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

In Northern Ontario, something serious is happening in public education. The Minister of Education has stepped in and taken control of the Near North District School Board, removing authority from elected trustees and shifting decision-making away from the community.

In this episode of Echo Essentials, former trustee Louise Sargent shares her perspective on what led to this decision, how it has impacted transparency and trust, and what the future holds now that there are no publicly elected representees on the board.

0:00 – Intro
3:15 – Trustees Dismissed by the Province
10:04 – Why the School Board Was Really Dissolved
20:45 – The Parry Sound School Build
32:10 – Losing Democracy in the North
41:20 – One Supervisor Replacing Nine Trustees
51:30 – What’s Next for the North’s Public Education

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.