Echo Essentials Podcast

When Ontario student Dillon Anderson ran against Pierre Poilievre in Alberta, it wasn’t about winning but making a point. 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 I...

What’s it really like being a first-time mayor in one of Northern Ontario’s largest municipalities? 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 Roch...

Think you’d never fall for a scam? Think again.  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...

What really goes on inside a university student union? 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 re...

In this episode of Echo Essentials, veteran journalist Greg Estabrooks joins host Chris Piekarski to talk about the golden days of North Bay media, wild high school sports rivalries, and how today's journalists are navigating shrinking newsrooms and fascinating local scandals. Greg shares hilarious behind-the-scenes stories, emotional war memorial moments, and how covering news in a small city can...

In this unforgettable episode of Echo Essentials, we say farewell to the legendary Dave Dale as a permanent co-host of the Echo Essentials podcast. 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, poli...

In this episode of Echo Essentials, hosts Chris and Dave welcome Will Konken, BayToday’s newest journalist, who’s been thrown into the heart of North Bay’s hottest local stories — from expense scandals to evolving city hall drama. 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...

Think sunscreen is just for summer? Think again. 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-sa...

What hit Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park wasn’t a tornado. It was something else... In this eye-opening episode of Echo Essentials, Chris Piekarski sits down for a call with Dr. David Sills, Director of the Northern Tornadoes Project, to talk about the storm that devastated part of Highway 17 East of North Bay, and how his team investigates extreme weather events across Ontario and Canada. Dr....

OUTLoud North Bay has been creating safe, affirming spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ youth for the past several years. In this week's episode, Chris Piekarski sits down with founder Seth Compton and volunteer Riley Ong to talk about their surprise invitation to meet the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward in Toronto — and the life-changing work that led to it. The episode also discuss the emotional moment when On...

When a freak storm ripped through Bonfield, Ontario, no one was ready for what came next: 100+ damaged roadways, families stranded in parks, trees smashing into vehicles, and a state of emergency declared at 4 a.m. In this episode of Echo Essentials, we sit down with Mayor Narry Paquette and Deputy Mayor Jason Corbett just days after the disaster. They walk Chris and Dave through how emergency res...

Is North Bay doing enough to address its housing crisis? In this episode of Echo Essentials, City Councillor Justine Mallah opens up about the city's growing housing challenges—from affordability and zoning to the human impact on renters and first-time buyers. She breaks down what City Hall is doing, the roadblocks in the way, and why transparency and collaboration are key to making progress. 00:0...

What if kindness wasn’t just a feel-good gesture—but a psychological superpower? In this special Kindness Week episode of Echo Essentials Dr. Andrew Weeks explores the neuroscience and social psychology behind compassion. From community programs to deeply personal moments, this episode asks: Can kindness really change the way we live together?

In this episode of Echo Essentials, we sit down with Dr. Carol Zimbalatti, Medical Officer of Health/Health Executive for the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, to unpack the alarming resurgence of measles across Ontario and Canada — including confirmed cases in North Bay for the first time since 1995. Whether you're a parent, educator, healthcare worker, or just someone trying to make se...

In this episode, we sit down with Rick Champagne, newly appointed Mayor of East Ferris, to talk about stepping into the role, the unexpected path to the mayor’s seat, and how the community is balancing growth with identity. From his early volunteer work to the council’s decision that led to his appointment, Champagne shares candid thoughts on local leadership, development pressure, and what comes...

Constable Merv Shantz from the North Bay Police Service joins the show to talk about Ontario’s Road Safety Week — and what it actually looks like on the streets of North Bay. From cell phone tickets and speeding hotspots to mobility scooters and modded bikes, this episode is a crash course in how enforcement works, what’s legal (and what’s not), and how to keep yourself safer on the road. 00:00 –...

North Bay City Councillor Jamie Lowery joins us for a deep dive into one of North Bay’s most persistent political debates: the ward system. Why has this idea resurfaced every election for 20+ years? What’s stopping the city from even studying it? And could a customized, hybrid system finally give residents the local representation they deserve? 00:00 – Intro 01:21 – Why we’re talking about the war...

Spring has arrived—and so have the pests. From bedbugs and carpenter ants to fat spiders and cluster flies, pest season is officially here. Geoff Richardson from Good Riddance Pest Control joins us for a practical, sometimes squirmy, conversation about what to expect this season, how to protect your home, and why some pest problems are more emotional than physical. Chris and Dave also discuss some...

In this episode of Echo Essentials, Professor Dr. David Tabachnick of Nipissing University returns to breakdown everything that happened at both the federal and local levels for the 2025 Canadian Federal Election. This episodes explores how the Liberal Party secured a strong minority government, who the NDP might look to lead the party, and examining what the future holds for Pierre Poilievre. Dr....

In this episode of Echo Essentials, Chris and Dave sit down with Pauline Rochefort, Liberal candidate for Nipissing–Timiskaming and current mayor of East Ferris, to talk about the challenges—and opportunities—facing the party and the country. Rochefort shares her thoughts on the Liberal leadership shift from Justin Trudeau to Mark Carney, breaking down her party’s approach to crime, details the Li...

In this episode of Echo Essentials, we speak with Garry Keller, Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Nipissing–Timiskaming, about his rise from working behind the scenes on Parliament Hill to running for office in his adopted hometown. Keller addresses the hot-button issues of the 2025 federal election—from housing and addiction treatment, to firearm legislation, natural resource development...

What happens when a hobby farmer and IT contractor steps into politics? In this episode of Echo Essentials, Chris and Dave sit down with John Janssen, the Federal PPC candidate for Nipissing–Timiskaming riding, for a direct conversation about immigration, housing, firearms, and the future of Canadian democracy. John shares why he believes the PPC is the only party offering “real change,” his reaso...

In this episode of Echo Essentials, we sit down with Valerie Kennedy, the NDP candidate for Nipissing–Timiskaming, to talk about the cost of living, union support, pipelines, rail infrastructure, and her surprising entry into politics. From defending workers' rights to advocating for Indigenous communities and reshaping public services, Kennedy brings a deeply personal and unapologetically grassro...

In this episode of Echo Essentials, we sit down with Professor Dr. David Tabachnick of Nipissing University to unpack the upcoming federal election, what’s at stake for northern Ontario, and why this might be the most tense campaign in recent history. We explore the Trump effect on Canadian politics, the difference between urban and rural voters, and whether a youth-led voter shift could change th...

North Bay’s City Council passed its much-anticipated operating budget this week, alongside a new contract agreement for union employees. In an interview on the Echo Essentials Podcast, co-hosts Scott Clark and Dave Dale sat down with Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield to discuss the budget’s impact, the challenges of municipal funding, and the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with city w...