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The Backroads Bill Podcast

The Backroads Bill Podcast

Written by: North Bay Echo
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About this listen

 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_bill

and on Twitter: @steertonorthONT


For the video version of this episode or to explore more North Bay podcasts and to stay updated on local events and news go to NorthBayEcho.ca.

For exclusive North Bay updates and insights, subscribe to our newsletter Echo Essentials.

Stay connected with Echo on social media: @NorthBayEcho



Production Credits:

Host: Backroads Bill

Producer: Ben Sargent

Produced by Clark CommunicationsCopyright North Bay Echo World
Episodes
  • From Backyard Experiments to Cult Classic: The Making of Project Grizzly

    From Backyard Experiments to Cult Classic: The Making of Project Grizzly
    Jan 21 2026
    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 backyard has become a cult documentary with a lasting place in Canadian film history.

    In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, filmmaker Peter Lynch reflects on making Project Grizzly, working alongside Troy Hurtubise, and capturing a story driven by obsession, curiosity, and risk.


    3:32 First meeting Troy Hurtubise and filming in his backyard
    7:25 Shaping Troy as a character and embracing obsession
    16:38 Quentin Tarantino discovers Project Grizzly
    29:49 Reflecting on Troy’s legacy and the film’s lasting impact
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Project Grizzly, Troy Hurtubise and the Obsession That Defined His Life

    Project Grizzly, Troy Hurtubise and the Obsession That Defined His Life
    Jan 14 2026
    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 featured in the film "Project Grizzly".

    In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we explore Troy’s story through the eyes of someone who knew him best, his son Brett. We talk about the obsession that drove him, the risks he took, and the line between genius and self-destruction.


    0:00 Introducing Troy Hurtubise and Project Grizzly
    5:23 Building and testing the bear suits
    14:27 Life after Project Grizzly and relentless invention
    26:57 Obsession, burnout, and the cost of never stopping
    44:20 Legacy, reflection, and what Troy left behind
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    51 mins
  • Trades, Creativity, and a Chocolate Factory Inside This Northern Ontario Public School

    Trades, Creativity, and a Chocolate Factory Inside This Northern Ontario Public School
    Jan 7 2026
    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 real skills, and even running a working chocolate factory.

    In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we step inside White Pines to explore how the school is rethinking education. Principal Jennifer Barbeau and former student Josh Sidwell share why hands on learning, creativity, and multiple pathways matter, especially in Northern Ontario where one size does not fit all.


    1:58 Why White Pines is rethinking traditional education
    7:25 Josh’s journey from student to site supervisor
    14:05 Indigenous culture and inclusion at White Pines
    23:23 Teaching business and entrepreneurship in trades
    38:29 The chocolate factory and school store story
    43:57 Why this school represents the future of education
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
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