Pod the North‘s Kattie Laur features Scott Clark, of the North Bay Echo Community Podcast Network, in this week’s substack newsletter. The podcast itself will be released later this week in full to subscribers.
Excerpts below:
“Despite the loss of traditional local media, podcasts might actually be at the forefront of reviving local narratives. Earlier this year, CBC Podcasts launched their series’ of local podcasts, “This is…” and “Good Question” based in some of Canada’s more major cities like Montreal, Ottawa and Edmonton.
“In my opinion, it was the North Bay Echo Community Podcast Network that’s made the biggest splash and quite possibly the most interesting play in the North American podcasting landscape. And it’s especially significant for Canadian media. The network has 12 North Bay-focused podcasts, all embedding themselves into the everyday lives of North Bay locals, and building relationships with local journalists and media.
“I talked to Scott Clark, a 20-year broadcasting veteran, President of Clark Communications, and catalyst to North Bay Echo. The network is the start of an exiting shift the media landscape in northern Ontario — and possibly all of Canada. I asked Scott about building the network, it’s impact on the city, and how it might be changing the way we think about accessing local news.”
Top Shelf
- Lisa takes a tour of the Canadian Forces Museum of Aerospace Defence
- Tour de Trout helps the YMCA offer swimming lessons to more youth
Today’s Eye Candy
North Bay cinematographer Ed Regan has been embarking on canoe adventures this summer, with a recent trip from Trout Lake’s Stepping Stones to Mattawa fueling a beautiful video compilation. This photo was taken at Paresseux Falls.
Exploring the Aerospace
Defence Museum
at CFB North Bay
North Bay has a rich and storied military history and is also home to the Canadian Forces Museum of Aerospace Defense.
Lisa visits the museum to chat with Bethany and Maya about what the museum offers and where a lot of the exhibits come from and why museums are an important part of our community.
- Bethany talks about the museum’s exhibits 2:00
- The museums interactiveness with its items 5:30
- Maya talks about the importance of museums 12:20
- When can you visit? 21:40
Swimming lessons
an essential need
for youth and newcomers
The 2024 Tour de Trout fundraiser for YMCA swimming lessons raised more than $8,200, as tallied on the last leg of the 18-kilometre adventure around Trout Lake this summer.
More than $42,000 has been raised in the nine years of the Tour de Trout exercise, which also raises awareness of the need for youth and newcomers to Northern Ontario to at least acquire basic swimming skills.
See The Nugget’s 2024 feature HERE. And see BayToday’s 2016 archive piece HERE.
With the City of North Bay surrounded by lakes, rivers and creeks, it’s essential to be aware of water dangers and how to stay afloat. Interviews in this Small Town Times video story include YMCA VP Nicole Beattie, Tour de Trout founder Johanne Brousseau, swimmer Kelly Wallace, and two kayak support crew watchers, Jordan Mino and Caitlyn Daniel.
Transcript
Today’s Zen Suggestion:
If you’re going to dig a very deep hole, don’t forget a very tall ladder.
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Explore Voyageur Aviation opportunities HERE.
Echo Network
To North Bay With Love:
Gateway Home Hardware on Algonquin has become an iconic part of North Bay after satisfying customers with a wide-ranging inventory during 65 years of business. James Ahola took over the business from his father Henry and has continued the legacy with an emphasis on customer service and employee satisfaction.
In last Tuesday’s To North Bay With Love podcast, Lisa chats with happy staffers Evan and Nicole about what makes the store so unique. And James joins later to share the history of the store and how their business strategy is to focus on employee morale and customer satisfaction, with profit coming naturally from that combination. At the end, Lisa also gets to ring the famous gong!
View all 70+ EpisodesEcho Essentials:
The owner of a vilified motel in downtown North Bay and the president of the Near North Landlords Association visit the Echo Essentials studio to share their perspective on handling ‘trouble’ tenants.
Anthony Koziol, owner of the Villa in the 300-block of Main Street East, is vice-president of the NNLA, was named by a nearby business owner as part of the problem because he rents to people associated with criminal activity (fencing of stolen goods and drug dealing).
See today’s BayToday interview with Koziol HERE.
He was joined by Tricia Marshall, president of the NNLA, who said the long time-frame and cost of removing tenants isn’t easy or cheap under the current system.
Koziol said it’s a complicated matter, noting that the same people just move a little ways down the road or find another tenant willing to let them do business there. And he said raising rents to avoid marginalized people isn’t the answer because it would merely leave more people on the street. It was a wide-ranging interview that provided more insight from another viewpoint.
And there’s an interesting TVO opinion column about dealing with dodgy landlords HERE.
Listen to the Full ShowBackroads Bill:
For the Backroads Bill podcast last week, we sat down with Peter Smith who runs the group Ontario Sasquatch for a two-part series where he dives into some of the evidence his team has gathered, as well as his personal experience with sasquatch.
Tomorrow, on Part 2, Peter will be joined by his partner Christine to delve even deeper into the legend of sasquatch.
And did you catch Bill’s interview with a local man who saw a sasquatch near Sudbury? It’s a good one.
Check Out the Full SetNorthern Ontario Mining Showcase Podcast:
The Northern Ontario Mining Showcase Podcast was created for the Echo Community Podcast Network in partnership with Story Studio Network and Clark Communications.
Northern Ontario plays an extensive role in the international mining community. In this limited series we’ll hear from the influential voices, partners and leaders who are driving innovation, research and development, creating new market opportunities and new ways of doing business in the mining industry.
View All NOMS Podcast Episodes
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Echo Network Members
Small Town Times:
North Bay musician Jude Zappala was among the performers at the city’s Hot Summer Nights Music Festival on the Kiwanis Bandshell stage, Saturday, Aug. 3. Small Town Times recorded his cover of George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord … and it’s fantastic.
In last week’s Small Town Times podcast for the Back in the Bay Magazine, founding executive and chairman of the Heritage Railway and Carousel Co., Rod Johnston, and treasurer Don Coutts talk about how the city pulled together in the 1990s to create the special attraction. It features video of the train and carousel, along with photos of volunteers.
They announced last week that the new date for its 30th anniversary celebration will be Aug. 31 this Labour Day weekend.
Initially, North Bay’s successful waterfront attraction was scheduled to mark the occasion this Saturday, Aug. 3, but a key volunteer passed away and the amusement ride was shut down for 10 days while they found alternate arrangements to meet safety regulations. The official anniversary was July 29, 1994.
Cogeco:
Ontario Legion Command Homeless Veterans Assistance program stepped up in a big way, as a North Bay Veteran is comfortable at the Northern Pines Transitional Housing Complex. See YourTV North Bay’s feature video story by Clarke Heipel HERE.
YourTV North Bay will be airing half-hour segments of the Echo Essentials Podcast on Mondays at 7 p.m.
Watch Video Stories on YourTVCheap Seats:
Plans for Rebel Moon, Catching Up On Trailers, & Who is THE BOY, AND What Is THE HERON? (56)
New episodes are available on Wednesdays.
For the Full SetRichard Fortin Presents:
In episode 53 of Richard Fortin Presents, talented photographer Gerry Gooderham, based out of Temagami, shares his love of the craft. His work is on display at 176 Lakeshore Drive in North Bay’s NOVAH Gallery until early September.
“I am a photographer, I see light, angles and shapes. The landscape and night are my canvas, light is my paint, the camera is my brush…Imagination limitless!”
Check Out the Full SetMarianne Vander Dussen:
Painting Antelope Canyon | Landscape Oil Painting Tutorial + Timelapse with Marianne Vander Dussen’s in this week’s featured tutorial.
View All Marianne Vander Dussen EpisodesWingspan Entrepreneurs:
Wingspan Entrepreneurs by Joel Arndt is all about financial issues and provides the inspiration and information to lift your business to the next stratosphere. Check out the audio-only show on our website network page or follow on Spotify.
View All Wingspan Entrepreneur Episodes
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Echo Sports
North Bay Battalion backstop Mike McIvor is featured in the Goalie Resiliency Podcast #8 which garnered 200 views in less than a week. The goalie and co-hosts, Chris Dawson and Rob Graham, talk about McIvor’s younger years, being drafted by the North Bay Battalion and making a name for himself winning a championship with the North Bay U18 AAA Trappers. They then break down Mike’s golden playoffs performance; taking over for the injured veteran Dom DiVincentiis, before finally exploring his new mask and its rich paint job.
In North Bay Men’s Baseball League action, Assante has booked a trip to the finals after beating Gateway Landscaping and awaits the winner of Wednesday’s 7 p.m. semi-final match against Laverlock Plumbing A’s and East Side Mario’s on the Veterans Field diamond. Laverlock eliminated C21 Mongsters on Monday evening. See the report HERE.
Events Echo
Tuesday, Aug. 6
- Hilary Welch at the Junction (West Ferris Legion NB) | 7 to 9:30 p.m. | $20 non-members
- Hyper Boreal Sound and Light at Arts and Culture Nights at the Waterfront | 7 p.m. | Free
Wednesday, Aug. 7
- Family Film – Wonder Park at the Capitol Centre | 1 p.m. | Free
- Game Night at Outpost Gaming | 6 to 9:30 p.m. | Free
- King and High at Summer Concert Series at North Bay Waterfront | 7 to 9 p.m. | Free
Thursday, Aug. 8
- Barbecue Fundraiser at Leon’s on McKeown | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | $7 donation for N7 Cattle Co. Burger (see poster below for more details and Friday event info)
- Paul Pruneau and the Journeymen at Summer Concert Series at North Bay Waterfront | 7 to 9 p.m. | Free
- Film familial gratuit: Le parc des merveilles at the Capitol Centre | 1 p.m. | Free
- Paranormal Cirque at Northgate Shopping Centre | 7:30 p.m. | $35 to $80 (13 to 17 years old must be accompanied by an adult)
(For more events further out on the calendar, check Tourism North Bay’s comprehensive events listing guide. On Facebook, check out Creative Industries North Bay.)
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A piece from last week’s newsletter …
The proposed location of North Bay’s warming centre this winter is in question. The District of Nipissing Social Service Administration Board announced in June it will be located at the low barrier shelter at the Nipissing Pines transitional housing complex near Chippewa Intermediate and Secondary School.
The Nugget’s Jennifer Hamilton-McCharles, however, reported last week that the DNSSAB chairman, Coun. Mark King, said they are reconsidering the location due to feedback they have received. See the article HERE.
At a recent special public meeting in the City Hall council chambers, DNSSAB received presentations by representatives of businesses, front line workers and a resident who endured this winter’s ill-conceived ‘warming centre‘ at the corner of Worthington and Fraser streets made it clear improved communications, transparency of intentions and consultation is needed. See the array of coverage by BayToday, The Nugget and CTV Northern Ontario.
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If you have something to add to the discussion or an idea for one of Echo’s podcasters or affiliates, email Content Director Dave Dale at [email protected].