How Mining Powers Northern Ontario's Economy and Future

How Mining Powers Northern Ontario's Economy and Future

Mining has helped shape Northern Ontario for generations, and it's continuing to create opportunities for communities across the region. In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we chat with Bryan Wilson, Senior Vice President of Operations, Ontario at Equinox Gold's Greenstone Mine. With nearly 40 years in the industry, Brian shares how mining has changed over the years, from advances in safety and technology to the growing demand for skilled workers. The conversation also 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 career paths it offers. 0:00 – Intro 6:53 – Modern Mining & Technology 13:28 – Mental Health in Mining 21:13 – Teachers Mining Tours 30:09 – Careers & Hiring in Mining

Charlie Angus on Democracy, Northern Ontario & Canada's Future

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 democracy, the North, and the future of Canada. After more than two decades representing Timmins–James Bay in Ottawa, Charlie reflects on the issues that defined his political career, from fighting for rural and northern communities to advocating for Indigenous rights, public accountability, and stronger democratic institutions. He shares stories from the road, lessons learned from representing one of Canada's largest ridings, and why Northern Ontario's voice remains as important as ever. 0:00 – Charlie Angus' Northern Ontario Journey 3:47 – The Adams Mine Battle 11:20 – Shannon Koostachin's Legacy 21:14 – Democracy in a Changing World 46:10 – The Future of Northern Ontario

Inside the Mind of a Young Piano Prodigy

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 story follows a gifted young pianist who leaves Toronto for New York City after earning the chance to study under a world-renowned mentor.  Christine takes us behind the scenes of writing the novel, including the years of research she devoted to understanding the mindset of professional musicians, the influence of legendary Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, and even taking piano lessons herself to better connect with the experience of performing music. Find "The Instrument Must Not Matter" and more here: https://christinefischerguy.com/books/ [https://christinefischerguy.com/books/] 0:00 – Intro 5:19 – Building a Piano Prodigy Character 14:31 – Burning an Entire Manuscript 22:14 – The Importance of Editors 32:06 – Taking Piano Lessons for the Novel

Living with Lyme Disease: One Northern Ontario Story

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 Lyme disease in Canada and the personal experience that changed his life forever. Justin shares his journey from being a healthy university athlete to suddenly dealing with debilitating neurological symptoms, chronic pain, fatigue, and years of unanswered medical questions. After being bounced between specialists and struggling to find answers, he was eventually diagnosed with Lyme disease, beginning a long and difficult road to recovery. We also dive into the science behind Lyme disease, how ticks spread infection, why early detection matters, and the challenges many patients still face when trying to access proper treatment and diagnosis. Justin explains how his own experience eventually led him to create Geneticks, a company focused on tick testing and helping people better understand their risk after exposure. Check out Justin's website: https://geneticks.ca/ 0:00 – Intro 3:31 – What Lyme Disease Actually Is 6:55 – From Athlete to Seriously Ill 10:18 – Finally Getting Diagnosed 16:05 – Turning His Experience Into a Business 24:29 – The Truth About the Bullseye Rash 29:07 – The Stigma Around Lyme Disease 33:39 – How Tick Testing Works

Inside the Environmental Battles Shaping Northern Ontario

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 four decades, North Watch has been involved in some of the region’s biggest environmental debates, from forestry and mining to landfill proposals, nuclear waste storage, and land use decisions that affect communities across the North . Brennain takes us through the origins of North Watch in the late 1980s, how the organization grew out of environmental and peace activism, and why public participation in environmental decision-making still matters today. 0:00 – Intro 3:40 – Climate Change & Younger Generations 11:43 – The Nuclear Waste Debate in Northern Ontario 20:30 – Why “NIMBY” Isn’t Fair 25:23 – The Risks of Nuclear Waste Storage 33:52 – The Adams Mine Landfill Controversy 38:07 – Why Environmental Advocacy Never Stops