joins the show this week. Hap is an award winning author, artist, photographer and conservationist. He has created a number of guidebooks that charted different waterways in Ontario and created the company Eco Trailbuilders to help safely build trails that are enjoyed by thousands every year.
Hap also worked with famous actor Pierce Bronson and even taught him to paddle a canoe but also butted heads with him and the prod...
Hap also worked with famous actor Pierce Bronson and even taught him to paddle a canoe but also butted heads with him and the prod...
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April 17, 2024 • 36 mins
Bill and Ben are joined by Mitch Azaria who is the Executive Producer of TVO’s latest documentary ‘Tripping the French River’.
Mitch shares some behind the scenes to how they created this unique view of one of Canada’s greatest waterways.
You can check out the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTrDkTH3WJo&ab_channel=TVOTodayDocs
You can watch it on April 21st at 8pm on TVO’s youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@...
Mitch shares some behind the scenes to how they created this unique view of one of Canada’s greatest waterways.
You can check out the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTrDkTH3WJo&ab_channel=TVOTodayDocs
You can watch it on April 21st at 8pm on TVO’s youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@...
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April 10, 2024 • 44 mins
Bill and Ben are joined by longtime North Bay resident and pillar of the community Peter Handley. They take a look at a couple of books he will be releasing in the next year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of North Bay.
Peter shares what North Bay meant for him and the differences in the history of a city like North Bay vs his hometown of Kingston.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_billand on Twitter: @steert...
Peter shares what North Bay meant for him and the differences in the history of a city like North Bay vs his hometown of Kingston.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_billand on Twitter: @steert...
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April 3, 2024 • 35 mins
Bill and Ben are joined by Bernie Moseley-Williams to talk about a recent trip Bernie and Bill went on to the Grande Chute.
They discuss the perfect time to go waterfall watching and how they ended up getting stuck and had to get creative to get free.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill
and on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
To explore more North Bay podcasts and to stay updated on local events and news go to NorthBayEc...
They discuss the perfect time to go waterfall watching and how they ended up getting stuck and had to get creative to get free.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill
and on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
To explore more North Bay podcasts and to stay updated on local events and news go to NorthBayEc...
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March 27, 2024 • 70 mins
Dana Starkell and Chris Forde join the show to talk about Dana and his father Don’s 2 year long trip via canoe from Winnipeg all the way to the Amazon River in Brazil.
Chris created a documentary to give a different perspective on the events that Don wrote about and Dana revisits the crazy journey they went on dealing with both treacherous waters and trecherous land.
Visit their website to learn more: https://www.paddletotheamazon.co...
Chris created a documentary to give a different perspective on the events that Don wrote about and Dana revisits the crazy journey they went on dealing with both treacherous waters and trecherous land.
Visit their website to learn more: https://www.paddletotheamazon.co...
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March 20, 2024 • 48 mins
Adam Shoalts joins the podcast to talk about his novel “Alone Against the North” and his journey that has culminated in him being one of the greatest explorers of Canada.
Adam is a 4 time best selling author and has led many expeditions including for the Royal Canadian Geological Society.
Find out more about Adam here: https://adamshoalts.com/
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_billand on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
T...
Adam is a 4 time best selling author and has led many expeditions including for the Royal Canadian Geological Society.
Find out more about Adam here: https://adamshoalts.com/
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_billand on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
T...
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March 13, 2024 • 22 mins
This week Bill and Ben explore one of the best vistas in our province that is just in our backyard the Devil’s Rock.
Bill tells the history of how it got it’s name and the Indigenous history behind it. He also talks about the inspiration it had on the author of The Hardy Boys.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill
and on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
To explore more North Bay podcasts and to stay updated on local events...
Bill tells the history of how it got it’s name and the Indigenous history behind it. He also talks about the inspiration it had on the author of The Hardy Boys.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill
and on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
To explore more North Bay podcasts and to stay updated on local events...
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March 6, 2024 • 21 mins
This week Bill and Ben explore some of the most famous tunnels that were built in the late 1800s for our railway system in Canada.
Bill gives his 3 favourite tunnels that you can visit and gives some context and history of the importance of these tunnels and how they were created.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_billand on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
To explore more North Bay podcasts and to stay updated on local e...
Bill gives his 3 favourite tunnels that you can visit and gives some context and history of the importance of these tunnels and how they were created.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_billand on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
To explore more North Bay podcasts and to stay updated on local e...
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February 28, 2024 • 40 mins
Dr Jonathan Pitt, a professor at Nipissing University teaching Indigenous studies, joins Bill on location from the Home and Garden Expo that took place this past weekend.
They talk about pictographs, spirituality and the tricksters/little people. Dr. Pitt shares the stories that are passed down from family to family and shares an important message of the history that shaped this land long ago.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram:...
They talk about pictographs, spirituality and the tricksters/little people. Dr. Pitt shares the stories that are passed down from family to family and shares an important message of the history that shaped this land long ago.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram:...
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February 21, 2024 • 49 mins
Famed author Dr James Raffan joins the podcast this week to talk to Bill and Ben about outdoor education.
They focus mostly on James’ novel “Deep Waters” which tells the story of the Timiskaming canoe tragedy. 12 students and 1 young adult leader lost their lives on a school trip in 1978. James also discusses his latest trip around the northern pole of the world that inspired his novel “Ice Walker”.
Follow Bill on Facebook & In...
They focus mostly on James’ novel “Deep Waters” which tells the story of the Timiskaming canoe tragedy. 12 students and 1 young adult leader lost their lives on a school trip in 1978. James also discusses his latest trip around the northern pole of the world that inspired his novel “Ice Walker”.
Follow Bill on Facebook & In...
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February 14, 2024 • 33 mins
Best selling Canadian author Ron Brown joins the show who is the man that inspired Bill to become the man he is today.
Bill and Ben chat with Ron about his time discovering and writing about ghost towns of Ontario and how Bill and Ron had a very similar path academically.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_billand on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
To explore more North Bay podcasts and to stay updated on local events and ...
Bill and Ben chat with Ron about his time discovering and writing about ghost towns of Ontario and how Bill and Ron had a very similar path academically.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_billand on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
To explore more North Bay podcasts and to stay updated on local events and ...
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February 7, 2024 • 38 mins
This week, Bill and Ben are joined by Jeff Scott, Nipissing University Professor, and Larry Dyke, Professor Emeritus from Queen’s University and longtime member of the Geological Survey of Canada.
The group talks about giant holes that appear in nature coined “potholes”. Larry explains how these are formed and that their existence is a good indicator of how the land has changed over time. Bill talks about his adventures to different...
The group talks about giant holes that appear in nature coined “potholes”. Larry explains how these are formed and that their existence is a good indicator of how the land has changed over time. Bill talks about his adventures to different...
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January 31, 2024 • 29 mins
This week, Bill and Ben ponder the “what if” scenario of The Georgian Bay Ship Canal.
First proposed in 1837 and then surveyed in 1907, the shipping route would bring resources and products from the west through the French River, Lake Nipissing, Trout Lake and then the Ottawa River to the St. Lawrence Seaway before reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
How would this have changed the way we enjoy our lakes, the economy and our overall way o...
First proposed in 1837 and then surveyed in 1907, the shipping route would bring resources and products from the west through the French River, Lake Nipissing, Trout Lake and then the Ottawa River to the St. Lawrence Seaway before reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
How would this have changed the way we enjoy our lakes, the economy and our overall way o...
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January 24, 2024 • 43 mins
This week's episode sees Bill and Ben explore a top 5 destination for Backroads Bill going north to Hearst Ontario to a place called Thunderhouse Falls. They are joined by two locals Marc Johnson and George Graham.
Marc and George talk about the area surrounding Thunderhouse Falls that currently has a snowshoe trail. The pair are trying to get the trails they have marked and helped path to be officially recognized by Ontario Parks...
Marc and George talk about the area surrounding Thunderhouse Falls that currently has a snowshoe trail. The pair are trying to get the trails they have marked and helped path to be officially recognized by Ontario Parks...
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January 17, 2024 • 15 mins
This week's episode sees Bill educating us on pictographs and their place in Ontario's history.
Bill gives his personal recommendations on which ones to visit and how pictographs, petroglyphs and petroforms are all different forms of expression.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill
and on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
To explore more North Bay podcasts and to stay updated on local events and news go to NorthBayEcho.ca.
...
Bill gives his personal recommendations on which ones to visit and how pictographs, petroglyphs and petroforms are all different forms of expression.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill
and on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
To explore more North Bay podcasts and to stay updated on local events and news go to NorthBayEcho.ca.
...
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January 10, 2024 • 27 mins
Gaylord Treu was an American fighter jet pilot during the Cold War when his plane went down in Northern Ontario. Gaylord unfortunately did not survive the crash.
This week Bill and Ben talk to Gaylord's son Denny and the impact his father had on him despite passing away when Denny was just 2 years old. Bill also shares how he found Denny after many months of searching.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill
and on T...
This week Bill and Ben talk to Gaylord's son Denny and the impact his father had on him despite passing away when Denny was just 2 years old. Bill also shares how he found Denny after many months of searching.
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill
and on T...
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January 3, 2024 • 19 mins
"Windex Lakes" are a natural Phenomenon around the world that give certain lakes a very unique colour and clarity.
This week Bill and Ben investigate these lakes that are in Northern Ontario. How can they exist? Is the ecosystem in the lakes different?
Bill gives his recommendations on which ones to check out on your next backroads adventure!
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill
and on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
To e...
This week Bill and Ben investigate these lakes that are in Northern Ontario. How can they exist? Is the ecosystem in the lakes different?
Bill gives his recommendations on which ones to check out on your next backroads adventure!
Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill
and on Twitter: @steertonorthONT
To e...
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