We amplify local voices
and provide timely context
about important issues.
Sharing this newsletter
helps us grow.
Another busy weekend with the North Bay Film Festival, quadruple-header of Lakers hockey and Santa Claus coming to town.
(In emails, click on the Echo Essentials logo for the updated website version, past editions and subscription form at bottom.)
Top Shelf
- Street safety on everybody’s mind
- Goldmine of old interviews just a click away
Today’s First Thought
Cranberry Trails, Callander, Ontario. By Kay Edmonds
After the rain today, the temperature will drop below freezing. It’s a good time to make sure you have some extra dry socks on hand while hiking the local trails, traveling or at work. It’s not a bad idea to slip a few spares in the car if you’re fortunate to have one. Might make a good donation to the poor souls sleeping outdoors at this time of year. The forecast is for -10C within a week.
Essentials
Street safety on
everybody’s mind
The fender-benders are adding up in North Bay. Recent collision reports indicate a big jump in accidents, as well as more than usual at intersections. Read the BayToday story for details.
Of course, the commentary outlines the best suggestions available for free on the Internet. More cops writing more tickets, bigger fines, ageist allegations and such.
Add that to the information gathered through the City of North Bay’s Road Safety Survey (you can fill it out HERE until Nov. 20) and the public information night scheduled Wednesday, Nov. 22.
Listen to Lisa Boivin, host of To North Bay With Love, rant about local drivers and testify she’s not “aggressive,” but merely “assertive” while behind the wheel.
Goldmine of old interviews
just a click away
The passing of George Maroosis, 77, a week ago has more than a few people searching for memories and scraps of their conversations with the long-serving municipal politician and downtown businessman. His family were big into restaurants and his KBros Art Gallery was a hub of talent and characters.
In communication with fellow former councillor Peter Handley, a veteran of broadcast journalism, it’s learned that “The Wrench” was interviewed just last year as part of the city’s North Bay Municipal Heritage Committee’s Heritage Diary Podcast (but his isn’t posted yet). Handley, however, said it’s part of his next book currently being put together and Back in the Bay Magazine is putting a page or two aside for the upcoming winter edition.
“In the political interview I did with him, which will be in the first book, I asked him about this “Wrench” business right off the top,” Handley wrote in an email from their new home eastern Ontario. (The “The Wrench” nickname for Maroosis was based on how he handled debates in the council chamber).
Maroosis seemed to revel in it, Handley said, quoting the 34-year councillor: “Well, you know a wrench can be a very handy tool to fix things. As well a monkey wrench can get people to think – or rethink – some strange ideas that they’ve come up with.”
Maroosis was just 19 Liberal votes away from beating Progressive Conservative Al McDonald in the 2002 byelection to replace the retired Premier Mike Harris. Listen to the CBC story HERE. Imagine if he had won instead. See the Facebook tribute post by McDonald.
He was first elected to North Bay council in 1982, allowing Maroosis to act as the chamber historian when needed. And Handley has done his part with more than six decades of interviews collected since coming here in the 1950s. Check out the goldmine of interviews turned into podcasts on the Municipal Heritage Committee website, like this one on the city’s railroad history. Here’s another one with former long-term councillor Don King, who passed away in 2002. And Tony DeMarco, who died in September 2019 at age 99.
Today’s Zen Suggestion: The person who speaks first does not always get their way.
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
The Frontline:
What a game for North Bay Battalion fans Thursday night at Memorial Gardens. The North Bay Mitsubishi After Action Report was all over the 6-5 overtime loss to the Peterborough Petes. It was a long-awaited rematch for the Troops (8-6-4-1), still stewing after the Petes eliminated them in the seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals.
Ben Sargent, Harrison Clements and Ben Long break down the bad start with a 4-2 deficit in the middle frame before a rally to eke out a point in an overtime loss. A win would have put them in a tie for first in the conference and get a good start to a tough spot in the schedule. See the BayToday story HERE. Tonight, they head all the way to Sault Ste. Marie to take on the Greyhounds and then return to host the Sudbury Wolves (10-7-1) on Sunday afternoon.
The Frontline will be next calling the Powassan Voodoos game against the Espanola Paper Kings (16-7) at the Sportsplex, Friday at 7 p.m. They lost 4-3 to the Greater Sudbury Cubs (9-6) Thursday night but they are still tops in the east division with a 14-8-0-2 record.
Earlier Thursday, the Frontline dropped their latest podcast featuring Battalion defender Tnias Mathurin, who explains his almost year-long shoulder injury, sitting on the sidelines, getting back into game action in the playoffs, his Red Wings camp and more. Ben and Kortney are joined by Matt Sookram to talk all things Battalion and Voodoos, as well as the Lakers Spotlight on soccer player Avery Duguay (begins at 46:24 mark of podcast).
Backroads Bill:
Bill and his road trip partner Brian Emblin share their quest to find the four corners of the province by visiting the furthest points north, south, east and west. One of the many highlights was surviving a polar bear scare one night as part of a trip seeing more than two-dozen of the northland predators. Last week, they talked about Finding the Geographic Centre of Ontario.
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.
See Bill’s columns in BayToday, including Grey Owl – The Great Imposter.
To North Bay With Love:
Listen HERE
Listen HERE
Listen HERE
Events Echo
Friday, Nov. 17
- North Bay’s Robert Shaw is a flag-bearer for Canada’s team as part of the opening ceremonies at the Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile. Shaw is looking to defend his 2019 gold medal in Wheelchair Tennis. See BayToday story HERE.
- Christmas Market at 250 Clark in Powassan 6 to 9 p.m. Lynn Blunt providing musical interludes.
- Annual 8-ball Rumble at Partners Billiards and Bowling 12 noon to 7 p.m. (All weekend)
- Nipissing Lakers (8-1) women’s hockey team vs University of Western Ontario (4-4) at Memorial Gardens for a 5 p.m. match, followed by the men’s Lakers (5-4-2) hosting the University of Ottawa (7-4) at 7:30 p.m.
- 16th annual Assante 101 Classic curling bonspiel for 50-plus seniors at the North Bay Granite Club (all weekend).
- The 8th Annual North Bay Film Festival this weekend, see schedule HERE
Saturday, Nov. 18
- Cautionary Tales by Alex Maeve Campbell exhibition at NOVAH Gallery at 176 Lakeshore Dr. Opening reception 1 to 3 p.m.
- Action MMA‘s Quest for the Best Submissions begins at 2 p.m. ($25 for adults, $10 for students). 221 Algonquin Ave. (beside Mr. Pancho restaurant). MMA seminar Sunday 1 to 3 p.m.
- Nipissing Lakers women’s hockey team hosts Windsor University (3-6) at Memorial Gardens for a 5 p.m. match, followed by the men’s Lakers hosting Carleton University (5-7) at 7:30 p.m.
- North Bay Farmers Market at the Kennedy Building 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- The Hurricanes are taking The Fraser by storm with a matinee performance 3 to 6 p.m.
- Christmas Market at 250 Clark in Powassan 6 to 9 p.m. Lynn Blunt providing musical interludes.
- North Bay Ski Racing Club’s Annual Ski and Snowboard Exchange 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Upper Lodge of the Laurentian Ski Hill
- The 8th Annual North Bay Film Festival Director Q&A Session: 4 pm – “Blooms”: Explore the history of Cobalt, Ontario, from its silver boomtown days to the decline in the 1930s and the final closure of mines in the 1990s. Post-screening, Director Jordan Vandenberg will share insights and take questions from the audience. Cinema Social from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
Sunday, Nov. 19
- MMA seminar Sunday 1 to 3 p.m. at Action MMA (beside Mr. Pancho restaurant) at 221 Algonquin Ave.
- The Santa Claus Parade will kick off at noon. Children are reminded to bring their letters for Santa to the Parade, Canada post will be collecting them to deliver to the North Pole. As well, the North Bay food bank will be accepting donations along the route.
- North Bay Battalion host the Sudbury Wolves at Memorial Gardens with a 2 p.m. puck drop.
- The 8th Annual North Bay Film Festival 4:30 pm – “The Boy in the Woods”: Shot on location in North Bay, this compelling tale of survival during World War II follows the true story of Max, a Jewish boy escaping Nazi persecution. Director Rebecca Snow will engage in a post-screening Q&A session, providing deeper insights into Max’s journey.
(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].