Episodes

  • Ignace: From Fading Town to Future Hub

    Ignace: From Fading Town to Future Hub
    Mar 27 2026
    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 supported by forestry, mining, and tourism, Ignace has seen its population decline and its economy slow in recent years. With mills closing and opportunities becoming harder to find, the town found itself at a crossroads. That changed when Ignace was selected as the host community for Canada’s proposed deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel, a project that could bring billions in investment, new jobs, and long-term stability.

    We’re joined by Jake Pastore to talk about how the community approached the decision, the years of education and public consultation involved, and what it took to earn support from residents and local First Nations partners.

    We also explore what comes next, from new housing and infrastructure to the construction of a major research and operations facility that could reshape Ignace for generations.
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    49 mins
  • The Wawa Runestone: Northern Ontario’s Newest Archaeological Mystery

    The Wawa Runestone: Northern Ontario’s Newest Archaeological Mystery
    Mar 18 2026
    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 Johanna Rowe joins the show to talk about the discovery of the Wawa Runestone, a rock carving hidden in the bush that contains more than 250 characters written in runic script.

    Johanna walks us through how the discovery first came to light, the process of bringing archaeologists and language experts into the investigation, and the years of careful research that followed.

    Find out more here: https://www.ocare.ca/

    0:00 – The Wawa Runestone Discovery
    4:37 – First Seeing the Carvings
    9:51 – Translating the Runic Message
    17:02 – Who Might Have Carved It?
    31:36 – Why the Discovery Matters
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    39 mins
  • From the Australian Outback to Ontario’s Ice Roads

    From the Australian Outback to Ontario’s Ice Roads
    Mar 11 2026
    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 passing through Northern Ontario after filming on the winter roads along the James Bay coast.

    Known for hauling freight across the harsh landscapes of Australia, Sludge found himself facing a completely different challenge: driving heavy trucks through deep cold, snow, and ice in the far north.

    In this conversation, Sludge shares how he first became part of the long-running television series, what it was like trading Australia’s heat for temperatures below –30°C, and how the winter road system compares to the remote dirt roads he knows so well from the Outback.

    We also hear about the people he met along the way, the culture of trucking across different parts of the world, and why Northern Ontario left such a strong impression on him.

    0:00 – Introducing Sludge from Outback Truckers
    3:21 – How Sludge Got Started on the TV Series
    9:58 – Experiencing Northern Ontario’s Extreme Cold
    14:43 – Ice Roads vs Australian Outback Driving
    20:21 – Northern Lights & Final Reflections from the North
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    24 mins
  • Creating Snowshoe Art on the Back Roads with Kim Asmussen

    Creating Snowshoe Art on the Back Roads with Kim Asmussen
    Mar 4 2026
    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, Kim uses snowshoes and wide open winter landscapes to create massive geometric designs and images in the snow that can only truly be appreciated from above Kim shares how a simple idea turned into a unique form of outdoor art.

    What started with one triangle in a schoolyard has grown into intricate patterns across frozen lakes and fields. Using tape measures, compasses, and careful planning, he walks out designs step by step in deep snow before capturing the final work with drone photography.

    Find out more about Kim on socials:

    https://www.facebook.com/kim.asmussen.779
    https://www.instagram.com/snowshoeartguy/


    0:00 – Introducing the Snowshoe Art Guy
    3:58 – How Snowshoe Art Began
    11:07 – The Perfect Conditions for Snow Art
    18:07 – Creating Art in Grass for the PGA
    21:32 – From Forestry to Snowshoe Artist
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    32 mins
  • Where Will Students Learn Best? Outdoor Experiential Learning in Canada

    Where Will Students Learn Best? Outdoor Experiential Learning in Canada
    Feb 26 2026
    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 Canada. It brings together educators from across the country to share how they are taking learning beyond the classroom and into the real world.

    Kevin and Tim share their own stories, from childhood adventures in rivers and mountains to years spent teaching students outside. What comes through clearly is that outdoor learning is not a trend. It is something that sticks with you. The experiences students have outside often become the lessons they remember most.

    Learn more about their book here: https://canadianscholars.ca/book/outdoor-experiential-learning-in-canada/

    0:00 – Intro
    5:05 – Kevin’s Outdoor Education Journey
    11:08 – How the Book Came Together
    18:29 – Outdoor Learning Across Canada
    32:25 – The Book’s Legacy & What’s Next
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    48 mins
  • From the Back Roads to the Classroom: Why Trustees Matter

    From the Back Roads to the Classroom: Why Trustees Matter
    Feb 18 2026
    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 elected by their neighbours to help guide budgets, set direction, and serve as the voice between families and the education system. It is a role built on community service, not politics. With several boards now under provincial supervision and possible changes ahead, the future of elected trustees in Ontario is uncertain.

    We’re joined by Stephanie Donaldson of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, and a former trustee herself, to talk about what trustees actually do, why they matter, and what could be lost if those local voices disappear.


    6:47 – What School Board Trustees Actually Do
    11:05 – Bill 33 and Expanded Ministerial Powers
    17:42 – Public Response and What People Can Do
    25:49 – Leadership, Democracy & What’s at Stake
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    33 mins
  • Diana Beresford-Kroeger: Where Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science

    Diana Beresford-Kroeger: Where Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science
    Feb 11 2026
    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 up in Ireland and having ancient wisdom passed down to her. She then studied to become a scientist with two PhDs who has spent decades studying the chemistry of trees and their direct connection to human health.

    She explains how the forests do far more than provide beauty and oxygen. Trees release natural compounds into the air that support our immune systems, protect our bodies, and quite literally help us breathe easier.

    0:00 Intro
    4:47 Childhood Visions and Early Connection to Trees
    18:29 The Science: How Tree Aerosols Impact Human Health
    29:46 Cutting Through Wellness Noise with Real Science
    39:21 One Tree a Year: A Global Call to Action
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    43 mins
  • Making Science Make Sense: A Conversation with Dr David Pearson

    Making Science Make Sense: A Conversation with Dr David Pearson
    Feb 4 2026
    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. David Pearson. Dr. Pearson was the founding Director at Science North and a longtime professor at Laurentian University.

    We dive into science communication and it's importance, the importance of science centers like Science North, and how making science fun and hands on will help inspire the next generation of scientists.

    00:03 Meet Dr. David Pearson
    06:34 Sudbury’s Regreening Success
    12:16 How Science North Got Started
    24:13 Teaching Climate Change Early
    41:10 Creating the Science Communication Master’s Program
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    52 mins