It’s time to hit the backroads of Northern Ontario and beyond with Backroads Bill! Tune in every Wednesday to explore the history and beauty of Northern Ontario. Alongside host and producer Ben, Bill (who is the founder and the GM of the Canadian Ecology Centre) goes more in depth to the stories he has been sharing for years on CBC Radio and Village Media.Whether it’s a “day-trip” “overnight-trip” or “Sunday drive” you will discover your next great adventure!Follow Bill on Facebook & Instagram: @backroads_billand on Twitter: @steertonorthONT For the video version of this episode or to explore more Nor...
Listen in the Podli app 🎧
Follow your favourite podcasts, listen offline and in the car with CarPlay and Android Auto, and always pick up where you left off. Free to try.
Sep 30, 2026 · 26:01
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, Andrew MacKellar joins the show to talk about the upcoming North Bay Sasquatch Conference on October 10th and his own experiences…
Sep 23, 2026 · 42:49
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, Volker Beckmann shares the story of how Thompson, Manitoba built its identity as the Wolf Capital of the World. What began as a…
Sep 16, 2026 · 44:35
In this episode of the Back Roads Bill Podcast, lawyer Jonathan Sommer joins the conversation to break down the massive art fraud surrounding renowned Indigenous artist Norval…
Sep 9, 2026 · 39:09
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, filmmaker Jim Hyder joins the conversation to share the remarkable story of Wendell Beckwith, the reclusive thinker, builder, and…
Sep 2, 2026 · 31:45
In this episode of The Backroads Bill Podcast, amateur historian and author Paul Ozorak joins the conversation to explore the Cold War bunkers, fallout reporting posts, radar…
Aug 26, 2026 · 47:23
In this episode of The Backroads Bill Podcast, Bethany and Maya from the Canadian Forces Museum of Aerospace Defence join the conversation to explore the stories, artifacts, and…
Aug 19, 2026 · 42:34
In this episode of The Backroads Bill Podcast, psychotherapist Brigitte Lebel shares her harrowing experience surviving the June 2025 downburst at Samuel de Champlain Provincial…
Aug 12, 2026 · 34:46
In this episode of The Backroads Bill Podcast, clinical psychologist Margaret McKinnon joins the conversation to discuss trauma, PTSD, psychological preparedness, and the mental…
Aug 6, 2026 · 46:36
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, professional forester Scott McPherson shares an inside look at the science, planning, and challenges behind sustainable forestry in…
Jul 29, 2026 · 43:30
For decades, Kevin Callan, better known as Canada's Happy Camper, has inspired thousands of people to explore the outdoors. In this episode of the Back Roads Bill Podcast, Kevin…
Jul 23, 2026 · 35:11
Discover one of Northern Ontario's most unique attractions at Dream Acres Alpaca Farm in Matheson. In this episode of the Back Roads Bill Podcast, Danielle Piquette shares how a…
Jul 15, 2026 · 38:55
In this episode of Backroads Bill, we hear directly from the students taking part in the Canadian Ecology Centre's immersive summer science program. They share what it's like to…
Jul 8, 2026 · 36:10
In this episode of Backroads Bill, we take you inside the Canadian Ecology Centre's summer programs, where students leave the traditional classroom behind and experience learning…
Jul 1, 2026 · 31:51
In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with geologist, prospector, and landman Mark Hall to explore the fascinating world of gold prospecting in Northern Ontario.Mark…
Jun 24, 2026 · 45:10
In this episode of Backroads Bill, Bill shares the story behind the North Bay Centennial Heritage Map, a special project created to highlight 100 years of North Bay history. He…
Jun 17, 2026 · 38:37
In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Sheri and Jay, the creators behind The Beauty of the Backcountry YouTube channel. The couple shares how a love of hiking,…
Jun 10, 2026 · 34:14
This episode explores the impact of the Canadian Ecology Centre's Teachers Mining Tours, which help educators and students get a firsthand look at modern mining and the many…
Jun 3, 2026 · 57:42
In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with former Member of Parliament, author, and Northern Ontario advocate Charlie Angus for a wide-ranging conversation about…
May 27, 2026 · 35:33
In this episode of Backroads Bill, acclaimed Canadian author Christine Fischer Guy returns to the podcast to talk about her brand-new novel, The Instrument Must Not Matter. The…
May 20, 2026 · 36:53
In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Justin Wood, founder of Geneticks.ca and a staff scientist at the University of Guelph, to talk about the growing reality of…
May 13, 2026 · 41:34
On this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Brennain Lloyd from Northwatch, one of Northern Ontario’s longest-running environmental advocacy organizations. For nearly…
May 6, 2026 · 33:35
On this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with the team behind one of Northern Ontario’s most recognizable outdoor products, The Original Bug Shirt Company in Powassan. What…
Apr 29, 2026 · 43:21
In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Otto Bedard who is an expert technologist in hydrometry, hydraulics and innovation. With recent flooding hitting the North Bay…
Apr 22, 2026 · 43:48
On this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Curtis Lafleche, a Northern Ontario outdoorsman who has turned his passion for the backcountry into a growing presence on…
Apr 15, 2026 · 56:21
In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with one of Canada’s most recognizable voices in weather, climatologist David Phillips, for a conversation that spans more than…
Apr 8, 2026 · 28:22
In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Juno-nominated artist Adrian Sutherland to explore how his music is deeply rooted in his life in Attawapiskat and his culture.…
Apr 1, 2026 · 44:48
On this episode of Backroads Bill, we head off the highway and into the small Northern Ontario community of Gogama, a place with a population of just a few hundred but a story…
Mar 27, 2026 · 48:46
On this episode of Backroads Bill, we head to Northwestern Ontario to take a closer look at the township of Ignace, a small community facing a big decision about its future. Once…
Mar 18, 2026 · 38:53
On this episode of Backroads Bill, we head to Northwestern Ontario to explore one of the most intriguing archaeological discoveries in the region in recent years. Local historian…
Mar 11, 2026 · 23:46
On this episode of Backroads Bill, we connect with a trucker whose journey spans continents. Sludge one of the stars of the Netflix series Outback Truckers, joins the show while…
Mar 4, 2026 · 31:52
On this episode of Backroads Bill, we head north to the shores of Lake Superior to meet Kim Asmussen, known to many as the “Snowshoe Art Guy.” Instead of a paintbrush and canvas,…
Feb 26, 2026 · 47:30
On this episode of Backroads Bill, we welcome in professors at Burman University Kevin Kiers and Tim Buttler to talk about their new book, Outdoor Experiential Learning in…
Feb 18, 2026 · 33:03
On this episode of Backroads Bill, we step away from our usual backroads stories to focus on something that affects every community: our local schools. School board trustees are…
Feb 11, 2026 · 43:21
In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with world-renowned botanist, medical biochemist and author Diana Beresford-Kroeger. Diana shares her extraordinary journey growing…
Feb 4, 2026 · 52:23
Science does not just live in textbooks. It lives in stories, curiosity, and the ability to make people care. In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we sit down with Dr.…
Jan 28, 2026 · 51:30
Leadership in Northern Ontario looks different. It means knowing your community, earning trust, and making tough decisions in places where resources are limited and expectations…
Jan 21, 2026 · 36:22
When Project Grizzly was first filmed, no one could have predicted the impact it would have decades later. What started as a story about a man building a bear suit in his…
Jan 14, 2026 · 50:35
Troy Hurtubise was a larger than life character who was obsessed with creating the next big invention. One of the inventions that defined him was the bear suit which was famously…
Jan 7, 2026 · 46:14
At White Pines Collegiate & Vocational School in Sault Ste. Marie, school doesn’t look like it used to. Alongside classrooms and hallways, students are learning trades, building…
Dec 31, 2025 · 46:54
For decades, Sudbury was known around the world for environmental damage. The land was scarred, the air was polluted, and few people believed recovery was possible. One person…
Dec 24, 2025 · 28:03
Every year, Santa flies over Northern Ontario. He sees the lakes, the rivers, the towns, and the backroads most people never notice. This time, we asked him to stop and answer a…
Dec 17, 2025 · 36:53
Twenty-five years ago, Jalynn Bosley left the traditional classroom to create something different. What started with a backpack, a few brave students, and a belief in the power…
Dec 10, 2025 · 46:48
Steve Hayward has spent most of his life on a snowmobile. He’s been a big part of Ontario’s snowmobile community. From helping to create SnowTrax to working closely with clubs…
Dec 3, 2025 · 41:53
There was a time when flying into Sudbury felt like landing on the moon. The landscape was bare, the rock was black, and the air was thick with the effects of decades of mining…
Nov 26, 2025 · 36:31
Chris Dube isn’t your average teacher. He surfs the waves of Lake Superior, teaches outdoor education in Terrace Bay, and believes deeply in the power of getting students outside…
Nov 19, 2025 · 35:07
When three seasoned paddlers invited a first-time canoeist from France to join them on a backcountry trip, none of them knew just how memorable it would be. In this episode we…
Nov 12, 2025 · 40:19
Most people know the Edmund Fitzgerald from the song. But few have actually seen the wreck with their own eyes. In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, shipwreck diver and…
Nov 5, 2025 · 46:31
You may know the name Gah-Ning from the classic Robert Munsch book "Where is Gah-Ning?", but the real story behind the character is even better. In this episode of the Backroads…
Oct 29, 2025 · 40:27
Hornepayne is the kind of place you might pass on a map and not think twice. But what if you found out it’s actually the geographic center of Ontario? In this episode of the…
Oct 22, 2025 · 38:13
They look like regular rocks during the day. But when the sun goes down and the UV light comes out, they start to glow like lava. In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast,…
Oct 15, 2025 · 34:08
At just 23 years old, Cameron Welch is running a remote wilderness camp deep in Northern Ontario. It’s called Shooting Star Camp, and it sits along the Spanish River in a place…
Oct 8, 2025 · 40:22
The railway helped build Canada, but it also holds stories that don’t always make it into the history books. In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, CBC producer Melody…
Oct 1, 2025 · 51:28
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, explorer and author Adam Shoalts returns to share one of the most fascinating stories you've probably never heard. It's the true…
Sep 24, 2025 · 52:39
What happens when one man sits down with 44 people to tell the story of an entire city? In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, longtime pillar of the North Bay community…
Sep 17, 2025 · 36:44
People come to Thunder Bay for the views, but many leave with pockets full of purple. In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we head into the hills above Lake Superior to…
Sep 10, 2025 · 43:51
Some of the best canoe routes in Canada aren’t in guidebooks. They’re shared around campfires, passed on through stories, and kept alive by the people who paddle them. In this…
Sep 3, 2025 · 50:25
In their first interview, Sean Lougheed and Lauren Andersen were preparing to paddle 1000 miles through the Yukon wilderness in the world’s longest and toughest canoe race. Now…
Aug 27, 2025 · 38:51
Long before northern Ontario had highways or hashtags, there was Joe LaFlamme. He ran liquor through the bush with dog teams, tamed wolves, and somehow became a national…
Aug 20, 2025 · 1:05:39
For more than 50 years, Clermont Duval has been painting the North. His work captures the spirit of the land, the wildlife, and the quiet moments most people miss. But for…
Aug 13, 2025 · 50:00
At just 22 years old, Mylène started Follow Her North, a guiding company that’s turning Northern Ontario into a place where people come for adventure and stay for connection. She…
Aug 6, 2025 · 46:42
100 episodes of the Backroads Bill Podcast has seen Bill and Ben talk to a number of high profile and educated guests focused on the outdoors, nature and Northern Ontario. For…
Jul 30, 2025 · 48:24
In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, bear and cougar specialist Rich Beausoleil from BearWise.org joins to talk about how to stay safe, smart, and respectful in bear…
Jul 23, 2025 · 39:35
Author Claire Cameron has written about bear attacks, wilderness trauma, and the raw edges of motherhood — but in her latest work, the story turned inward. After receiving a…
Jul 16, 2025 · 53:55
What does it take to inspire a generation? In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we sit down with legendary science communicator Franco Mariotti, one of the original…
Jul 9, 2025 · 46:17
This week's episode revisits a previous podcast where Bill and Ben talked with Denny Treu who's father Gaylord crashed his fighter jet during a training exercise in Northern…
Jul 2, 2025 · 44:10
In this week's episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, endurance paddlers Sean Lougheed and Lauren Anderson take us deep inside the preperation for the upcoming Yukon 1000, the…
Jun 25, 2025 · 48:32
This week journalist and author Peter Annin joins Bill and Ben to explore the geopolitics, climate threats, and cross-border tensions surrounding the Great Lakes Water Basin.…
Jun 18, 2025 · 44:32
What if your career could offer purpose, adventure, six months off a year — and a six-figure salary? In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, mining advocate Morgan Murphy…
Jun 11, 2025 · 44:27
In this special Kindness Week episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Peggy Walsh Craig and Cindy Lalande from Trees for Nipissing, a grassroots group that’s transforming the…
Jun 4, 2025 · 46:23
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…
May 28, 2025 · 41:36
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…
May 21, 2025 · 41:39
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,…
May 14, 2025 · 46:50
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…
May 7, 2025 · 44:27
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…
Apr 30, 2025 · 42:28
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…
Apr 23, 2025 · 47:18
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,…
Apr 16, 2025 · 59:47
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…
Apr 9, 2025 · 48:44
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…
Apr 2, 2025 · 40:53
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…
Mar 26, 2025 · 48:06
In this inspiring episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with legendary Canadian explorers, authors, photographers, and conservationists Joanie and Gary McGuffin. From 6,000-mile…
Mar 19, 2025 · 57:14
What if the secret to mental resilience, emotional healing, and physical strength was as simple as stepping into freezing water? In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down…
Mar 12, 2025 · 43:09
Join us in this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast as we embark on a frosty adventure in Northern Ontario! We're podcasting straight from an ice hut on the serene Lake…
Mar 5, 2025 · 33:46
Ever wondered what it's like to glide through the snow with a team of eager dogs leading the way? In this episode of The Backroads Bill Podcast, we dive into the world of dog…
Feb 26, 2025 · 32:37
Bill has been on CBC radio for many years talking with Markus Schwabe from Morning North about his adventures and Northern Ontario and now the tables have turned! Markus…
Feb 19, 2025 · 48:14
Kari Krogh is a co-founder of the Eco Wisdom Preserve and her mission is to use nature to help people heal through illness and their disabilities. Kari opens up about her…
Feb 12, 2025 · 47:22
This week Bill and Ben are joined by two social media and youtube content creators who focus on making fun and entertaining videos based on their love of the outdoors. Careena…
Feb 5, 2025 · 44:49
An award winning author, long time radio personality and podcast host Waubgeshig Rice joins the podcast. He chats about his latest novels Moon of the Crusted Snow and Moon of the…
Jan 29, 2025 · 48:00
The Ring of Fire has been over 15 years in the making but still the conversations go on between the Canadian Government and the Indigenous communities involved. Now Doug Ford has…
Jan 22, 2025 · 49:53
Many in North Bay know Chris Mayne for his role as a city councillor but he has a major passion for canoeing. He has been part of the team that has revitalized the La Vase…
Jan 15, 2025 · 40:26
Roy MacGregor has had a long career in print media working for Macleans and The Globe and Mail. He also is a best selling author of multiple outdoors books and the kids book…
Jan 8, 2025 · 43:23
Ian Tamblyn had the chance to make it big in the music scene but decided to turn down the chance when it meant changing the lyrics and topics from Canadian stories to something a…
Jan 1, 2025 · 48:35
Mikkel Aaland authored the 1978 novel “Sweat” about the history of the sauna. He has a series releasing on Amazon called “Perfect Sweat” where he retraces his steps from the past…
Dec 25, 2024 · 1:09:52
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to our listeners who celebrate and this week Bill and Ben brought on Reverend Ted Harrison. T ed talks about his experiences with nature as a…
Dec 18, 2024 · 58:10
The Fentster Gallery’s tagline is “a window into Jewish life” and has been a unique viewing experience in Toronto for over a decade. Artist Meichan Waxer and the Fentster Gallery…
Dec 11, 2024 · 44:35
This week features no guest but instead Bill and Ben go in depth on a winter time tradition - snowshoeing. Bill talks about the history of the snowshoe, his favourite places to…
Dec 4, 2024 · 38:29
This week Bill brings in his second in command Laura Kielpinski, the Assistant General Manager of the Ecology Centre, onto the show to talk about Christmas in the Forest. Each…
Nov 27, 2024 · 45:27
In this episode Bill describes three environmental catastrophes that impacted Ontario’s landscape. The lack of consultation with both Indigenous Peoples and environmentalists…
Nov 20, 2024 · 35:35
Wade Hemsworth only wrote 20 songs in his career but he has been a staple in Canadian Folk music thanks to hits like “The Blackfly Song” and “The Log Driver’s Waltz”. John Pineau…
Nov 13, 2024 · 1:07:05
The Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association has been instrumental in the growth of tourism in Northern Ontario for just under 100 years since 1929. Laurie Marcel, who is…
Nov 6, 2024 · 1:00:35
Larry Dyke, Professor Emeritus and longtime member of the Geological Survey of Canada, joins the show as we explore the geology and formation of Ontario’s landscape. Larry helps…
Listen in the Podli app 🎧
Follow your favourite podcasts, listen offline and in the car with CarPlay and Android Auto, and always pick up where you left off. Free to try.
Your podcast? Get the Podli badge for your site
