The “toxic workplace” cloud hanging over the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority became another shade darker … just as a heavy rain warning was issued by the organization (keep the kids and pets away from the creeks). Staff actually walked out today as a form of protest.

BayToday broke the story late Tuesday afternoon, referring to the NBMCA’s recently-hired Human Resources director Mark Bremer as a “whistle-blower” after he blamed poor staff-management relationships on the chief administrative officer and the board for not dealing with the festering issues. Employees recently unionized due to some of the issues, which started to bloom in 2022, and they are in negotiations for their first contract.

This morning, it was reported by BayToday and The Nugget that the HR director discovered the lock on his office was changed Wednesday after the story broke. He had gone into work this morning to collect a few things after his mother had called from Europe to tell him that his father had been taken off life support. Bremer said he will now be traveling to Romania to grieve with family, adding that he expects to be fired upon his return.

Top Shelf

• Planting for plums in North Bay
• Hobby farmer hobbled by PFAS issues

 

Today’s Realization
by Allan Hirsh

 

Echo Essentials

‘Forever chemicals’
impacting city
residents, farmers

North Bay resident John Best joins the Echo Essentials podcast to talk about the PFAS levels in our water. He used to sell eggs he produced at his Tower Drive hobby farm until he was told there were traces of “forever chemicals” in them.

Yesterday, the New York Times reported that the Environmental Protection Agency is requiring all water utilities in the United States to remove PFAS from public distribution systems, with costs expected to be $1.5 billion annually (although the utilities expect it to be double that amount).

The federal government in Canada is also looking at setting stricter maximum levels with province’s expect to address the issue once new national regulations are announced. See this PFAS background story by BayToday.

Scott also opens the show confronting Dave about how he treated him on last week’s episode and brings the receipts, and while Dave offers a ‘sorry you feel that way’ apology, he also turns the tables a bit.

• Scott has an axe to grind with Dave 0:00
• PFAS in our water 8:30
• Scott has a new marketing hack for PFAS infested eggs 32:30

 

Army of volunteers
keeping city clean,
green and blooming

Wanda Wallace and Hariett Madigan from Clean Green Beautiful and North Bay Heritage Gardeners join host Lisa Boivin to talk about upcoming events and the various benefits of keeping the city clean.

They also dive into the history of the Heritage Gardeners and how the community has rallied behind this initiative. They’re holding a volunteer symposium this Sunday at the Bay Bistro in the NUSU student centre. For more info, email [email protected] or call 705.825.4118.

• Harriet and Wanda join the show 1:50
• How difficult is it to grow plants outside? 6:10
• Why wouldn’t we want tree orchards? 12:30

………

Today’s Zen Suggestion: If it’s getting harder and harder to get off your couch, a motivational book or inspirational movie probably won’t help as much as just getting a less comfortable couch-potato-maker.

 

Sponsor

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Echo Network

Backroads Bill:

In this week’s Backroads Bill podcast, Bill and Ben are joined by longtime North Bay resident and pillar of the community Peter Handley. They talk about a couple books he will be releasing in the next year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of North Bay in 2025.

Peter, who moved with his wife, Pam, to live with their daughter’s family near Belleville last year, shares what North Bay meant for him and the differences in the history of a city like North Bay vs his hometown of Kingston.

Follow the Backroads Bill podcast in video form on the North Bay Echo YouTube channel, on this website under the Echo network, Spreaker or Spotify.

Echo Essentials:

Last week, Nestor Prisco joined Echo Essentials Podcast hosts Dave Dale and Scott Clark to describe why he decided to write the biography of Crown Attorney Arthur George Browning – North Bay Old Boy. He explains how it took parts of 15 years to pull together the bits and pieces necessary, including a stroke of luck finding one of Browning’s relatives (who just happened to be a professional editor).

To North Bay With Love:

On Tuesday, Backroads Bill joined the To North Bay With Love show for the second time as he phones in from the Canadian Ecology Centre to talk about how seasonal weather can be predicted by watching nature.

There are more than 60 episodes of the 2NBWL podcast to check out HERE.

Frontline:

Catch the North Bay Mitsubishi After Action Report immediately following the final whistle of each Battalion home game, including Game 1 of the second round this Thursday between the host North Bay Battalion and Sudbury Wolves.

For Powassan Voodoos fans, they are tied 2-2 in their NOJHL East Division playoff. Game 5 is in Timmins Thursday. Hear the interview with some Voodoos who scored over-time winners to close out the Hearst series last week HERE.

Cogeco:

Catch the North Bay Battalion playoff action against the Sudbury Wolves tonight at 7 p.m. with the second game of their OHL Eastern Conference semifinal on Saturday night. Game 3 is in Sudbury on Tuesday.

Check out the North Bay YourTV website to watch video stories.

Wingspan Entrepreneur:

Wingspan Entrepreneurs by Joel Arndt is all about financial issues and provides the inspiration and information to lift your business to the next stratosphere.

There are seven episodes of the Wingspan podcast so far. Check out the audio-only show on our website network page or follow on Spotify. If you have an established podcast and want to capitalize on extra eyeballs and episode promotion through the Echo network, email [email protected] to start the process.

Cheap Seats:

This week’s episode of Cheap Seats is entitled: Canadian Crimes, Don’t Doubt the Host, and Is Road House More Than A Meme? (41)

Cheap Seats is an eclectic conversation between best friends, Drew and Nick, who love talking about movies and whatever else comes to mind. Find them on the usual suspects of podcast platforms.

 

3-Day Events Echo

 

Thursday, April 11

• North Bay Battalion begin the second round of the OHL’s Eastern Conference semifinals against the Sudbury Wolves at Memorial Gardens. Puck drops at 7 p.m. Game 2 is Saturday at the Gardens.
• Lou Dawgs presents ‘We’ve Got Your Back’ fundraiser for those displaced by a recent fire downtown, $20 cover goes to those in need.
• Friends of Laurier Woods Annual General Meeting at 312 Greenwood Avenue (Christ Church) from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Guest speaker is Dave Pearce from the Ontario Wildlands League presenting the Nature Connectivity Project.
• Super Fun Time Trivia at Moose’s Cookhouse at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 12

• Furious George at New Ontario Brewing from 8 to 11 p.m. Furious George is North Bay’s newest group made up of four local musicians. They feature music from the ’60’s to current…rock, pop, country.

Saturday, April 13

• New Ontario Brewing presents Alicia Turner & Chris Osborne at 8 p.m.
• North Bay Golden Age Club presents the Hurricanes. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., $7 for members. $10 for non-members.

 

(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 and take a gander at its April newsletter with month-long highlights HERE.)

 

 

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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].

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