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about important issues.

There will be a backdrop of global conflict as Canadians observe Remembrance Day on Saturday. Wars are raging and more seem to be brewing as we honour those who made the supreme sacrifice in battle and thank those who served alongside them. In related news, a peaceful rally is being organized Sunday at 2 p.m. outside the Main Street West office of Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota. Organizers want the government to convince Israel to call a cease fire in Gaza. Best idea we heard all week. A special episode of To North Bay With Love drops Saturday with host Lisa Boivin interviewing 22 Wing Commander Col. Richard Jolette.

Top Shelf

• Forgette wanted his day in court …
• Are you listening to any good podcasts?

Today’s Ice-breaker

The Nipissing Lakers get a chance at redemption tonight as they host the Lakehead Thunderwolves for another OUA game at Memorial Gardens. The puck drops at 7 p.m. The Lakers are now 5-4-0-2 following a 4-3 shootout loss to the T-Wolves Thursday afternoon. A second-period rally saw Nipissing captain Parker Bowman score twice to knot the game 3-3. Bowman was a star with the Powassan Voodoos a few years back. And goalie Reece Proulx, a North Bay product, shut the door in the third to force overtime and get at least a point out of the effort. See the Small Town Times video highlight reel HERE.

Essentials

Forgette wanted his day in court …

One can’t convict Sheldon Forgette (or anybody else for that matter) based merely on allegations and police charges, even when it’s involving intimate partner violence accusations (or especially when it does).

The former North Bay city councillor (2014-18) was on the municipal ballot again last year when he was charged mid-campaign with assault, forcible confinement and breaking release conditions (including an order to stay away from his former girlfriend).

If you’ve followed BayToday’s court coverage this week by Stu Campaigne, you’ll know more about the details of each of the charges and his defense. The judge will make a ruling in the next few weeks.

The timing of the trial couldn’t be much worse for Forgette. It started just weeks after a Sault Ste. Marie man shot to death three children and a former girlfriend, while also injuring another woman. The same weekend, another man in Maine, U.S. shot and killed 16 people at two businesses he frequented with a former girlfriend.

That very next Monday, both the Soo and North Bay councils voted to declare an epidemic of intimate partner violence, with victim support groups calling on the province to adopt more of the recommendations in the Renfrew Inquest (held after a man killed three women he dated).

By no measure, based on the evidence at trial, are the charges against Forgette (even if true) in the same league as the examples listed above. But there’s a growing propensity to take intimate partner violence allegations more seriously at every level. Forgette has said he wanted his day in court to clear his name. He got two and the path to his goal is still not clear.

Are you listening to any good podcasts?

We like discovering new podcasts. There are so many out there from which to choose.

We’re especially interested in hearing about local podcasters or YouTubers. Even if they don’t become part of the Echo network, we’ll promote them here in the newsletter.

Ok, we’ll go first. Here’s a few of the editor’s favourites:

One of the bigger ones that focuses on the business side of digital communications and marketing is The Rebooting. If you’re into learning from people with cutting-edge experience, you’ll thank us.

If you want to hear from a southern U.S. journalist who is tired of a lack of common sense, tune into Beau of the Fifth Column. He does his homework and has informed contacts all over the world. Beau breaks it down into simple terms and has a friendly way of setting things straight. The country-bumpkin look is just part of the package.

Heartfelt smarts is what you get from Lex Fridman as he interviews all the big names, including Elon Musk, Sam Harris and even Jordan Peterson, all of whom can be both brilliant and off their rockers at the same sitting.

What are you listening to? Email [email protected]

Today’s Zen Suggestion: Exercise self control like it’s your strongest muscle.

Echo Network

To North Bay With Love:

There are now 18 episodes of To North Bay With Love in the North Bay Echo catalog, with three more ready to roll out in the next week.

What’s your favourite so far and who should we consider lining up for host Lisa Boivin to interview next? Email feedback to [email protected]

The Frontline:

The North Bay Mitsubishi After Action Report starts live immediately following the final whistle of each Battalion home game. Check out last night’s coverage after the Troops rallied in the third to overcome the Soo Greyhounds 5-3. There’s also Powassan Voodoos podcast interviews, like Wednesday’s chat with Ryan Patrick and Alex Case. The pair discuss finding their way to Powassan, goals for the season, the Canada/US rivalry and culture shocks for Ryan coming to the Great White North. After, Ben & Kortney take a deep dive into the Voodoos and Battalion recent games including a look at the NOJHL standings and the perplexing OHL power rankings.

Backroads Bill:

Bill is joined by his road trip partner Brian Emblin this week to share their quest to find the official centre of Ontario. The pair discuss the challenges they faced getting to the location and using divisional wizardry to get as close as possible. The pair also met a strange creature along the way.

Previous podcasts include: Labyrinths, Wolverine Heritage Canoe company in Wawa The ‘Art’ of Wildlife Photography, The Man Buried in Two Places, Bill Takes a Trip to Red Lake, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Bashin’ Bill Barilko and The Legacy of Terry Fox.

Events Echo

Friday, Nov. 10

• Soups On North Bay! Gathering Place fundraiser at the Grande Event Centre 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• The Nipissing Lakers men’s hockey team hosts Lakehead University for a Friday night clash at Memorial Gardens. The OUA puck drops at 7 p.m.
• The Gateway Theatre Guild presents The Savannah Sipping Society at ecole secondaire publique Odyssee at 480 Norman Ave. from 7 to 9 p.m.
• The Capitol Centre presents Legendary Latin Guitarist Johannes Linstead: From Spain to Cuba at 7:30 p.m., $35 regular, $25 for students (members free).
• Scollard Hall Bears host the West Ferris Trojans for the NDA junior football championship game at 5:30 p.m. on the Father Cundari Field. (Rescheduled from Thursday due to a “snow day” bus cancellation.)
• Powassan Voodoos host the French River Rapids at the Sportsplex with a 7 p.m. start.
• East Ferris Remembrance Day ceremony at Cenotaph Park in Corbeil along Highway 94.

Saturday, Nov. 11

• Remembrance Day ceremonies: North Bay Legion Br. 23  at Memorial Gardens, West Ferris Legion Br. 599 in Nipissing Junction, Callander Legion Br. 445 at the Cenotaph, and Nipissing First Nation at the Garden Village Cenotaph
• The Gateway Theatre Guild presents The Savannah Sipping Society at ecole secondaire publique Odyssee at 480 Norman Ave. from 7 to 9 p.m.
• Motown Soul at the Capitol Centre beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets $59
• North Bay Farmers Market at the Kennedy Building at McIntyre and Fraser streets 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Birds of a Feather Groove Band at Lou Dawgs at 7:30 p.m. with $3 cover added to bills
• Ryan Hunter, CFL All-Star, and his Toronto Argonauts host Montreal in the CFL East Division semifinal at 3 p.m. See the BayToday feature HERE.

Sunday, Nov. 12

• Cease Fire in Gaza protest outside the Main Street West office of Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota at 2 p.m. organized by the North Bay and District Labour Council

(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.)

First-time reader? Sign up for this free newsletter HERE. We publish Monday and Wednesday evenings and Friday morning.

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].