The plight of homeless in North Bay follows a pattern, according to recent media coverage sparked by the cuts in service and layoffs of staff at The Gathering Place soup kitchen. One trend is that people come here for addiction treatment but find insufficient supports and few options for accommodations after they are released.
See The Nugget stories HERE and HERE with comments from soup kitchen dependents (many whom are precariously housed but lacking funds for food) as well as those who are unhoused, including tent occupants on a Sherbrooke Street property.
Meanwhile, the Davedi Club hosted a fundraiser on the weekend that put more than $11,000 into The Gathering Place’s financially-challenged coffers. The new board chairman, Peter Gregory, says they over-extended themselves trying to fill so many gaps in the social safety net.
There’s also Village Media’s Trillium Talk as municipalities gather in Toronto to discuss this issue, among others, with provincial legislators. In addition, there’s a TVO opinion piece worth reading on the matter.
Top Shelf
- Fran Hanover’s art at the WKP Kennedy Gallery is fueled by black ‘blues’
- Backroads Bill clears the ‘Slate’ while on an epic, cross-province vacation
Today’s Spotlight
The repaving and sidewalk work planned for pothole-laced Premier Road has been delayed, much to the chagrin of local residents with over-taxed front end suspensions. See the BayToday story HERE. On the bright side, Pat Madill Stamp’s front yard garden won the Streetscapes draw by the Clean, Green, Beautiful North Bay group, with a Good2Go gift card provided as a prize.
Fran Hanover’s
artwork fueled by
black and ‘blues’ music
Fran Hanover was one of the first guests on the To North Bay With Love podcast when it launched last fall. The Echo team caught up with Fran recently at the WKP Kennedy Gallery in the Capitol Centre to chat about her latest art exhibit: Kissing in the Dark: The Secret Life of the Blues.
Fran shares with Lisa how she was inspired by famous blues songs and decided to illustrate what those songs represented to her. Listen to the podcast HERE.
The exhibit is up until August 30th.
- Fran joins the show 2:50
- Inspiration for her art 7:55
- The music behind the paintings 13:00
- Fran talks about getting awarded the show 23:20
Backroads Bill
goes on vacation
to clear the ‘Slate’
Have you ever wondered what a vacation looks like for Backroads Bill, a man who goes on adventures for work? Well, you’re in luck because the mystery will be revealed in Wednesday’s podcast.
Fresh off a nine-day excursion across western and northern Ontario, Bill shares in depth details about his trip and highlights a new addition to his ‘Top 10 Ontario Destinations’ list.
Bill and Ben also offer a sneak peek into upcoming guests and potential episodes!
Today’s Zen Suggestion:
It’s not always convenient or easy to offer a desperate person a hand up (or even a hand out) … but you never have to kick them while they are down.
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Explore Voyageur Aviation opportunities HERE.
Echo Network
To North Bay With Love:
Kelsey Ruhl joins the show to talk about the 11th annual On the Edge Fringe Festival taking place this week, Wednesday through Sunday. Kelsey talks about the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into making this show happen year after year.
North Bay’s Fringe festival has also garnered attention from people all across Canada, which speaks volumes about the work Kelsey and her team have done.
In the pre-show portion of the podcast, Lisa and Ben talk about both of them being fair-skinned (which means they have looked like boiled lobsters a few times) and how sunscreen is essential for everybody’s protection from harmful UV rays.
View all 70+ EpisodesEcho Essentials:
Echo Essentials Podcast co-hosts Scott Clark and Dave Dale discuss the history of North Bay’s past and current community events in last Thursday’s podcast. They cover the successful recipes and challenges they face, while referencing the Aug. 24 Bay Block Party, on-going Summer Concert Series, the old and potentially-revived Northern Ontario Country Music Singing Contest, former Heritage Festival and former Summer Concert in the Park iterations.
Their featured guest, meanwhile, is Redpath Mining Group’s senior vice-president Dave Hansman, who shares the history of the company and its founder, Jim Redpath, including the principles that continue to guide the company. Redpath is one of North Bay’s largest private sector employers with 290 people living here and almost 10,000 others working for its various corporations globally.
- 18:40 Redpath’s Sr. VP Dave Hansman
- 22:06 Community Building here and abroad
- 27:15 Jim Redpath’s Support of Arts
- 31:10 Principles of Sustainability – ESG
- 34: 00 Roy Slack, Alex Speirs
- 37:00 Mining is not ‘Dark, Dirty and Dangerous’ anymore
See all shows
Backroads Bill:
Backroads Bill took a recent trip north to High Falls, a majestic and large waterfall found on the backroads of Northern Ontario. In last week’s podcast, Bill describes the detective work required to find the falls, as well its history, while also talking about the lost art of the “River Driver”.
We also catch up with the next few adventures Bill is going on and Peter Smith dropped off a present after our sasquatch episodes.
Check out the article Bill wrote: HERE
Check Out the Full SetNorthern Ontario Mining Showcase Podcast:
The Northern Ontario Mining Showcase Podcast was created for the Echo Community Podcast Network in partnership with Story Studio Network and Clark Communications.
Northern Ontario plays an extensive role in the international mining community. In this limited series we’ll hear from the influential voices, partners and leaders who are driving innovation, research and development, creating new market opportunities and new ways of doing business in the mining industry.
View All NOMS Podcast Episodes
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Echo Network Members
Richard Fortin Presents:
Episode 56 of the Richard Fortin Presents podcast is a conversation with Holly Cunningham, a local arts community organizer and the executive director of Creative Industries North Bay.
Holly is a graduate of Sheridan College’s Media Arts program and holds a BA in Fine Arts from Nipissing University. Her professional work has focused on bridging gaps for artists in northern Ontario, specifically through her work on the Digital Creator North program, the Near North Mobile Media Lab, North Bay Film Festival and as a long time board member of Creative Industries.
Check Out the Full SetWingspan Entrepreneurs:
Pushing through hell and manifesting 4 businesses – Danny and Tamra Turcotte #8
Wingspan Entrepreneurs by Joel Arndt is all about financial issues and provides the inspiration and information to lift your business to the next stratosphere. Check out the audio-only show on our website network page or follow on Spotify.
View All Wingspan Entrepreneur EpisodesCogeco:
The Bay Block Party this weekend is featured in the promo clip for YourTv’s Realty Insights
YourTV North Bay will be airing half-hour segments of the Echo Essentials Podcast on Mondays at 7 p.m.
Watch Video Stories on YourTVCheap Seats:
Daycare Harlot, PowerPoint Presentation, & Can PB Convince Nick to Watch Rebel Moon Again? (58)
New episodes are available on Wednesdays.
For the Full SetMarianne Vander Dussen:
Painting Antelope Canyon | Landscape Oil Painting Tutorial + Timelapse with Marianne Vander Dussen’s in this week’s featured tutorial.
View All Marianne Vander Dussen EpisodesSmall Town Times:
This ‘Between 2 Daves’ episode via Small Town Times includes discussion about the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board and the potential location of a proposed ‘Homeless Hub’ (which would likely include a soup kitchen, warming place and low barrier shelter, as well as other social, mental health and addiction supports.)
The discussion also reviews some of the Casselholme (long-term care) and Castle Arms (senior living) political history that may have built the foundation of Coun. Jamie Lowery’s position as a seemingly-ostracized elected official (the guest and subject of an Echo Essentials podcast released the day after this podcast was recorded).
Editor’s Note: It’s worth pointing out that Dave Mendicino’s contention about the change in governance for Castle Arms, that it was not done democratically, is ironic … considering that Lowery, Coun. Mark King and Coun. Chris Mayne were all elected into office afterward … while he was not.
If you visit Dave Dale’s Small Town Times YouTube channel, there are a number of comments about the latest podcast.
Check Out the Full Set
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Echo Sports
The Laverock Plumbing A’s repeated as North Bay Men’s Baseball League champions after beating Assante Wealth 2-1, Tuesday night at Veterans Park field. See the game coverage by BayToday and The Nugget. Small Town Times is working on a video highlight package for Thursday (sign up for this newsletter to support local media).
Events Echo
Tuesday, Aug. 20
- Community All Ages Silent Disco is featured for the Arts and Culture Night at the Kiwanis Bandshell | 7 p.m. | Free
Wednesday, Aug. 21
- The Hurricanes are featured in the Summer Concert Series at the Kiwanis Bandshell | 7 p.m. | Free
- Game Night by Outpost Gaming | 6 to 9:30 p.m. | Free
Thursday, Aug. 22
- Retro Game Week at the North Bay Museum | 12 to 5 p.m. | $5
- Summer Stargazers Club at the North Bay Public Library | 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. | Free but need to pre-register
On Thursday, Laporte’s Nursery and Greenhouses is hosting this month’s After Hours mixer for members (and a friend) of the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Music, food and refreshments available in a garden atmosphere.
(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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From last week’s newsletter …
For those following the news about The Gathering Place soup kitchen in North Bay, (BayToday, Nugget, CTV) the executive director, Dennis Chippa, posted this comment on social media:
“As we continue to navigate financial challenges, the Gathering Place board has collectively decided to adapt our service model, starting with a reduction in meal services from September 1st. This necessary step enables us to consolidate our resources, minimize disruptions, and ultimately emerge stronger and more resilient. We regret the difficulty this will cause for those who use our services and hope this measure is a temporary one.”
For episode 55, Richard Fortin Presents features Jeffery Miller and Tammy Morison to talk about The Voyageur 200 taking place Sept. 7.
The full day, 60, 100 or 200-km gravel cycling adventure trails around North Bay. The ride is organized by Miller, a local cyclist and stroke survivor, in partnership with Discovery Routes and a community of volunteers eager to see the ride grow. Its mission in supporting the North Bay Regional Health Centre is to raise awareness around a heart and stroke disorder called Aphasia (www.aphasia.ca) through a love of bikes and endurance sport.
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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].