The Echo Essentials Podcast ties together all the elements of the North Bay Echo Community Podcast Network, hosted by Christopher Piekarski.Guests and topics on the show will reflect the challenges and issues facing North Bay, providing additional context and depth to stories that are of public interest. Explore more North Bay podcasts and stay updated on local events and news at NorthBayEcho.ca.To inquire about being a guest or commenting on content, please email [email protected] Credits:Hosts: Christopher PiekarskiProducer: Ben SargentProduced by Clark Communications
Latest episodes
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1 h 21
Meet the 2026 Council Candidates: Johanne Brousseau, Glen Langlois & Tanya Vrebosch
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by candidates on this program are their own and are not necessarily those of North Bay Echo, its hosts, producers, or sponsors. Sponsors had no inpu…
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1 h 13
Meet the 2026 Council Candidates: Jordaan Allison, Caroline Corbett & Dave Mendicino
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by candidates on this program are their own and are not necessarily those of North Bay Echo, its hosts, producers, or sponsors. Sponsors had no inpu…
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1 h 11
Meet the 2026 Council Candidates: Sara Inch, Chris Mayne & Mike Taylor
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by candidates on this program are their own and are not necessarily those of North Bay Echo, its hosts, producers, or sponsors. Sponsors had no inpu…
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1 h 17
Meet the 2026 Council Candidates: Johanna Kristolaitis, Eric Morgan & Bill Vrebosch
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by candidates on this program are their own and are not necessarily those of North Bay Echo, its hosts, producers, or sponsors. Sponsors had no inpu…
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1 h 38
Meet the 2026 Council Candidates: Mark King, Justine Mallah & Randall Tilander
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by candidates on this program are their own and are not necessarily those of North Bay Echo, its hosts, producers, or sponsors. Sponsors had no inpu…
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1 h 11
Meet the 2026 Council Candidates: Dave Dale, Nathaniel Lachance & Lana Mitchell
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by candidates on this program are their own and are not necessarily those of North Bay Echo, its hosts, producers, or sponsors. Sponsors had no inpu…
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2 h 14
Mayoral Special - 2026 Municipal Election: Connor Currie, Maggie Horsfield & Jamie Lowery
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by candidates on this program are their own and are not necessarily those of North Bay Echo, its hosts, producers, or sponsors. Sponsors had no inpu…
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52 min
Gofer.Run: The Local App Changing How We Grocery Shop
In this episode of Echo Essentials, we take a closer look at a new piece of local tech that could change the way people shop for groceries.Eric Dion, co-founder of Gofer.Run, joins…
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54 min
Snowmobile Season in Northern Ontario: Safety, Tourism & Trail Challenges
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 Flind…
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56 min
North Bay’s Housing Development Boom: What Drove the 2025 Surge?
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…
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1 h 03
Dr. David Tabachnick: A Conversation on the State of Canadian, Ontario and International Politics
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…
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54 min
185 Years of Democracy Gone? How to Save Trustees in Public Education 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 p…
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58 min
Inside North Bay’s Homelessness and Housing Issues with Councillor Mark King
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 Dis…
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52 min
MADD Nipissing and the Ongoing Fight Against Impaired Driving
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 dow…
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1 h 02
Let’s Remember Adam: The Push to Make Drivers Stop for School Buses
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 h…
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1 h 01
Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield on FONOM, Centennial and What 2026 Looks Like for North Bay
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 beyo…
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58 min
The Stories That Shaped Politics in 2025 with Dr David Tabachnik
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 scien…
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48 min
No One Alone on Christmas Day: What Happens When You Open the Doors to Everyone
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…
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1 h 13
Who Speaks for Our Schools Now? A Former Trustee's Take on the Near North Shakeup
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, removin…
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49 min
Fighting for PADDLE When the Province Looks Away
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, a…