PADDLE is a community-based day program in North Bay that supports adults with developmental disabilities. It’s a lifeline for families, a space of independence for participants, and a model of care that should be celebrated.

In this episode of Echo Essentials, we sit down with executive director Megan Johnson to talk about the growing funding crisis, what PADDLE does every day, and why people across the North are stepping up to keep it alive.

BayToday Letter to the Editor: https://www.baytoday.ca/letters-to-the-editor/letter-paddle-program-at-risk-as-province-denies-core-funding-11545243

0:00 Intro
3:30 What PADDLE actually does and who it serves
6:00 The funding crisis and what’s at stake
10:15 The reality of long waitlists and systemic gaps
17:00 What community support looks like in action
24:40 Why charity alone isn’t enough
32:00 Outdated policies and real-world consequences
41:00 A call to action for the province and community

In this episode we are joined by Dr David Tabachnick, Professor of Political Science at Nipissing University, to talk about the current provincial government.


We also talk about the newest bills that have past in the province and he gives his take on why the Near North District School Board should not be taken over by the ministry.

In this episode, we introduce Isaac Sturkey, the newest member of our team. He’s stepping into the role of Content Director and Client Strategy with a passion for storytelling and a strong connection to the North Bay community.

Isaac shares a bit about his background, what drew him to Echo, and how he hopes to shape the stories we tell going forward.

Chris also shares his future plans and how he will remain connected with Echo

0:00 – Intro
3:36 – Isaac’s Background and Why He Joined Echo
7:12 – Why Community Storytelling Matters
8:15 – Supporting Clubs, Groups, and Underrepresented Voices
10:11 – Echo’s Role in Rebuilding Community Connection
15:08 – Balancing Storytelling with Journalistic Integrity
21:00 – What Chris Learned Hosting Echo Essentials
37:18 – Chris Reflects on His Next Chapter

North Bay’s drinking water might look, taste, and smell normal—but do you really know what’s swimming around in your glass?

In this week's episode of Echo Essentials, host Chris Piekarski sits down with Liza Vandermeer and Carol Hansman to detail the shocking story of PFAS contamination in Trout Lake, North Bay's main drinking water source.

From discussing how the decades-long dumping and use of firefighting foam and how it's contaminated Trout Lake and Lees Creek, this episode dives into the science, silence and the politics surrounding what’s known as the “forever chemicals” that inhabits North Bay's drinking water.

What is the cleanup plan? Why has public conversation gone quiet? Where did the buck stop and who’s really responsible? 

Come for the facts: stay for the call to action. And don’t miss the public information session on November 19!

Special thanks to Masih Khalatbari of the Investigative Journalism Bureau for his support and coverage of this story. You can find his piece here: https://ijb.utoronto.ca/news/feds-covered-up-toxic-forever-chemicals-in-the-water-in-this-ontario-city-for-5-years/

City Council has made it's decision, so it's finally time for us to talk about it...

The City of North Bay has been buzzing after Mayor Peter Chirico’s expense controversy, and former host Dave Dale is back to break it all down with Chris.

From questionable meal claims to battalion tickets and golf outings, we dive deep into what the integrity commissioner said in his report, and whether 60 days of docked pay was enough to satisfy the citizens.

We talk political fallout, future elections, and if Dave himself is still considering a future in municipal politics in 2026.

Former MP of Nipissing-Timiskaming and the 37th Speaker of the House Anthony Rota returns to Echo Essentials for an open book conversation with Chris Piekarski.

From Pierre Poilievre’s missed opportunity to Trump’s impact on Canadian trade and how Mark Carney is toeing the line for centrist policies, Anthony shares what life is like post-politics and offers his unfiltered take on Canada’s political future.

Does Anthony think the Conservatives blew it in the last Federal election? Is Canada finally stepping out of the U.S.'s shadow? And what does Anthony REALLY think about the future of our electoral system?

In this episode of Echo Essentials, we’re joined by Leah Pierce and Lisa Henry from The Compassionate Committee for the Homeless in North Bay.

They share the story of how one emotional moment sparked a movement that's bringing churches from across the City together, by providing unhoused persons with essentials, and challenging the stigma around homelessness in our community. Leah and Lisa also detail their upcoming annual information session, titled "What you need to know about helping people who are experiencing homelessness" and what community members can expect to take-away.

This week on Echo Essentials, Chris sits down with Bernadette Lindsay, Fund Development Coordinator at the Nipissing Serenity Hospice, to uncover the financial truths behind hospice care in Ontario. From eye-opening budget gaps to heartwarming community efforts, this episode is dives into what it really takes to keep the doors open and the lights on for end-of-life care facilities.

Bernadette and Chris detail the surprising dollar number that must be fundraised every year just to cover what the provincial government wont. They also debrief the Hike for Hospice fundraiser, and how the local event shattered expectations, raising over $145,000!

In this week's episode of Echo Essentials, we go behind the scenes at The Gathering Place—North Bay’s frontline solution to food insecurity. Chris Piekarski visits The Gathering Place to sit down with Board Chair Peter Gregory and Operations Manager Alicia Smith to unpack the truth about who really uses the service, how they've slashed costs by 31%, and why sustainable monthly donations are now more critical than ever.

From confronting outdated stigmas to showcasing the daily hustle of volunteers, this episode is a raw and eye-opening look into a vital organization doing more with less. Plus, get a sneak peek into their biggest annual fundraiser: Soup’s On—where North Bay’s best soups go head-to-head.

Share this episode and be part of the change. If you can, visit https://thegatheringplacenorthbay.ca/ to see how you can help support their mission.

In this episode of Echo Essentials, host Chris Piekarski sits down with the City of North Bay’s Planning Manager Beverley Hillier to unpack the long-awaited Trout Lake Watershed policy review.

Beverley reveals the reason why lot creation was frozen in the 90s, what 400+ new lots could mean for Trout Lake, and how phosphorus, septic systems, and shoreline buffers are now at the center of North Bay’s environmental planning.

They also dig into the next phase of the Downtown Waterfront Master Plan, community engagement strategies, and how the City can continue to develop downtown.

To review the policies and phases of the full Trout Lake Watershed and Management Plan, please visit https://northbay.ca/our-community/trout-lake-study/

To review the Downtown Waterfront Master Plan, please visit https://northbay.ca/our-community/downtown-waterfront-master-plan/