The Backroads Bill Podcast

In this episode of Backroads Bill, we take you inside the Canadian Ecology Centre's summer programs, where students leave the traditional classroom behind and experience learning in the heart of nature. Bill and Ben are joined by Josh, Shelby and Sarah who are just 3 of the educators who spend their time in the summer to help teach different courses. They share what makes this immersive program so...

In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with geologist, prospector, and landman Mark Hall to explore the fascinating world of gold prospecting in Northern Ontario. Mark explains how gold forms, where prospectors look for it, and what it really takes to find it. We also follow along as Bill tries his hand at gold panning, uncovering a few flakes along the way while learning the techniques, t...

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...

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 thei...

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...

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 communit...

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 r...

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,...

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 t...

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 outdo...

In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Otto Bedard who is an expert technologist in hydrometry, hydraulics and innovation. With recent flooding hitting the North Bay area, the timing couldn’t be better. Otto takes us inside the system most people never think about, the network of gauges, sensors, and data collection points that track how high rivers rise and how fast water moves. We d...

On this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Curtis Lafleche, a Northern Ontario outdoorsman who has turned his passion for the backcountry into a growing presence on YouTube. What started as simple walks quickly turned into a deep curiosity about the land, eventually leading to backcountry trips, canoe expeditions, and a love for exploring the wild spaces of Northern Ontario . We also dive...

In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with one of Canada’s most recognizable voices in weather, climatologist David Phillips, for a conversation that spans more than five decades of forecasting, storytelling, and scientific change. From his early days with Environment Canada to becoming a familiar presence on The Weather Network, David reflects on how both the science and the public’s rel...

In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Juno-nominated artist Adrian Sutherland to explore how his music is deeply rooted in his life in Attawapiskat and his culture. From early influences at home to performing on national stages, Adrian shares how his sound has evolved while staying true to where he comes from. We also dive into his new book The Work of Our Hands, and how storytelling...

On this episode of Backroads Bill, we head off the highway and into the small Northern Ontario community of Gogama, a place with a population of just a few hundred but a story that runs deep. We’re joined by longtime resident Gerry Talbot, who has spent his entire life in Gogama and has been involved in nearly every aspect of the community. From local services and volunteer boards to preserving th...

On this episode of Backroads Bill, we head to Northwestern Ontario to take a closer look at the township of Ignace, a small community facing a big decision about its future. Once supported by forestry, mining, and tourism, Ignace has seen its population decline and its economy slow in recent years. With mills closing and opportunities becoming harder to find, the town found itself at a crossroads....

On this episode of Backroads Bill, we head to Northwestern Ontario to explore one of the most intriguing archaeological discoveries in the region in recent years. Local historian Johanna Rowe joins the show to talk about the discovery of the Wawa Runestone, a rock carving hidden in the bush that contains more than 250 characters written in runic script. Johanna walks us through how the discovery f...

On this episode of Backroads Bill, we connect with a trucker whose journey spans continents. Sludge one of the stars of the Netflix series Outback Truckers, joins the show while passing through Northern Ontario after filming on the winter roads along the James Bay coast. Known for hauling freight across the harsh landscapes of Australia, Sludge found himself facing a completely different challenge...

On this episode of Backroads Bill, we head north to the shores of Lake Superior to meet Kim Asmussen, known to many as the “Snowshoe Art Guy.” Instead of a paintbrush and canvas, Kim uses snowshoes and wide open winter landscapes to create massive geometric designs and images in the snow that can only truly be appreciated from above Kim shares how a simple idea turned into a unique form of outdoor...

On this episode of Backroads Bill, we welcome in professors at Burman University Kevin Kiers and Tim Buttler to talk about their new book, Outdoor Experiential Learning in Canada. It brings together educators from across the country to share how they are taking learning beyond the classroom and into the real world. Kevin and Tim share their own stories, from childhood adventures in rivers and moun...

On this episode of Backroads Bill, we step away from our usual backroads stories to focus on something that affects every community: our local schools. School board trustees are elected by their neighbours to help guide budgets, set direction, and serve as the voice between families and the education system. It is a role built on community service, not politics. With several boards now under provi...

In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with world-renowned botanist, medical biochemist and author Diana Beresford-Kroeger. Diana shares her extraordinary journey growing up in Ireland and having ancient wisdom passed down to her. She then studied to become a scientist with two PhDs who has spent decades studying the chemistry of trees and their direct connection to human health. She expla...

Science does not just live in textbooks. It lives in stories, curiosity, and the ability to make people care. In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we sit down with Dr. David Pearson. Dr. Pearson was the founding Director at Science North and a longtime professor at Laurentian University. We dive into science communication and it's importance, the importance of science centers like Scienc...

Leadership in Northern Ontario looks different. It means knowing your community, earning trust, and making tough decisions in places where resources are limited and expectations are high. In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we sit down with two Northern Ontario mayors, Michelle Boileau of Timmins and Cheryl Fort of Hornepayne, to talk about what it’s really like to lead as a woman in lo...

When Project Grizzly was first filmed, no one could have predicted the impact it would have decades later. What started as a story about a man building a bear suit in his backyard has become a cult documentary with a lasting place in Canadian film history. In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, filmmaker Peter Lynch reflects on making Project Grizzly, working alongside Troy Hurtubise, and...