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?

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

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

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

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

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

In this episode, we sit down with Pierre Ranger, the voice behind the Let’s Remember Adam campaign. Pierre shares the heartbreaking story of his brother Adam, a young boy who was hit and killed by a driver who didn’t stop for a school bus.

Since that moment, Pierre and his family have made it their mission to make sure no one else has to go through what they did. The campaign has become a powerful reminder about the importance of stopping for school buses and protecting children as they get on and off safely.

4:10 Why Drivers Still Don’t Stop
08:56 How Policy Change Happened
20:00 The Push for Stop Arm Cameras
52:56 What’s Next for Let’s Remember Adam

North Bay is heading into an important stretch. Major projects are underway, big questions remain, and decisions being made now will shape what the city looks like in 2026 and beyond.

In this episode of Echo Essentials, Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield joins us to talk through what’s on the table. From the work that FONOM is doing for our community, to a look back at the centennial, to long-term budget pressures and growth, Maggie shares how council is approaching the next few years and what residents should be paying attention to.

0:00 Intro
4:00 Looking back at the centennial
11:30 FONOM
26:00 Bail Reform
33:30 2026 Budget

As the year comes to a close, it’s a good time to step back and make sense of everything that happened in politics.

In this Christmas Day episode of Echo Essentials, political scientist Dr David Tabachnik joins us to reflect on the stories that shaped politics over the past year. From local decisions to national debates and global shifts, we talk about what mattered, what surprised us, and what may have lasting consequences.

0:00 Intro
4:30 Key Local Issues in 2025
11:30 Provincial politics and the Near North school board takeover
19:30 Doug Ford’s election strategy and shifting political tone
28:00 Federal election shocks and Trudeau’s exit
37:00 Mark Carney’s rise and the carbon tax pivot
46:30 Alberta, pipelines, and separation talk
54:00 Political grades and looking ahead to 2026

Every year in North Bay, hundreds of people gather for something truly special. It’s called The Big Christmas, and it’s more than just a meal. It’s a place where anyone can come in, sit down, and feel like they belong.

In this episode of Echo Essentials, we talk to Shawn Kettner one of the many people behind the event to hear how it all started, what it takes to bring it to life.

To find out more check out their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/98402051258/

0:00 – Intro
4:00 – How Big Christmas started
8:00 – What the event looks like
13:00 – Community support and volunteers
18:00 – Why the Elks Lodge matters
24:00 – The heart of the tradition
30:00 – How to attend or get involved
36:00 – Shawn’s favorite holiday things