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Bill Steer

Bill Steer

Back Roads Bill Steer is the founder and remains the GM of the Canadian Ecology Centre. He teaches part-time at Nipissing University (Schulich School of Education) and Canadore College. His features can be found across Village Media's Northern Ontario sites

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Recent Work by Bill

The last voyage: remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald 50 years on

The last voyage: remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald 50 years on

It has been 50 years since one of North America's most infamous maritime disasters—the sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald. Yet, questions remain unanswered and interest in its story continues to grow
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Robert Munsch and the girl who wrote back for 35 years

Robert Munsch and the girl who wrote back for 35 years

When eight-year-old Gah-Ning Tang wrote her first letter to children’s author Robert Munsch, she had no idea it would spark a lifelong friendship—and inspire one of his most beloved books
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Adventures on the Spanish River: Canoes, cabins and the Budd Car

Adventures on the Spanish River: Canoes, cabins and the Budd Car

Aboard a remote train in northern Ontario, a group of adventurers—young and old—embark on a journey that blends wilderness, history, and personal discovery along the Spanish River
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Exploring Ontario’s Spanish River: A backcountry canoeing gem

Exploring Ontario’s Spanish River: A backcountry canoeing gem

In northern Ontario, where water dominates the landscape, lies one of Canada’s most accessible yet wild canoe routes—the Spanish River. With its mix of history, scenery, and train-accessible drop points, it offers something for every level of paddler
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Why small town museums matter in preserving local heritage

Why small town museums matter in preserving local heritage

In a world where big city attractions dominate travel itineraries, a quiet revolution is taking place across northern Ontario—inside its humble, often overlooked, small-town museums
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Adam Shoalts returns to the wild to solve a 1910 Arctic enigma

Adam Shoalts returns to the wild to solve a 1910 Arctic enigma

In his latest gripping narrative, Canadian adventurer and bestselling author Adam Shoalts embarks on a journey to uncover the fate of a long-lost northern explorer who vanished without a trace more than a century ago
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How a small town put itself on the map—literally

How a small town put itself on the map—literally

Once an overlooked dot on the map, Hornepayne, Ontario is now proudly claiming its place as the geographic centre of Canada’s most populous province. Thanks to local efforts, visitors can now access this unique landmark with ease
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Hunting for yooperlites: A midnight adventure near Lake Superior

Hunting for yooperlites: A midnight adventure near Lake Superior

On a quiet back road near Lake Superior, something extraordinary happens after dark. Under ultraviolet light, ordinary-looking stones burst into fiery hues of orange and yellow. These are 'fire rocks'—a Canadian twist on the American-discovered 'yooperlites.' And they’re lighting up northern Ontario
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Exploring Ontario’s ghost parks: Forgotten beauty in the north

Exploring Ontario’s ghost parks: Forgotten beauty in the north

Tucked away in northeastern Ontario lie three 'ghost' provincial parks: Greenwater, Obatanga and The Shoals. Once bustling with campers and outdoor enthusiasts, these now-closed sites offer a unique glimpse into nature reclaiming its space
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Wolverine canoe legacy tied to outlaw biker and Oba Lake drug sting

Wolverine canoe legacy tied to outlaw biker and Oba Lake drug sting

In the heart of Northern Ontario lies a tale that blends wilderness adventure with organized crime — where canoes, bikers, and one of Canada's largest-ever drug busts intersected in the northern Ontario wilderness at Oba Lake
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