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Are you missing out on things going on in North Bay? We curate a three-day event list for each newsletter. Help us not miss your event by emailing [email protected]. Here is a last minute one if you want to brave the weather tonight … the Nipissing Lakers men’s hockey team is hosting Guelph at 7 p.m. at Memorial Gardens (last home game until Jan. 5).

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Top Shelf

• Real friends ‘go to the wall for each other’
• Swimming leads to peace medal for community builder

Today’s Hindsight

Lake Nipissing sunset from Kinsmen Beach by Keith Campbell Nov. 28, 2023.

A blanket of white fluff covered North Bay this afternoon, erasing the warmth and brightness of yesterday. Watch for black ice under the flakes. And before you crank up the snowblower, don’t forget it’s mid-week and there might be a little blue bag of advertising inserts laying in wait to clog up your machine.

Echo Essentials

Real friends ‘go to the wall
for each other’

The Three Musketeers isn’t just a play, not that there’s anything wrong with ‘just a play.’ And Joshua Bainbridge’s The Three Musketeers is not just an epic adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’s classic put on by the Proscenium Club. This is real life adventure dressed up as theatre. And To North Bay With Love podcast host Lisa Boivin goes deep into what it all really means with Josh and fellow Musketeer Morgan Bedard in tomorrow morning’s episode.

“The person sitting beside me, it’s my best friend and my brother,” Josh tells Lisa with Morgan close by. “And we’ve been best friends since we became friends doing the show the first time (in 2010).”

“That’s what this show is about. It’s about friendship. It’s about people who are willing to go to the wall for each other. That’s what the Three Musketeers is. It’s the idea of a team that would put it all on the line to support the other and that have this love and respect for each other that supersedes any thing that they could come up against.”

Morgan feels the same: “This is 13 years later. We’ve been through everything together in our artistic life and our personal lives. We’ve walked this line together. And I think being able to step into these roles again, it changes it for me this time because we are older and we’re closer and it’s just so much more special now … And every time we look across the stage from each other, we say, ‘All for one and one for all’,” he says.

“What made me fall in love with this art form? What made me pick this as a career? This play did that for me, so I was able to I’m able to go back and read live.”

The play runs Dec. 7, 8 and 9 at the Odyssee Theatre … but it is the hottest ticket in town and sold out except about 12 tickets for the Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Email [email protected] and Keep an eye out for the ticket resellers or last-minute cancels posting on social media.

Swimming leads to peace
medal for community builder

Nicole Beattie, VP of Philanthropy, Johanne Brousseau, Sherry Ricci, Manager, Child, Youth & Family Development Services, and Rob Groccia, VP, Child, Youth & Family Development Services. (North Bay YMCA Photo)

Johanne Brousseau has been a life-long member and supporter of the North Bay YMCA and her efforts to support one of the city’s most important community hubs is being recognized. On Monday, the former city councillor and retired sewing business operator was awarded the YMCA’s Peace Medal for a fundraising event that helps young people access the facilities on Chippewa Street and learn how to swim.

The Tour de Trout event has been taking place every summer with participants swimming the outer perimeter of Trout Lake in stages. They have raised $37,000 over eight years for the Strong Kids Campaign and now have more than 50 registrants taking part.

Small Town Times interviewed Johanne about the program and medal on Tuesday. You can also read about her honour in BayToday, as well as a previous story about Tour de Trout published in 2022.

Today’s Zen Suggestion: If you’re dwelling on a personality conflict in your life, somebody who treated you poorly or was disrespectful, give them a call and hang up before they answer. And then turn off your phone. That should help.

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Echo Network

To North Bay With Love:

The 24th episode of To North Bay With Love podcast with host Lisa Boivin features the #fiftytwocoffees interview with Bobby Ray. It’s a fitting topic because the 2NBWL show is much like the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce program that matches members up with members for a short networking meeting. Haven’t listened to all of the shows? We have a handy directory HERE.

Cogeco/YourTV:

• Check out the 77th Lions Children’s Christmas Telethon on Cogeco this Saturday 12 noon to 7 p.m.
• The second part of the Mike Gelinas interview with John McGale (who passed away last year) is out now and airing on YourTV, next one is Dec. 6 at 1:30 p.m.
• North Bay’s Santa Claus Parade will air throughout the month of December.
• Char’s Kitchen & Now You’re Cooking have new episodes out as well running weekdays at 11:30 a.m. Queen’s Park Report will have a new episode starting Sunday at 5:30 p.m.

Small Town Times:

The podcast interview with David Thompson dropped Monday and more than 100 people viewed it so far. The former chairperson of the Near North District School Board, retired Canadore College professor and council candidate in 2018 talks about the Chippewa high school rebranding, city council leadership and various social issues. Last week, Rod Bilz and Dave Dale discuss trail development, mountain bike opportunities and solving Ontario’s social issues. And Helen Eng and Lori Laporte talk about the late Ed Eng, a local restauranteur and internationally renown advertising photographer. Helen remembers her husband for his humble ways and passion for learning regardless of his achievements. See the BayToday feature about his 2017 passing HERE.

Backroads Bill:

Get your favourite pair of rubber boots out as Bill takes us through the best hiking trails in Ontario. He tells us all about interpretive signage and how it can enhance your experience and all of the volunteers who help to keep these trails intact for people to enjoy.

How far north can you drive a vehicle in Ontario (without using winter roads)? Find out in last week’s Backroads Bill podcast. In other episodes this month, Bill and his road trip partner Brian Emblin share their quest to find the four corners of the province and Finding the Geographic Centre of Ontario.

Events Echo

Northern Santa will be at Laporte’s Nursery this Friday, Dec. 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. as part of the “Festive in Ferris” Christmas celebrations.

Thursday, Nov. 30

Friday, Dec. 1

• The Funkers are at New Ontario Brewing at 8 p.m. $10 cover
• Dreamcoat Fantasy Theatre – Matilda (The Musical) at the Capitol Centre 7 p.m. $25 a seat.
• Festive in Ferris with participating businesses across West Ferris, for more info see www.ferristheplacetobe.com

Saturday, Dec. 2

• Christmas Dinner and Dance Party featuring The Hurricanes at West Ferris Legion. Fundraiser for the North Bay Santa Fund. Cocktails at 4 pm, dinner at 5 pm, silent auction and dance to follow. Call 705-476-0566.
• North Bay Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 222 McIntyre St. East, The Kennedy Building
• Dreamcoat Fantasy Theatre – Matilda (The Musical) at the Capitol Centre 1 and 7 p.m. $25 a seat.
• Nipissing Lakers women’s hockey team (12-1) hosts the University of Toronto (8-4) at 7 p.m. (first of two at Memorial Gardens, second game Sunday at 2 p.m.)
• 77th Lions Children’s Christmas Telethon on Cogeco/YourTV Saturday 12 noon to 7 p.m.
• MONOWHALES at Lou Dawg’s on the www.highroadrecords.ca stage. Local opener Peach Pact gets started at 8ish.  Doors at 7 pm. Physical tickets can be purchased at Lou Dawg’s for $20 or through Eventbrite.
• 14th annual Cookie Walk at Emmanuel Church 395 Lakeshore Drive 10 a.m. to noon. Pre-order for pick up 705.474.2116
• Indigenous Winter Market at the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre on Cassells Street, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Craft & Vendor Show at Community Living North Bay 741 Wallace Road from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Winter Boot Campaign by Compassionate Committee for the Homeless in North Bay accepting donations 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption (garages). Also accepting sponsors for winter boots and apparel. For more information, please contact Leah at 705-472-5687 or email 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.)

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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].