The Backroads Bill Podcast

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...

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 tal...

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...

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 offi...

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...

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 &amp...

"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_bil...

Charlie Ross was a prospector from the 1930s who had a monument erected for him which mysteriously vanished. This week Bill and Ben are joined by Jason Ingram who had a backroads adventure of his own to track down the missing monument. After many years he finally stumbled upon it and he tells about his connection with Charlie and how much it meant to him to figure out this mystery. Follow Bill on...

This week Bill is sharing his story of going through an almost fatal injury in his leg. He shares with Ben how he was unable to go out and do Backroads Bill adventures and being confined to a hospital bed. No matter how dark things got for Bill being outside in nature was what kept him going and helped him with his rehab. Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill and on Twitter: @st...

This week Ben and Bill are joined by Natasha Wiatr from the Callander Bay Heritage Museum & Alex Dufresne Art Gallery to talk about the tragic life of the Dionne Quints. Natasha dispels some common myths around the history and lays out to the audience the corruption and greed that surrounded the Dionne Quints their whole life. Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill and on Twi...

Former Cementation President Roy Slack joins the podcast to talk about the relationship between mining companies in Canada and the land they use. Bill and Roy focus on the Renabie Gold Mine which was reclaimed by nature under the 1992 Mining Act. Roy also gives us insight on the environmental impact the industry has on the land they use and he gives his thoughts about mining in space! Follow Bill...

Get your favourite pair of rubber boots out as Bill takes us through the best hiking trails in Ontario! He tells us all about interpretive signage and how it can enhance your experience and all of the volunteers who help to keep these trails intact for people to enjoy. Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill and on Twitter: @steertonorthONT For the video version of this episode or...

Bill has taken us to the 4 cardinal points of Ontario and the geograpahic center of Ontario the past 2 weeks but this week it's how far can you drive north in Ontario? Bill and Ben discuss the difficulty of this challenge and you may be suprised at the answer. It's not quite as far north as Fort Severn but you can get pretty close. Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill and on Tw...

Bill is joined once again this week by his road trip partner Brian Emblin as they try to find the most northern, southern, western and eastern points of Ontario. During their foray to the most northern point they meet a furry friend and face many challenges to get to their destination. Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill and on Twitter: @steertonorthONT For the video version o...

Bill is joined by his road trip partner Brian Emblin on their quest to find the official center of Ontario Bill and Brian discuss the challenges they faced getting to the location and using math to get as close as possible. The pair also met a strange creature along the way Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_billand on Twitter: @steertonorthONT For the video version of this episod...

Bill is joined by Nazneen Mehdi, a labyrinth enthusiast, to talk about how labyrinths can be a powerful tool to help with spiritual and mental healing. Bill discusses how he created one at the Canadian Ecology Center and Nazneen tells us about working as a nurse and how labyrinths have helped her patients. Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_billand on Twitter: @steertonorthONT For...

Bill shares the story of the 1975 Oba Lake Drug Bust that saw almost close to $100 million of today's money worth of drugs seized and how it was tied to a canoe factory in Wawa Bill tells us about how he had conversations with Alan Templain who was a Satan's Choice Motorcycle Club President and also the creator of the Wolverine heritage canoe. Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bi...

Clermont Duval, a local artist famous for his nature paintings, was inspired by photos Backroads Bill took during covid of various eagles and wolves locally. Bill and Ben explore the history of Clermont Duval and the story behind how Bill was able to capture wildlife photos that inspired one of Clermont’s famous paintings. Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill and on Twitter: @s...

Tom Thomson, a famous painter known for his woodland art and inspiring the ‘Group of Seven’, was mysteriously killed in 1917 and then was buried in two different places. Bill and Ben explore the story around the death of Tom Thomson and the theories that exist about his untimely demise. Bill also explains how Tom has two headstones in very different places and no one knows exactly which one his re...

If you are looking for your next great adventure look no further then Red Lake, Ontario Bill takes us on a road trip to the west side of the province to a place full of nature and has many historical ties from artists A.Y. Jackson and Norval Morrisseau to the spirit rock and one of the best rock collections in the province. Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill and on Twitter: @...

The Edmund Fitzgerald was a famous Great Lakes freighter known for tragically sinking in the 1970s during a trip near Whitefish Bay. This event also inspired famous Canadian artist Gordon Lightfoot to write a song entitled "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" just a year after it sank. Bill and Ben explore the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald and how it's legacy has continued in the form of museums...

Bashin’ Bill Barilko was a famous Toronto Maple Leafs player whose story inspired the Tragically Hip to write their hit song “Fifty Mission Cap” Bill and Ben explore the story and tragic history of Bill Barilko from his disappearance to his discovery years later. Bill also explains how he made his way to the crash site and the legacy that Bashing Bill left on the world. Follow Bill on Facebook &am...

Backroads Bill hits the backstreets to talk about the legacy of Terry Fox! Bill and Ben explore the path that Terry took on his Marathon of Hope through Ontario. Bill also shares the different monuments that are a part of Terry's history. Do you know about the big red canoe that is in downtown Toronto? Bill also shares his experience of being alive and what it was like to witness the famous run ac...