{"podcast":{"title":"The Backroads Bill Podcast","slug":"the-backroads-bill-podcast-6610086","podcast_index_feed_id":6610086,"rss_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/show/5953946/episodes/feed","website_url":"https://www.northbayecho.ca/podcast/backroads-bill/","image_url":"https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/085f740ac769593a44f65afbc07733ac.jpg","author":"North Bay Echo","episode_count":150,"summary":"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 Communications","last_synced_at":"2026-07-24T02:20:20.014224+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-backroads-bill-podcast-6610086"},"episode":{"title":"From the Back Roads to the Classroom: Why Trustees Matter","slug":"from-the-back-roads-to-the-classroom-why-trustees-matter","published_at":"2026-02-18T18:13:23+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-backroads-bill-podcast-6610086/from-the-back-roads-to-the-classroom-why-trustees-matter","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-backroads-bill-podcast-6610086","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/from-the-back-roads-to-the-classroom-why-trustees-matter--70135315","audio_url":"https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70135315/brb_stephanie_donaldson_audio.mp3","summary":"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","meta_description":"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. Sc…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1983,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-backroads-bill-podcast-6610086/episodes/from-the-back-roads-to-the-classroom-why-trustees-matter/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-backroads-bill-podcast-6610086/from-the-back-roads-to-the-classroom-why-trustees-matter.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}