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Would it be better for school children to detach from their “smart phones” while in classrooms or should we just bite the bullet and integrate them into the education system? See the BayToday story HERE. Share your thoughts with newsletter readers by emailing [email protected].

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Top Shelf

• Much more than meets the eye at Gathering Place
• Thunderhouse Falls is a northern gem
• NDA hockey playoffs just around the corner

Today’s Little Giggle
by Allan Hirsh

Echo Essentials

Gathering Place
is way more than
a ‘soup kitchen’

Today’s ‘To North Bay With Love’ podcast explores the conflicting perceptions about poverty and how social stigma persists in the community. Host Lisa Boivin ventures out of the studio to visit The Gathering Place and talks with Dennis Chippa, the general manager, about the vital importance of the services they provide beyond a nutritious meal.

Lisa is shocked that it’s supported solely by donations.

Dennis says it’s not easy for people to swallow their pride and cross their doorstep for help, adding he never asks them why they are there. Dennis puts it best by saying “using a soup kitchen doesn’t mean you failed. It means someone or something has failed you.”

If you want to support The Gathering Place, get involved with a team or donate to an existing one that is participating in their annual fundraiser, The Coldest Night of the Year taking place Feb. 24.

Thunderhouse Falls
trails brought a
community together

Marc Johnson Photo

This week’s Backroads Bill podcast explores a top-5 destination in Ontario called Thunderhouse Falls, just north of Hearst. Bill and producer Ben Sargent are joined by two locals Marc Johnson and George Graham.

Marc and George talk about the area surrounding Thunderhouse Falls, which currently has a 20-kilometre snowshoe trail for visitors. The pair are trying to get them marked and have the trail system officially recognized by Ontario Parks, with a dream to develop them further in the future.

NDA hockey
skating toward
playoffs soon

Kyle Anderson scored a late goal to give the Chippewa Raiders a 4-2 win over the Scollard Bears in NDA hockey action at the Sam Jacks arena in West Ferris, Wednesday. See the video of action clips at Small Town Times.

Tommy Piper started things off for the unbeaten Raiders, with the Bears replying with a goal by Will Tysick. Chippewa built up a 3-1 lead after scores by Carter Thibodeau and Heath Bradley. Scollard’s Hunter Goulais made it close going into the third period and goalie Dylan Lemcke kept them in it until Anderson found a way with only five seconds left. Markus Lazary earned the win between the Chippewa pipes.

The Raiders lead the four-team Nipissing District league while the Bears are in second. Scollard is the the only team to tie the Raiders after a recent game couldn’t be decided by a 3-player shootout. Franco Cite of Sturgeon Falls and Algonquin round out the loop. There is no body checking allowed when playing Algonquin, due to its mostly junior age roster.

There are two more regular season games for all teams before the semifinals begin 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 at Memorial Gardens, the second game is at Sam Jacks 8 p.m., Saturday Feb. 10. Finals begin Saturday, Feb. 17 at Memorial Gardens with a 9:30 p.m. puck drop with second game Feb. 20.

Today’s Zen Suggestion: Calling friends before you need them is probably the best life hack you can practice. But don’t let that stop you from asking for help when required, that’s what friends are for as well.

Sponsor

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*

Echo Network

To North Bay With Love:

Arwyn Paterson is a local realtor who was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and started using the “Specific Carbohydrate Diet” which drastically improved her condition. She joins Tuesday’s To North Bay With Love show to talk with host Lisa Boivin and Kelly Martin, who have also started to follow this diet, and they share the big changes in their day to day lives.

Last week, the To North Bay With Love podcast takes a trip to the White Water Gallery at 159 Main Street East to chat with Artistic Director Alex Maeve Campbell. Artists Victoria Ward and Gary Blundell, who were setting up their installation, join in to talk about their trip to the Bay of Fundy that inspired them to paint the pieces on display.

Cogeco:

Cogeco has the big tilt between the Sudbury Wolves vs North Bay Battalion game live on YourTV Thursday at 7 p.m. as well as Friday’s rematch in Sudbury. Rotary At Home TV Bingo is on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Lions At Home TV Bingo on Sunday’s at 7 p.m.

Backroads Bill:

Backroads Bill Steer explains the importance of pictographs in last week’s podcast, while also recommending where to find the best examples across Ontario. Bill also describes how pictographs, petroglyphs and petroforms are all different kinds of expressions and each has its own historical significance. See his written column on the subject published by BayToday HERE.

New podcasts drop Wednesday mornings. Listen on the Echo website HERE. You can also find the Backroads Bill podcast on Spotify, Apple, IHeart Radio, Spreaker, Google, and Amazon. Read the Backroads Bill column at BayToday.ca.

The Frontline:

The NFL Eh?! podcast dropped Sunday with a few tears and cheers as the playoff results decide which teams are going to the Super Bowl.

Powassan Voodoos Ryan Patrick and Dylan McElhinney talk about growing up in Pittsburgh, the road to the Voodoos, differences between Canada and America, and the bus leaving Dylan behind.

The North Bay Mitsubishi After Action Report starts live immediately following the final whistle of each Battalion home game. Catch them after Thursday’s match against the visiting Sudbury Wolves.

Art People Podcast:

The Art People Podcast is a five-episode series produced by actor Joe Drinkwalter, with interviews with Michelina Beam of Dreamcoat Fantasy Theatre, Brianna Lintner of BReal Studios, actor and director Rob McCubbin, singer and songwriter Hannah Grace, and Kelsey Ruhl, about the On the Edge Fringe Festival.

Cheap Seats:

Cheap Seats is an eclectic conversation between best friends, Drew and Nick, who love talking about movies and whatever else comes to mind. Awards top their talk in the 29th episode released Jan. 17.

Their 28th episode Jan. 10 has a Game Show theme.

Events Echo

Thursday, Jan. 25

• Nipissing Serenity Hospice open house 4 to 7 p.m. celebrating four years of operation
• North Bay Battalion hosts the high-flying Sudbury Wolves at 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 26

• Nipissing Lakers women’s hockey team (18-3) hosts the Guelph Gryphons at Memorial Gardens, with a 5 p.m. puck drop, followed by the men’s team (10-5-8) taking on the visiting Toronto Metropolitan University (14-7-1) at 7:30 p.m. Related story by BayToday about Mallory Dominico’s four-goal performance on the weekend.
• Dreamcoat Fantasy Theatre’s Finding Nemo Jr. at the Capitol Centre 7 p.m. Tickets $22. Read the BayToday story HERE.

Saturday, Jan. 27

• Nipissing Lakers women’s hockey team hosts the Brock Badgers at Memorial Gardens, 5 p.m. puck drop, followed by the men’s team taking on the visiting Toronto Metropolitan University at 7:30 p.m. See the Nugget’s story about the Lakers huge six-player shootout win on the weekend.
• North Bay Martial Arts Championship at West Ferris Secondary 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., presented by Ferris Family Martial Arts 
• Dreamcoat Fantasy Theatre’s Finding Nemo Jr. at the Capitol Centre 1 and 7 p.m. Tickets $22
• The Funkers Birthday Bash at Lou Dawg’s 8 to 11 p.m.
• North Bay Farmers Market at the Kennedy Building at 222 McIntyre St. West from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Italian Play Reading Series for Seniors concludes with 12 to 3 p.m. session at North Bay Public Library. Traditional Italian Food Sampling provided by Fresh Italian Eats, organized by the Gateway Theatre Guild

Sunday, Jan. 28

• North Bay Battalion hosts the Barrie Colts at 2 p.m.
• The Capitol Centre presents: The Holdovers movie starts at 7 p.m.
• Open Mic Comedy at Lou Dawg’s, sign up at 7:30 p.m. with show starting at 8 p.m.
• Rooted Heart Women’s Circle at Ohana Yoga and Wellness Centre 1 to 3 p.m. (monthly on fourth Sunday of each month: Feb. 25, March 24 and April 28). Pre-register at [email protected]

(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 or check out their December newsletter 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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