The Backroads Bill Podcast

How Two YouTubers Document Northern Ontario's Wilderness

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, canoe tripping, and exploring Northern Ontario grew into a successful YouTube channel that inspires thousands of outdoor enthusiasts. From Lake Superior and Killarney to the French River and Wabakimi, they discuss some of their favourite adventures, the challenges of filming in remote locations, and what it takes to capture the beauty of the wilderness on camera. We also talk about camping lessons learned the hard way, winter adventures, backcountry travel, and how Jay creates original music for their videos, giving each story a unique personal touch. Find Jay and Sherri's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@beautyofthebackcountry  0:00 – How Beauty of the Backcountry Began 9:37 – Favourite Canoe Routes in Northern Ontario 13:42 – The Power of Lake Superior 16:40 – Essential Backcountry Camping Tips 29:26 – Creating Original Music for YouTube Videos

Mining Industry Helps Canadian Ecology Centre

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 career paths it offers.   The mining sector issues a challenge to help the environmental education centre. Our guest is 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. 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