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People say there’s nothing happening in North Bay. They should get out more often. Girls hockey is filling the city for three days and there’s a senior high school football regional at Father Cundari field. Add in a big two-day craft show at the Davedi Club and the farmers market at the Kennedy Building, plus the Capitol Centre’s fall fundraiser Beach Party. Of course, some people might just stay home and do boring yard chores.

Top Shelf

• Chirico vows not to use “strong mayor” powers
• Province wants to create a $3-billion bank … Oh oh.

Today’s Kick Off

The West Ferris Trojans rallied to beat the Algonquin Barons 12-8 to win their NDA junior football semifinal on the Mike O’Shea field at the Steve Omischl Sports Fields Complex, Thursday. The victory earns West Ferris a berth in the NDA final against the league-leading Scollard Bears next Thursday, Nov. 9, on the Father Cundari Field beginning at 3:30 p.m. For scoring details, see BayToday and/or the Nugget. To see video action clips, it’s Small Town Times.

Essentials

Chirico vows not to use
“strong mayor” powers

North Bay Mayor Peter Chirico told YourTV Cogeco (YouTube interview segment) he won’t be using all the “strong mayor” powers that come with a provincial funding agreement to spur more housing units over the next eight years. It offers about $800,000 if they can add 1,000 homes or units over that period. There’s more detail and background in the BayToday article HERE.

“I would have the opportunity to veto and create budgets and do all these things by myself which is nothing that I want to do,” Chirico explained, adding he also “signed off” to maintain the same committee structure and will not exercise the power to “independently choose” the chief administrative officer, deferring it back to a council committee to decide.

“We’ve got a good Council that’s working together, I want to continue that good working relationship and build by consensus so that we move forward together.”

In other council news, Coun. Sara Inch has switched chairs with Coun. Justine Mallah to move away from Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield. Inch made the request to reduce potential friction lingering after Horsfield’s Code of Conduct complaint against her. Last month, Inch had her council pay suspended for 90 days (losing about $6,000) after the acting Integrity Commissioner found in Horsfield’s favour. Coming up at council this month, as long term financial options are studied, the city is pondering how to ask builders if they can construct a twin-pad community centre for no more than $52 million (after a $72 million low bid was rejected.)

Province wants to create
a $3-billion bank … Oh oh.

You have to hand it to Premier Doug Ford, he is not easily deterred when it comes to big ideas.

In the Progressive Conservative government’s fall economic impact statement, Ford said he wants to launch a $3-billion “infrastructure bank” to juice up a deflating economy. It’s something Canada has already done and its quite poplar south of the border. It would invite pension funds and other major investors to provide the capital for public or public serving infrastructure, such as long-term-care homes, energy projects, affordable housing, municipal infrastructure and transportation.

It’s explained in more detail in BayToday’s story, which was reported by Village Media’s new provincial government reporting package, The Trillium.

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli will be pleased to see there’s an extra $100 million for Invest Ontario, an agency tasked with attracting business investment and was given $400 million previously. Fedeli is the Cabinet Chair and Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

On a down note, the fall economic statement projected $4.3-billion more deficit than the $1.3-billion expected this spring.

Today’s Zen Suggestion: The best advice for a friend floundering in a hole of their own making is to stop digging. If you want to help … don’t jump in with them.

Echo Network

To North Bay With Love

Check out all the 2NBWL shows HERE.

Thanks to our sponsor Services. Visit yourhomeservices.ca and mention “Echo Podcast” to get your first 3 months of your water heater rental free  *some restrictions may apply*

Backroads Bill:

Bill is joined by Nazneen Mehdi, a labyrinth enthusiast, in his latest podcast 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 Centre and Nazneen tells us about working as a nurse and how labyrinths have helped her patients.

Last week, Bill and producer Ben Sargent talk about the Wolverine Heritage Canoe company in Wawa and how the ensuing Oba Lake Drug Bust sunk a well-designed watercraft.

You can follow Bill Steer’s Backroads Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_bill and on Twitter: @steertonorthONT

The Frontline:

Featured in the next Frontline podcast interview is Mike Brideau talking about the Nipissing Jr. Lakers minor girls hockey tournament in North Bay this weekend. Watch for the upload HERE later today.

3-Day Events Echo

Friday, Nov. 3

Nipissing University Lakers women’s hockey team hosts Ontario Tech at Memorial Gardens. Puck drop is 7 p.m. It might be a sell-out though with the North Bay Jr. Lakers girls minor hockey tournament in town on the weekend. If so, watch on the livestream at OUA.TV

On Friday, New Ontario Brewing celebrates Oktoberfest by offering $5 pints of its Vienna Lager – Hopfenmuncher with the Bear Claw Blues band on stage.

Peter Cliche is playing at Lou Dawg’s from 8 to 11 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 4

Davedi Club’s Artisan Craft Show with more than 40 vendors 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Scollard Hall Bears senior football team hosts St. Mary’s of Sault Ste. Marie for the NOSSA semifinal at Cundari Field, kick off at 2 p.m.

North Bay Farmers’ Market at the Kennedy Building 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

2023 Capitol Centre Fall Fundraiser: California Dreamin’ Beach Party from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight, tickets $120

Sunday, Nov. 5

Davedi Club’s Artisan Craft Show with more than 40 vendors 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Another great Lake Nipissing sunset photo by Keith Campbell

(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.)

Welcomed as the first Echo Network sponsors are Wagepoint, a national payroll software company, Services @yourhomeservices.ca and Cogeco.

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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].