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The Echo Essentials Podcast ties together all the elements of the North Bay Echo Community Podcast Network, hosted by Christopher Piekarski. Guests and topics on the show will reflect the...
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The Echo Essentials Podcast ties together all the elements of the North Bay Echo Community Podcast Network, hosted by Christopher Piekarski.
Guests and topics on the show will reflect the challenges and issues facing North Bay, providing additional context and depth to stories that are of public interest.
Explore more North Bay podcasts and stay updated on local events and news at NorthBayEcho.ca.
To inquire about being a guest or commenting on content, please email editor@northbayecho.ca
Production Credits:
show less
Guests and topics on the show will reflect the challenges and issues facing North Bay, providing additional context and depth to stories that are of public interest.
Explore more North Bay podcasts and stay updated on local events and news at NorthBayEcho.ca.
To inquire about being a guest or commenting on content, please email editor@northbayecho.ca
Production Credits:
- Hosts: Christopher Piekarski
- Producer: Ben Sargent
- Produced by Clark Communications
Episodes & Posts
Episodes
Posts
30 SEP 2026 · DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by candidates on this program are their own and are not necessarily those of North Bay Echo, its hosts, producers, or sponsors. Sponsors had no input on guest selection or interview questions, and sponsorship does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate. All registered candidates for the 2026 North Bay municipal election were invited to participate, and no candidate paid to appear. Statements made by candidates have not been independently verified.
In this special election series of Echo Essentials, North Bay council candidates Mark King, Justine Mallah and Randall Tilander sit down for an in-depth conversation about their priorities, experience, and ideas for the city ahead of the 2026 municipal election.
The discussion covers some of the biggest issues facing North Bay, including the previous council term, Vision 2027, how to get a council to work together, and affordability and housing.
Polls open for online voting on October 15, 2026 at 10 A.M. and close on October 26, 2026 at 8 P.M.
0:00 Introductions
3:55 Meet the Candidates
15:12 The Last Term of Council
29:30 Vision 2027
39:30 How to Get Council to Work Together
1:03:00 Supporting Students in Post Secondary
1:10:00 Affordability and Housing
1:27:00 Closing Remarks
28 SEP 2026 · DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by candidates on this program are their own and are not necessarily those of North Bay Echo, its hosts, producers, or sponsors. Sponsors had no input on guest selection or interview questions, and sponsorship does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate. All registered candidates for the 2026 North Bay municipal election were invited to participate, and no candidate paid to appear. Statements made by candidates have not been independently verified.
In this special election series of Echo Essentials, North Bay council candidates Dave Dale, Nathaniel Lachance and Lana Mitchell sit down for an in-depth conversation about their priorities, experience, and ideas for the city ahead of the 2026 municipal election.
The discussion covers some of the biggest issues facing North Bay, including housing and affordability, city spending, transparency and accountability, economic development, leadership at City Hall, arts and culture, and the future of community spaces such as the West Ferris Arena.
The candidates also respond to questions about the previous term of Council, public trust, and what they believe needs to change moving forward.
Polls open for online voting on October 15, 2026 at 10 A.M. and close on October 26, 2026 at 8 P.M.
0:00 Introductions
3:57 Meet the Candidates
15:00 DNSSAB
30:00 Accountability and Council Structure
46:20 PFAS
1:02:00 Closing Remarks
25 SEP 2026 · DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by candidates on this program are their own and are not necessarily those of North Bay Echo, its hosts, producers, or sponsors. Sponsors had no input on guest selection or interview questions, and sponsorship does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate. All registered candidates for the 2026 North Bay municipal election were invited to participate, and no candidate paid to appear. Statements made by candidates have not been independently verified.
In this special election series of Echo Essentials, North Bay mayoral candidates Connor Currie, Maggie Horsfield and Jamie Lowery sit down for an in-depth conversation about their priorities, experience, and vision for the city ahead of the 2026 municipal election.
The discussion covers some of the biggest issues facing North Bay, including housing and affordability, city spending, transparency and accountability, economic development, leadership at City Hall, arts and culture, and the future of community spaces such as the West Ferris Arena.
The candidates also respond to questions about the previous term of council, public trust, the mayor’s expense controversy, and what they believe needs to change moving forward. It’s a wide-ranging conversation designed to give voters a closer look at how each candidate approaches the challenges and opportunities facing North Bay.
Polls open for online voting on October 15th 2026 at 10 A.M. and close on October 26th 2026 at 8 P.M
0:00 Introductions
3:50 Meet the Candidates
12:48 Is Mayor a Full Time Job?
21:40 Leadership as Mayor
47:30 Housing and Affordability
56:06 Cassellholme and Castle Arms
1:13:20 Credit Card and Expenses
1:36:00 Leading Council as Mayor
1:45:19 Arts and Culture in North Bay
1:54:30 West Ferris Arena
2:06:00 Closing Remarks
12 MAR 2026 · In this episode of Echo Essentials, we take a closer look at a new piece of local tech that could change the way people shop for groceries.
Eric Dion, co-founder of Gofer.Run, joins the show to talk about the launch of the locally developed app designed to help consumers save money by comparing grocery prices and planning smarter shopping trips. Instead of guessing where the best deals are, the app scans flyers and store listings to help users map out the most cost-effective grocery run.
Eric shares the story behind the idea, how the app was built by a North Bay team, and what it was like bringing the project from concept to launch. We also talk about how the technology works, the role of AI in the platform, privacy considerations, and how users can customize their search radius to find the best prices available.
0:00 – Introducing the Gofer.Run App
6:42 – The Idea Behind the Platform
15:18 – How the App Finds the Best Grocery Deals
27:03 – AI, Privacy & Building the Technology
39:47 – What’s Next for Gofer.Run
19 FEB 2026 · On this episode of Echo Essentials, we take a closer look at snowmobile season in North Bay and Northern Ontario and what it really means for our region.
We’re joined by Shawn Flindall from the North Bay Snowmobile Club to talk about Snowmobile Safety Week, the realities of riding in ever-changing winter conditions, and the responsibility that comes with operating high-performance machines on community trail systems.
We also break down the bigger picture. Snowmobiling is not just a hobby. It represents billions of dollars in economic activity across Ontario and plays a major role in supporting small businesses, hotels, restaurants, and rural communities throughout the winter months.
But with that opportunity comes challenge. From trespassing concerns on private land to the cost and volunteer effort required to maintain thousands of kilometres of trails, the future of organized snowmobiling depends on cooperation, respect, and safety.
0:00 Intro
12:15 Snowmobile Safety Week Explained
27:06 The $5 Billion Snowmobile Industry
33:51Trespassing & Private Land Concerns
48:13 How Long Will the Season Last?
13 FEB 2026 · In this episode of Echo Essentials, we break down what’s behind North Bay’s banner year for housing development.
With 242 new dwelling units approved in 2025, more than double from 2024, we sit down with Councillor Justine Mallah and Beverley Hillier from Planning and Building Services to unpack what drove the surge.
We also take a look at the continuing development of the waterfront area and what the future holds for 2026 and beyond.
5:27 – 242 New Units: Breaking Down North Bay’s 2025 Housing Surge
12:31 – “Building Up, Not Out”
17:25 – Repurposing Schools Into Affordable Housing
50:15 – How City Funding & Grant Applications Actually Work
5 FEB 2026 · Politics is moving fast, and the forces shaping Canada today are tied closely to what is happening in Ontario and around the world.
In this episode of Echo Essentials, friend of the show and professor of political science Dr. David Tabachnick joins the podcast for a wide ranging conversation on the current state of politics at every level.
We tackle the recent happenings including the threats to Greenland and the repercussions, Canada's tariffs on China, and the current state of provincial politics in Ontario
29 JAN 2026 · What happens when elected school trustees lose their power, and what does that mean for democracy in Ontario?
In this episode of Echo Essentials, Jay Aspin and Bill Steer join the podcast to talk about the petition to keep trustees in Ontario's public school system. Both men bring deep experience in public life and education governance, and they speak candidly about what has unfolded and why it matters.
The conversation explores the role of elected trustees, the difference between governance and operations, and the concern that long standing democratic structures are being weakened.
You can sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/keep-school-board-trustees-as-elected-officials-in-ontario?source_location=petition_update_page
6:34 The petition to protect elected trustees in Ontario
12:22 What happens to public voice if trustees are removed
27:30 Concerns about power, governance, and democratic erosion
53:10 Final call to action and why this moment matters
24 JAN 2026 · In this episode of Echo Essentials, North Bay City Councillor Mark King joins the show to talk candidly about the state of housing and homelessness in the city. As chair of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board and vice chair of the Northern Ontario Service Delivery Association, Mark brings a regional and on the ground view of what is happening and why.
The conversation covers new data showing sharp increases in homelessness across Northern Ontario, the limits of what municipalities can realistically do, and why provincial and federal support is critical.
Mark also shares insights from recent meetings with provincial ministers, the challenges of funding social housing, and what it means when cities are left managing a crisis they cannot solve alone
0:00 Introduction and why homelessness is the focus
10:11 The new report and the 117 percent increase in Northern Ontario
19:26 Why cities cannot fix homelessness alone
32:15 What real housing solutions actually require
56:01 Final reflections and what comes next for North Bay
15 JAN 2026 · Impaired driving is not something from the past. It is still happening in our communities, and the consequences are still devastating.
In this episode of Echo Essentials, we sit down with Shona Camirand and Bobbie-Lyn Shank, members of MADD Nipissing, about the ongoing fight against impaired driving.
They share why education and awareness still matter, how attitudes around drinking and driving have changed, and where dangerous misconceptions still exist.
0:00 – Intro
8:36 – Red Ribbon campaigns and Ride programs in North Bay
17:06 – How impaired driving has changed beyond alcohol
24:24 – New testing, breathalyzers, and evolving laws
50:31 – How to get involved with MADD Nipissing and help locally
The Echo Essentials Podcast ties together all the elements of the North Bay Echo Community Podcast Network, hosted by Christopher Piekarski. Guests and topics on the show will reflect the...
show more
The Echo Essentials Podcast ties together all the elements of the North Bay Echo Community Podcast Network, hosted by Christopher Piekarski.
Guests and topics on the show will reflect the challenges and issues facing North Bay, providing additional context and depth to stories that are of public interest.
Explore more North Bay podcasts and stay updated on local events and news at NorthBayEcho.ca.
To inquire about being a guest or commenting on content, please email editor@northbayecho.ca
Production Credits:
show less
Guests and topics on the show will reflect the challenges and issues facing North Bay, providing additional context and depth to stories that are of public interest.
Explore more North Bay podcasts and stay updated on local events and news at NorthBayEcho.ca.
To inquire about being a guest or commenting on content, please email editor@northbayecho.ca
Production Credits:
- Hosts: Christopher Piekarski
- Producer: Ben Sargent
- Produced by Clark Communications
Information
| Author | North Bay Echo |
| Organization | Story Studio Network |
| Categories | Society & Culture , News Commentary |
| Website | - |
| hello@northbayecho.ca |
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