The Devastating Impact of Food Insecurity in 2025 Echo Podcast Roundup Checking in with The Gathering Place In this week’s episode of Echo Essentials, we go behind the scenes at The Gathering Place—North Bay’s frontline solution to food insecurity. Chris Piekarski visits The Gathering Place to sit down with Board Chair Peter Gregory and Operations Manager Alicia Smith to unpack the truth about who really uses the service, how they’ve slashed costs by 31%, and why sustainable monthly donations...
11 days ago • 5 min read
What's Next for the Trout Lake Watershed Development Study? Echo Podcast Roundup What Froze Development on Trout Lake for 40 Years? In this episode of Echo Essentials, Chris sits down with the City of North Bay’s Planning Manager Beverley Hillier to unpack the long-awaited Trout Lake Watershed policy review. Beverley reveals the reason why lot creation was frozen in the 90s, what 400+ new lots could mean for Trout Lake, and how phosphorus, septic systems, and shoreline buffers are now at the...
18 days ago • 3 min read
Discover The Von Doeler Ranch Origin Story! Echo Podcast Roundup How a Missed Trip on the Titanic Led to a 100-Year-Old Ranch What do a missed voyage on the Titanic and a single curly horse have to do with one of Northern Ontario’s most beloved ranches? Elana von Doeler sits down with Lisa and shares the story behind her family’s ranch: a beautiful ranch built by hand, powered by horses, and shaped by generations of hard work and heart. The Von Doeler Ranch is more than just land and animals....
25 days ago • 4 min read
Creating, Innovating & Surviving in the Education Space! Echo Podcast Roundup Nipissing University’s Dr. Kevin Wamsley Visits Echo In this episode of Echo Essentials, host Chris Piekarski sits down with Dr. Kevin Wamsley, President and Vice-Chancellor of Nipissing University, to talk about the behind-the-scenes decisions that have helped shaped the university's current direction. From strategic budgeting and expanding STEM programs, to supporting international students and building cultural...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Changing the Narrative on Suicide with CMHA North Bay Echo Podcast Roundup Changing the Narrative – World Suicide Prevention Day with the Canadian Mental Health Association In this week’s Echo Essentials episode, Chris sits down with Malinda and Kyla from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) North Bay to talk about World Suicide Prevention Day. From new suicide grief support groups to free safeTALK training, discover how CMHA is equipping people with the tools to save lives and heal...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Diving Into The World of North Bay's Music and Entertainment! Echo Podcast Roundup Sound Trippers Pulls the Curtain Back on Local Musicians & Artists In this episode, Samanta Izquierdo revisits the show to share Sound Trippers, her brand-new Bell Fibe TV1 series that follows musicians from northern Ontario as they share their lives, struggles, and passion for music. Lisa and Samanta talk about the importance of showing real stories and why the behind-the-scenes moments matter just as much as...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
The Rebuilt Resources Story: The Environmental Impact You Didn’t Know You Were Making! Echo Podcast Roundup How Your Old Clothes Are Helping People Get Back to Work When you drop off a bag of clothes at a donation bin, you probably don’t think much about where it ends up. But at Rebuilt Resources, every sweater, sock, and pair of jeans is part of something much bigger. In this episode, we meet Maureen Brazeau, the incredible woman behind this North Bay non-profit that’s been helping people...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
How North Bay Police Bust Fraudsters & Scammers Echo Podcast Roundup Scams In The City: How the North Bay Police Service Bust Fraudsters In this week’s episode of Echo Essentials, host Chris Piekarski sits down with Detective Constable Zack 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, their...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
The Story Behind One of Canada’s Most Beloved Comic Strips Echo Podcast Roundup Drawing Real People! Lynn Johnston didn’t just draw comics: she drew real life. As the creator of For Better or For Worse, one of the most beloved syndicated comic strips in the world, Lynn reached over 220 million readers by turning ordinary family moments into something unforgettable. In this episode, Lynn shares the story behind creating For Better or For Worse, how she navigated certain situations with...
2 months ago • 3 min read