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  • How Mining Powers Northern Ontario's Economy and Future

    How Mining Powers Northern Ontario's Economy and Future
    2026/06/10
    Mining has helped shape Northern Ontario for generations, and it's continuing to create opportunities for communities across the region.

    In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we chat with Bryan Wilson, Senior Vice President of Operations, Ontario at Equinox Gold's Greenstone Mine. With nearly 40 years in the industry, Brian shares how mining has changed over the years, from advances in safety and technology to the growing demand for skilled workers.

    The conversation also 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.

    0:00 – Intro
    6:53 – Modern Mining & Technology
    13:28 – Mental Health in Mining
    21:13 – Teachers Mining Tours
    30:09 – Careers & Hiring in Mining
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    34 分
  • Charlie Angus on Democracy, Northern Ontario & Canada's Future

    Charlie Angus on Democracy, Northern Ontario & Canada's Future
    2026/06/03
    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 communities to advocating for Indigenous rights, public accountability, and stronger democratic institutions.

    He shares stories from the road, lessons learned from representing one of Canada's largest ridings, and why Northern Ontario's voice remains as important as ever.

    0:00 – Charlie Angus' Northern Ontario Journey
    3:47 – The Adams Mine Battle
    11:20 – Shannon Koostachin's Legacy
    21:14 – Democracy in a Changing World
    46:10 – The Future of Northern Ontario
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    58 分
  • Inside the Mind of a Young Piano Prodigy

    Inside the Mind of a Young Piano Prodigy
    2026/05/27
    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 research she devoted to understanding the mindset of professional musicians, the influence of legendary Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, and even taking piano lessons herself to better connect with the experience of performing music.

    Find "The Instrument Must Not Matter" and more here: https://christinefischerguy.com/books/


    0:00 – Intro
    5:19 – Building a Piano Prodigy Character
    14:31 – Burning an Entire Manuscript
    22:14 – The Importance of Editors
    32:06 – Taking Piano Lessons for the Novel
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    36 分
  • Living with Lyme Disease: One Northern Ontario Story

    Living with Lyme Disease: One Northern Ontario Story
    2026/05/20
    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, fatigue, and years of unanswered medical questions. After being bounced between specialists and struggling to find answers, he was eventually diagnosed with Lyme disease, beginning a long and difficult road to recovery.

    We also dive into the science behind Lyme disease, how ticks spread infection, why early detection matters, and the challenges many patients still face when trying to access proper treatment and diagnosis. Justin explains how his own experience eventually led him to create Geneticks, a company focused on tick testing and helping people better understand their risk after exposure.

    Check out Justin's website: https://geneticks.ca/

    0:00 – Intro
    3:31 – What Lyme Disease Actually Is
    6:55 – From Athlete to Seriously Ill
    10:18 – Finally Getting Diagnosed
    16:05 – Turning His Experience Into a Business
    24:29 – The Truth About the Bullseye Rash
    29:07 – The Stigma Around Lyme Disease
    33:39 – How Tick Testing Works
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    37 分
  • Inside the Environmental Battles Shaping Northern Ontario

    Inside the Environmental Battles Shaping Northern Ontario
    2026/05/13
    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 the North .

    Brennain takes us through the origins of North Watch in the late 1980s, how the organization grew out of environmental and peace activism, and why public participation in environmental decision-making still matters today.

    0:00 – Intro
    3:40 – Climate Change & Younger Generations
    11:43 – The Nuclear Waste Debate in Northern Ontario
    20:30 – Why “NIMBY” Isn’t Fair
    25:23 – The Risks of Nuclear Waste Storage
    33:52 – The Adams Mine Landfill Controversy
    38:07 – Why Environmental Advocacy Never Stops
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    42 分
  • The Story Behind The Original Bug Shirt Company

    The Story Behind The Original Bug Shirt Company
    2026/05/06
    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 outdoor enthusiasts around the world.

    Julie shares the incredible story of how the company began in the early 1990s, how she started sewing bug shirts from home while raising her children, and how that small operation eventually turned into a thriving Northern Ontario business. We also talk about buying the company in 2019, navigating the uncertainty of COVID, and how the business adapted as more people turned to the outdoors.

    0:00 – Intro
    3:55 – How the Company Started
    8:10 – Buying the Business
    10:03 – Why Bug Protection Matters
    15:21 – COVID & Going Global Online
    20:08 – Shipping Bug Shirts Around the World
    26:13 – New Bug Gear for Kids
    30:24 – Customer Stories from the Outdoors
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    34 分
  • How Experts Measure Water Levels Across Canada

    How Experts Measure Water Levels Across Canada
    2026/04/29
    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 dive into how water levels are actually measured, what “stage” and “discharge” mean, and how this data gets shared across Canada to help inform decisions around flooding, infrastructure, and safety. Otto also walks through how technology has changed the job, from handwritten logs and manual readings to automated systems that update every hour.

    0:00 – Intro
    4:34 – What the “Water Office” Actually Does
    6:46 – How Water Levels Are Measured (Then vs Now)
    9:21 – Why Water Data Is So Important
    15:02 – Real-Time Data & Flood Monitoring
    22:01 – Technology Changing Water Measurement
    33:06 – Traveling the North to Measure Water
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    43 分
  • From Trails to YouTube: Curtis Lafleche’s Outdoor Journey

    From Trails to YouTube: Curtis Lafleche’s Outdoor Journey
    2026/04/22
    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 into how Curtis made the leap from private adventures to sharing his experiences online.

    From filming solo trips and learning the ins and outs of content creation, to finding his own voice without trying to copy others, he talks about what it really takes to build something authentic in the outdoor space.

    Check out Curtis' Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/@NotSoEpicAdventurer

    0:00 – Intro
    3:06 – Finding the Outdoors
    8:28 – Why He Started YouTube
    13:22 – Backcountry Trips & Florence Lake Story
    20:41 – Entering the Quiet & Winter Camping
    34:33 – Gear, Filming & Outdoor Lessons
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    44 分