The Backroads Bill Podcast

In this episode of Backroads Bill, we speak with Maggie Wilson, president of the Cobalt Historical Society, about the incredible past and uncertain future of one of Canada’s most historic mining towns.

From the silver boom of 1905 to the modern-day fight to preserve headframes, mills, and trails, this is a story of resilience, rust, and remembrance.

Whether it’s mining students from around the world or tourists walking the Heritage Silver Trail, the legacy of Cobalt lives on — but only if we choose to protect it.


00:00 - Intro
02:15 - Who Is Maggie Wilson? 
06:00 - “Ugly on the Eye”: First Impressions of a Mining Town  
09:05 - 1905 Silver Boom: The Discovery That Changed Canada  
13:45 - Separating the Museum from the Historical Society  
17:20 - Building the Heritage Silver Trail (and What’s Left of It)  
22:10 - The Problem With Preservation: Aging Boards & Fewer Volunteers  
26:30 - National Historic Site Status… With No Support  
31:00 - The Empire State Building… Funded by Cobalt’s Silver?!  
34:50 - Historic Photos, Fires, and the Rise of Heritage Tourism  
38:15 - Favorite Stops on the Silver Trail: McKinley Mill & Nipissing Mine  
41:40 - Will Mining Return to Cobalt? A Cyclical Legacy  
45:05 - Ghosts, Poets, and Preserving the Spirit of the Town  
49:00 - Why Younger Generations Need to Pick Up the Torch

Author and journalist Christine Fischer Guy joins Backroads Bill to explore the real-life inspiration behind her haunting novel The Umbrella Mender, set during the 1950s tuberculosis outbreak in Moose Factory, Ontario.

Through in-depth research, remote travel, and family connection, Christine weaves a story that parallels past and present pandemics — from TB to COVID — and invites readers to rethink how we view medicine, memory, and Indigenous history in the North.

Purchase the Umbrella Mender: https://christinefischerguy.com/the-umbrella-mender/


00:00 - Intro
02:33 - Who Is Christine Fischer Guy? Author, Journalist, Yogini
06:18 - What TB in the 1950s Teaches Us About COVID
10:45 - Google Earth, Floods & Finally Reaching Moose Factory
15:10 - Meeting Elders & Uncovering Firsthand Stories
19:45 - The Umbrella Mender: Why a Settler Nurse Tells the Story
24:00 - How TB Devastated Northern Indigenous Communities
28:30 - Writing Indigenous Characters With Sensitivity & Respect
32:55 - Hazel, Gideon & a French Nickname with Meaning
36:35 - The Symbolism of the Roofless Silo
40:10 - Publishing in Canada: The Long Road to Print
47:05 - A New Novel on the Horizon (Spring 2026 Preview!)

This week Bill and Ben sit down with Stephen Scharper, University of Toronto professor, theologian, and author of The Green Bible, to explore the deep connections between faith, creation, climate change, and our moral responsibility to the planet.

From Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si to Indigenous wisdom, eco-spirituality, and the quiet power of “sit spots,” Stephen shares his views on what our focus should be regardless of personal views.

00:00 - Intro
02:00 - Meet Stephen Scharper: Eco-Theologian, Professor, Author  
06:00 - Why the New Pope’s Name Matters for Climate Action  
10:45 - Childhood Roots: Playing in Nature, Watching It Disappear  
15:30 - The Green Bible: Reclaiming Earth in Sacred Texts  
20:55 - Nature in the Bible You’ve Probably Never Heard Preached  
26:40 - Book Launch by Campfire: A Northern Ontario First  
31:10 - Always Winning? Why Falling in Love with the Earth Is Radical  
35:00 - How “Sit Spots” Transform the Way Students Think  
39:25 - Earth as Our Only Home — And Why That Matters  
44:00 - What Faith Communities Must Do Now  
48:30 - The Wild North: Where Stephen Feels Most Alive  
52:00 - Outro

In this week's episode, Pierre shares how embraced a lifestyle of biking everywhere and pedaled from Quebec to Alaska and back, all while giving motivational talks across Canada in his 2023 Crazy Tour.

From Ironman races and desert marathons to sleeping in strangers’ yards and finding joy in every ride, Pierre proves that happiness isn’t a destination — it’s movement.

Find Pierre's book here: https://pleinairenor.ca


00:00 - Intro
01:12 - The “Crazy Tour” to Alaska  
04:08 - How One Marathon in 2006 Changed Everything  
06:54 - Biking to Lake Placid... THEN Doing an Ironman  
09:55 - Why Pierre Gave Up His Car — and Never Looked Back  
13:33 - How He Protects His Body After 70+ Endurance Events  
17:20 - Discovering Northern Ontario on Two Wheels  
20:15 - Speaking in Francophone & First Nations Communities  
23:11 - Riding Through Remote Towns and Sleeping in Strangers’ Yards  
26:59 - The Book: *Always Winning – A Joyful Approach to Challenges*  
29:11 - What Pierre Teaches in His Talks 
31:40 - “Being on a Bike is Being Alive”  
35:34 - How He Trains Without Training  
39:01 - His Next Big Dream: Walking to New York, Sailing to Europe  
42:00 - What It’s Like to Cross the Border on a Bike  
44:33 - Final Thoughts

His body wasn’t found for 11 years. The Leafs didn’t win another cup until it was.This is the story behind one of Canada’s most chilling sports legends — told by the man who helped recover the wreckage, Kevin Vincent.

From remote northern Ontario bush to Tragically Hip lyrics, from Stanley Cup glory to smuggled gold, this episode dives into the real history behind the myth — and why a movie could be on the way.


00:00 - Intro: The Goal That Sparked a Legend  
03:00 - The Crash That Changed Hockey History  
06:12 - The Mission to Recover Barilko’s Plane  
10:32 - Trekking Through Muskeg: A Brutal Expedition  
13:15 - Rumors of Smuggled Gold & Holes in the Plane  
14:45 - The Leafs Curse & The Tragically Hip Connection  
16:58 - The Billboard, The Shrine & Timmins Tourism  
19:00 - Why No One’s Made the Movie (Yet)  
23:14 - Should Barilko Be in the Hall of Fame?  
25:00 - Where’s the Puck? The Amazing Story of Its Discovery  
28:00 - Gold Smuggling & Hockey Sticks with Secrets  
32:00 - Carrying the Legacy: Family, Fans, and the Future  
36:00 - A Children’s Book, A Screenplay & A 75-Year Wait  
40:52 - What Happens Next for Barilko’s Story?  

What happens when you pack a tent, a bike, and a wild dream?

Former pro cyclist Buck Miller joins Backroads Bill to share his insane adventures biking through Canada's remote north — hauling camping gear, battling brutal cold, crossing frozen tundra, and chasing the rugged freedom only northern Ontario and Manitoba can offer.

From cycling the world’s longest winter road to preparing for the Yukon River Quest gauntlet, Buck talks about the physical toll, the love for nature, and why he’s never stopped searching for true adventure.

00:00 - Intro: Who is Buck Miller?  
02:32 - Life as a Professional Cyclist  
05:43 - Riding Canada’s Longest Winter Road  
08:58 - Surviving Minus-35 Temperatures on a Bike  
13:02 - Cross-Country Ski Expeditions Gone Wrong  
17:46 - How Buck Packs for 7-Day Bike Trips  
22:32 - Balancing Family Life and Adventure  
26:00 - Why Northern Ontario Still Calls Him Back  
29:54 - Living as a Tree Climber and Nature Lover  
34:47 - The Emotional Connection to the Wild  
37:00 - Future Expeditions: Kite Skiing Hudson Bay?  
40:53 - Racing the Yukon River Quest  
44:00 - Wrapping Up: Adventure is a Way of Life

In this episode of Backroads Bill, we take you on a 767km Arctic journey along the longest seasonal ice road in the world — from Gillam, Manitoba to Fort Severn and Peawanuck, Ontario.

Hosts Bill and Ben are joined by “Behind-the-Scenes Brian” to share stories of isolation, survival, $20 milk, polar bear tracks, and navigating the remote North like few have.

From impassable muskeg to remote Indigenous communities, we explore what life is really like at the top of Ontario — and why this seasonal lifeline means everything.

00:00 - Welcome to the Ice Road Adventure  
03:11 - Why Passenger Trains Can't Compete in the North  
07:05 - The 767KM Road That Only Exists for Weeks  
13:08 - No Signs, No Tracks: Driving Blind  
19:02 - $20 Milk & Sky-High Prices in Remote Stores  
26:18 - Polar Bear Country & Cree Culture  
34:28 - Surviving the Silence: No Cell, No Services  
42:43 - Top 5 Adventure of All Time?  
44:51 - Upcoming Expeditions & Reflections

In this powerful episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, retired police officer and Indigenous educator George Couchie shares his journey from policing to healing — and why truth and reconciliation in Canada is more urgent than ever.

Hear firsthand stories about residential schools, systemic racism, Indigenous youth trauma, and the transformation of police training in Ontario.

Whether you're Canadian or not, this is a raw, eye-opening conversation you won’t forget.

00:00 - Welcome & Introduction  
03:00 - Policing in Two Worlds  
10:30 - Breaking the Silence: Residential School Abuse  
17:50 - Creating the Native Awareness Program  
23:15 - Talking Circles & Sweat Lodges: A Path to Healing  
29:40 - Trauma, Addiction & Cultural Belonging  
36:55 - Graveyards Without Names: Uncovering the Truth  
44:20 - From Shame to Pride: Rebuilding Indigenous Identity  
50:10 - A Message to Indigenous Youth  
57:45 - Final Thoughts & Call to Action

In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Linda Savory-Gordon, who is involved with multiple non-for-profit organizations including sitting on the boards of both MTA Inc and CAPT.

We explore the decline of passenger rail and public transportation in rural Canada, the real-life consequences for people who rely on it, and the grassroots movements working to bring better service back to the North.

Linda shares insights from her work with the Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains and explains why sustainable transportation is about more than just moving people—it’s about connecting lives.

00:00 – Intro: The case for trains in Northern Ontario
05:00 – How Linda’s personal connection to rail travel began
10:00 – The decline of passenger rail and rise of car culture
15:00 – Rail vs. roads: Why trains are a greener, smarter choice
20:00 – The role of tourism and infrastructure in train revival
25:00 – Indigenous leadership and reconciliation through rail
30:00 – The future of the Northlander and marketing to young riders
35:00 – Why public transit matters for democracy and connection
40:00 – Can trains ever compete with air travel in Canada?
45:00 – Final thoughts: What keeps Linda fighting for rail access

What if a single photograph could reclaim an entire history?

In this deeply moving episode of Backroads Bill, Indigenous writer, journalist, and cultural curator Paul Seesequasis shares the story behind his renowned Indigenous Archival Photo Project.

Through images of everyday Indigenous life—moments of joy, resilience, and tradition—Paul is reconnecting families, communities, and all Canadians with a more complete and truthful history of the life across the Hudson Bay watershed in the 50s and 60s.

We talk about the power of storytelling, the ethics of curation, and how the past lives on in the images we choose to see.

Learn more about the project here: https://mcmichael.com/event/people-of-the-watershed-photographs-by-john-macfie/ 



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Production Credits:

Host: Backroads Bill Steer
Producer: Ben Sargent
Produced by Clark Communications