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  • Snowmobile Season in Northern Ontario: Safety, Tourism & Trail Challenges

    Snowmobile Season in Northern Ontario: Safety, Tourism & Trail Challenges
    Feb 19 2026
    On this episode of Echo Essentials, we take a closer look at snowmobile season in North Bay and Northern Ontario and what it really means for our region.

    We’re joined by Shawn Flindall from the North Bay Snowmobile Club to talk about Snowmobile Safety Week, the realities of riding in ever-changing winter conditions, and the responsibility that comes with operating high-performance machines on community trail systems.

    We also break down the bigger picture. Snowmobiling is not just a hobby. It represents billions of dollars in economic activity across Ontario and plays a major role in supporting small businesses, hotels, restaurants, and rural communities throughout the winter months.

    But with that opportunity comes challenge. From trespassing concerns on private land to the cost and volunteer effort required to maintain thousands of kilometres of trails, the future of organized snowmobiling depends on cooperation, respect, and safety.

    0:00 Intro
    12:15 Snowmobile Safety Week Explained
    27:06 The $5 Billion Snowmobile Industry
    33:51Trespassing & Private Land Concerns
    48:13 How Long Will the Season Last?
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    54 Min.
  • North Bay’s Housing Development Boom: What Drove the 2025 Surge?

    North Bay’s Housing Development Boom: What Drove the 2025 Surge?
    Feb 13 2026
    In this episode of Echo Essentials, we break down what’s behind North Bay’s banner year for housing development.

    With 242 new dwelling units approved in 2025, more than double from 2024, we sit down with Councillor Justine Mallah and Beverley Hillier from Planning and Building Services to unpack what drove the surge.

    We also take a look at the continuing development of the waterfront area and what the future holds for 2026 and beyond.



    5:27 – 242 New Units: Breaking Down North Bay’s 2025 Housing Surge
    12:31 – “Building Up, Not Out”
    17:25 – Repurposing Schools Into Affordable Housing
    50:15 – How City Funding & Grant Applications Actually Work
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    56 Min.
  • Dr. David Tabachnick: A Conversation on the State of Canadian, Ontario and International Politics

    Dr. David Tabachnick: A Conversation on the State of Canadian, Ontario and International Politics
    Feb 5 2026
    Politics is moving fast, and the forces shaping Canada today are tied closely to what is happening in Ontario and around the world.

    In this episode of Echo Essentials, friend of the show and professor of political science Dr. David Tabachnick joins the podcast for a wide ranging conversation on the current state of politics at every level.

    We tackle the recent happenings including the threats to Greenland and the repercussions, Canada's tariffs on China, and the current state of provincial politics in Ontario
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    1 Std. und 4 Min.
  • 185 Years of Democracy Gone? How to Save Trustees in Public Education in Ontario

    185 Years of Democracy Gone? How to Save Trustees in Public Education in Ontario
    Jan 29 2026
    What happens when elected school trustees lose their power, and what does that mean for democracy in Ontario?

    In this episode of Echo Essentials, Jay Aspin and Bill Steer join the podcast to talk about the petition to keep trustees in Ontario's public school system. Both men bring deep experience in public life and education governance, and they speak candidly about what has unfolded and why it matters.

    The conversation explores the role of elected trustees, the difference between governance and operations, and the concern that long standing democratic structures are being weakened.

    You can sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/keep-school-board-trustees-as-elected-officials-in-ontario?source_location=petition_update_page


    6:34 The petition to protect elected trustees in Ontario
    12:22 What happens to public voice if trustees are removed
    27:30 Concerns about power, governance, and democratic erosion
    53:10 Final call to action and why this moment matters
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    54 Min.
  • Inside North Bay’s Homelessness and Housing Issues with Councillor Mark King

    Inside North Bay’s Homelessness and Housing Issues with Councillor Mark King
    Jan 24 2026
    In this episode of Echo Essentials, North Bay City Councillor Mark King joins the show to talk candidly about the state of housing and homelessness in the city. As chair of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board and vice chair of the Northern Ontario Service Delivery Association, Mark brings a regional and on the ground view of what is happening and why.

    The conversation covers new data showing sharp increases in homelessness across Northern Ontario, the limits of what municipalities can realistically do, and why provincial and federal support is critical.

    Mark also shares insights from recent meetings with provincial ministers, the challenges of funding social housing, and what it means when cities are left managing a crisis they cannot solve alone

    0:00 Introduction and why homelessness is the focus
    10:11 The new report and the 117 percent increase in Northern Ontario
    19:26 Why cities cannot fix homelessness alone
    32:15 What real housing solutions actually require
    56:01 Final reflections and what comes next for North Bay
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    58 Min.
  • MADD Nipissing and the Ongoing Fight Against Impaired Driving

    MADD Nipissing and the Ongoing Fight Against Impaired Driving
    Jan 15 2026
    Impaired driving is not something from the past. It is still happening in our communities, and the consequences are still devastating.

    In this episode of Echo Essentials, we sit down with Shona Camirand and Bobbie-Lyn Shank, members of MADD Nipissing, about the ongoing fight against impaired driving.

    They share why education and awareness still matter, how attitudes around drinking and driving have changed, and where dangerous misconceptions still exist.

    0:00 – Intro
    8:36 – Red Ribbon campaigns and Ride programs in North Bay
    17:06 – How impaired driving has changed beyond alcohol
    24:24 – New testing, breathalyzers, and evolving laws
    50:31 – How to get involved with MADD Nipissing and help locally
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    52 Min.
  • Let’s Remember Adam: The Push to Make Drivers Stop for School Buses

    Let’s Remember Adam: The Push to Make Drivers Stop for School Buses
    Jan 8 2026
    In this episode, we sit down with Pierre Ranger, the voice behind the Let’s Remember Adam campaign. Pierre shares the heartbreaking story of his brother Adam, a young boy who was hit and killed by a driver who didn’t stop for a school bus.

    Since that moment, Pierre and his family have made it their mission to make sure no one else has to go through what they did. The campaign has become a powerful reminder about the importance of stopping for school buses and protecting children as they get on and off safely.

    4:10 Why Drivers Still Don’t Stop
    08:56 How Policy Change Happened
    20:00 The Push for Stop Arm Cameras
    52:56 What’s Next for Let’s Remember Adam
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    1 Std. und 2 Min.
  • Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield on FONOM, Centennial and What 2026 Looks Like for North Bay

    Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield on FONOM, Centennial and What 2026 Looks Like for North Bay
    Jan 1 2026
    North Bay is heading into an important stretch. Major projects are underway, big questions remain, and decisions being made now will shape what the city looks like in 2026 and beyond.

    In this episode of Echo Essentials, Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield joins us to talk through what’s on the table. From the work that FONOM is doing for our community, to a look back at the centennial, to long-term budget pressures and growth, Maggie shares how council is approaching the next few years and what residents should be paying attention to.

    0:00 Intro
    4:00 Looking back at the centennial
    11:30 FONOM
    26:00 Bail Reform
    33:30 2026 Budget
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    1 Std. und 2 Min.