North Bay sure has spread out since i was last there. Compared to Toronto and even here in Belleville where houses seem to be much closer together Nice seeing your old home town. Thanks for the memories. Stay safe.
@ 8:15 - My beloved library. One of the better public libraries I've known in my life. I haunted that place as soon as it went up. By the way - Oct. 4 2021 is exactly 70 years after I was born - in the hospital up on the hill (Civic). We moved away before my first birthday (Haileybury and New Liskeard) and then came back when I was 8. One thing that really strikes me - is how much of the pavement, sidewalks, roads - are the same as they were when I left town in 1967. That is some ancient and solid infrastructure. It's sort of freaky - because looking at it makes me feel like I'm in a time machine. I put in thousands of miles over the years on these roads, on my trusty CCM Supercycle. Solid red frame with white fenders. One gear, and ball bearings to die for. That thing was a beast, but once you got it up to speed, it could coast forever, to the moon and back. There was a posture - right hip thrown sideways, right leg up, left leg straight down, left hand on the left hip, thumb in the belt loop, right hand on the handlebar light as butterfly wingtips, cruisin' mode. It was all classic, and it was style. Like Kirk Douglas on a mustang pony. That Supercycle came from the Canadian Tire on Cassells Street. Summer between grade five and grade six. I was a restless ten - and that thing was my freedom machine. Instant go anywhere at any time for any reason. Though it went away no later than Halloween (I can't quite remember where, probably down our basement) and didn't usually come out again until Easter. By the way - the old original City Hall had an air raid siren horn on the roof. I recall in grade five, discussing with my father (who had worked in Chalk River for a spell) the purpose of that horn. That one and the real tall one up on a tower near the medical arts building just before the by-pass on Algonquin. Had one year of real lousy dreams about those two horns, and then just sort of forgot about them for while (until the fools in New York City started to refer to the ruins of two tall towers as "ground zero." in 2001.) Hell. Because of SAGE, we lived on top of Ground Zero for years, when we were kids. That was a pretty iconic mural on the side of what was the old Capitol Theatre (where the original screen would have been). That long walk approaching the twin spires of the old catholic cathedral. A house somewhere right around there was where I came home to after being born. I'm not sure, but somewhere close to the second last home you pointed out - thought I recognized Memorial Gardens in the distance. And it really tugged at me. I remember shortcutting a thousand times or more through that tunnel by the CNR station. Loved taking trains out of there. Funny thing. I only lived in North Bay for seven years and a bit (having moved away at age 8 or 9 months or so, until almost 9 years old, and then departing for good at age 16.) But those 7 years left a lasting impression upon me. So many of these reflections are memory exercises, because I'm literally going back somewhere between 55 and 62 years back. That's a lot to ask of those memory cells at the drop of a hat. Had to laugh though - on so many of the side streets - all that free parking! (I live in Toronto). 'nuff said. This particular walk reminded me of the last time I came to North Bay for an extended visit, summer of 2014, and got together with one of my good buddies from way back when, and we did just what you're doing here. Walked around, reminisced, told stories, reminded each other of a thousand details, avoided certain topics like the plague, revisited old haunts, shot the breeze, and brought it all back until it felt like yesterday. I recall thinking at the time that it was a done deal. But no. Sometimes where people ask me what is this thing about my connection to my hometown, the answer comes pretty easy: it's where I learned to be free. Gotta admit. The only thing better than watching these videos would be taking the stroll in person (although I don't ambulate quite so quick these days). But I swear: if North Bay loomed on my horizon and presented me with a vintage Supercycle, I'd be sorely tempted to swing on board and do the rounds. Only I wouldn't be traveling at Mach 4 the way I used to. Now it would just be some kind of wheeled sashay, a kind of slow and smooth foxtrot, a lowdown chug. And I wouldn't be surprised if the asphalt and the pavement rippled like a patted cat and said, "Hot damn! What are YOU doing back here?" I always liked to think the old town never forgot, and the feeling is mutual. Last but not least: A powerful thing, isn't it? To gaze upon windows you once looked out from. To turn corners that own a thousand memories. Up and down stairways, hallways and trailways. As if time is a circle and defined by nothing bigger than a village.
Hi Ken. Great walk today, I enjoyed it. Your old apartments looks nice in Northbay, Ontario on a sunny day 🌞. Can't wait to see more tomorrow have a great day. Your hometown Northbay, Ontario. Looks beautiful on a sunny autumn 🍂 day. 😀❤
Ken, I really enjoyed going down memory lane and visiting all the places you lived in. It was so cool, thank you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!👍🎃💒🏢🏬🏨😀
A great nostalgia walk to revisit places from the past. I'm sure it brought back memories for you. The mural with all the Canadian music icons was amazing and I recognized 95% of the artist depicted.
I discovered your walks a couple days ago and just want to tell you how much I enjoy walking along with you. My hometown is also North Bay. I'm hoping you go down the 900 block on Hammond St.
Great video as always Ken... Thanks for bringing back some memories I have of living in North Bay when I was at Canadore College. Actually at 1:29 in your video as you looked down John street, I could see the house on the next block where i rented a bachelor aparment at 594 Main Street for my second year of college. I still remember the Wink store accross the street (now a Circle K).
Thank you Ken , always fun to walk down memory lane , I’ve moved around a lot myself , lived in different countries and different US states , Happy Thanksgiving xoxo
First! Thanks for sharing some of the highlights and lowlights of your hometown, I've never been to North Bay, but passed just west of the city on a family trip out west when I was a kid sitting in the very back of the family station wagon making gestures at the following motorists. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for the tour of North Bay I used to watch a guy that lives there and he was always posting videos of the city on his channel. You lived in a lot of places. I lived in four houses so far two in Calgary one in Chilliwack and now in Okotoks just out of Calgary
Thanks for showing us some of your former life! I’ve seen your apartment tour with George the cat (RIP) but I assumed that was from your current place in Toronto, didn’t know George was a northern cat, lol!
@@TheKenContinuum really? I am 56...geeze we spent a few of the same years there, heheh, wonder if we ever passed each other or anything, although I always lived in Ferris and it seems you lived across the overpass, so maybe not. Still interesting though.
![50 Old Pictures of North Bay Ontario Canada [ Episode # 86 ]](/img/n.gif)
North Bay sure has spread out since i was last there. Compared to Toronto and even here in Belleville where houses seem to be much closer together Nice seeing your old home town. Thanks for the memories. Stay safe.
Thanks, Vivian!
Great revisiting your previous residences. Thanks for recording these North Bay episodes during your vacation...🇨🇦
Sure thing, Steve!
Thank you Ken, I'm really enjoying this video. North Bay seems to be very nice and chill. Also very clean. Good vibes overall
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thx Ken for this wonderful tour. That was real fun to go with you down your memory lane. Thank you so much for sharing.
My pleasure, Brigitte!
Ken,the city looks so quiet and peaceful
Thank you for showing my old Stomping Ground. I’m the former Tattoo Artist in North Bay from the 80’s and now been living in Thunder Bay since.
My pleasure, and right on!
@ 8:15 - My beloved library. One of the better public libraries I've known in my life. I haunted that place as soon as it went up.
By the way - Oct. 4 2021 is exactly 70 years after I was born - in the hospital up on the hill (Civic). We moved away before my first birthday (Haileybury and New Liskeard) and then came back when I was 8.
One thing that really strikes me - is how much of the pavement, sidewalks, roads - are the same as they were when I left town in 1967. That is some ancient and solid infrastructure.
It's sort of freaky - because looking at it makes me feel like I'm in a time machine. I put in thousands of miles over the years on these roads, on my trusty CCM Supercycle. Solid red frame with white fenders. One gear, and ball bearings to die for. That thing was a beast, but once you got it up to speed, it could coast forever, to the moon and back.
There was a posture - right hip thrown sideways, right leg up, left leg straight down, left hand on the left hip, thumb in the belt loop, right hand on the handlebar light as butterfly wingtips, cruisin' mode. It was all classic, and it was style. Like Kirk Douglas on a mustang pony.
That Supercycle came from the Canadian Tire on Cassells Street. Summer between grade five and grade six. I was a restless ten - and that thing was my freedom machine. Instant go anywhere at any time for any reason. Though it went away no later than Halloween (I can't quite remember where, probably down our basement) and didn't usually come out again until Easter.
By the way - the old original City Hall had an air raid siren horn on the roof. I recall in grade five, discussing with my father (who had worked in Chalk River for a spell) the purpose of that horn.
That one and the real tall one up on a tower near the medical arts building just before the by-pass on Algonquin. Had one year of real lousy dreams about those two horns, and then just sort of forgot about them for while (until the fools in New York City started to refer to the ruins of two tall towers as "ground zero." in 2001.) Hell. Because of SAGE, we lived on top of Ground Zero for years, when we were kids.
That was a pretty iconic mural on the side of what was the old Capitol Theatre (where the original screen would have been).
That long walk approaching the twin spires of the old catholic cathedral. A house somewhere right around there was where I came home to after being born.
I'm not sure, but somewhere close to the second last home you pointed out - thought I recognized Memorial Gardens in the distance.
And it really tugged at me. I remember shortcutting a thousand times or more through that tunnel by the CNR station. Loved taking trains out of there.
Funny thing. I only lived in North Bay for seven years and a bit (having moved away at age 8 or 9 months or so, until almost 9 years old, and then departing for good at age 16.)
But those 7 years left a lasting impression upon me. So many of these reflections are memory exercises, because I'm literally going back somewhere between 55 and 62 years back.
That's a lot to ask of those memory cells at the drop of a hat. Had to laugh though - on so many of the side streets - all that free parking! (I live in Toronto). 'nuff said.
This particular walk reminded me of the last time I came to North Bay for an extended visit, summer of 2014, and got together with one of my good buddies from way back when, and we did just what you're doing here. Walked around, reminisced, told stories, reminded each other of a thousand details, avoided certain topics like the plague, revisited old haunts, shot the breeze, and brought it all back until it felt like yesterday. I recall thinking at the time that it was a done deal. But no.
Sometimes where people ask me what is this thing about my connection to my hometown, the answer comes pretty easy: it's where I learned to be free.
Gotta admit. The only thing better than watching these videos would be taking the stroll in person (although I don't ambulate quite so quick these days).
But I swear: if North Bay loomed on my horizon and presented me with a vintage Supercycle, I'd be sorely tempted to swing on board and do the rounds.
Only I wouldn't be traveling at Mach 4 the way I used to. Now it would just be some kind of wheeled sashay, a kind of slow and smooth foxtrot, a lowdown chug. And I wouldn't be surprised if the asphalt and the pavement rippled like a patted cat and said, "Hot damn! What are YOU doing back here?" I always liked to think the old town never forgot, and the feeling is mutual.
Last but not least: A powerful thing, isn't it? To gaze upon windows you once looked out from. To turn corners that own a thousand memories. Up and down stairways, hallways and trailways. As if time is a circle and defined by nothing bigger than a village.
Thanks for the awesome trip down memory lane!
Hi Ken. Great walk today, I enjoyed it. Your old apartments looks nice in Northbay, Ontario on a sunny day 🌞. Can't wait to see more tomorrow have a great day. Your hometown Northbay, Ontario. Looks beautiful on a sunny autumn 🍂 day. 😀❤
Thanks, Michelle!
Ken, I really enjoyed going down memory lane and visiting all the places you lived in. It was so cool, thank you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!👍🎃💒🏢🏬🏨😀
Thanks, you too!
A great nostalgia walk to revisit places from the past. I'm sure it brought back memories for you.
The mural with all the Canadian music icons was amazing and I recognized 95% of the artist depicted.
Yes indeed, and yeah, that mural was great!
I discovered your walks a couple days ago and just want to tell you how much I enjoy walking along with you. My hometown is also North Bay. I'm hoping you go down the 900 block on Hammond St.
Glad you enjoyed the walk! I'm back in Toronto now, but next time I'm in NB i'll try to do a walk around that area.
Awesome! 🔥🔥🔥🔥 I love this!
Good evening it’s so quiet in North bay 🙏🏽💙great video
Thank you!
This looks like a nice place to love in! Thank’s for the tour! TC! 🖐
You're welcome!
TheKenContinuum ops! I mean LIVE in not love in😊
Great video as always Ken... Thanks for bringing back some memories I have of living in North Bay when I was at Canadore College. Actually at 1:29 in your video as you looked down John street, I could see the house on the next block where i rented a bachelor aparment at 594 Main Street for my second year of college. I still remember the Wink store accross the street (now a Circle K).
Cool cool, Ian! Ah yes, Winks!
Thank you Ken , always fun to walk down memory lane , I’ve moved around a lot myself , lived in different countries and different US states , Happy Thanksgiving xoxo
Thanks again, Monica!
First! Thanks for sharing some of the highlights and lowlights of your hometown, I've never been to North Bay, but passed just west of the city on a family trip out west when I was a kid sitting in the very back of the family station wagon making gestures at the following motorists. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks, Mark. Happy Thanksgiving!
I LOVE the wall of Canadians, especially Buffy Sainte-Marie. The artist did a great job on all the portraits, I recognize most of them.
Yeah, I loved it, too!
Thanks for the tour of North Bay I used to watch a guy that lives there and he was always posting videos of the city on his channel. You lived in a lot of places. I lived in four houses so far two in Calgary one in Chilliwack and now in Okotoks just out of Calgary
My pleasure!
Peaceful town enjoy Ken.
Thanks, Alvaro!
What a cute small place.
Thanks, Tara!
Awesome!
Thanks for showing us some of your former life! I’ve seen your apartment tour with George the cat (RIP) but I assumed that was from your current place in Toronto, didn’t know George was a northern cat, lol!
haha Yep, he was.
Imaginative description of North Bay City Hall. LOL
haha
I think 9:11 white building looks very nice. To me, it looks more like a space ship.
haha The Council Chamber!
Living in North Bay my entire life I have never heard of city called that 😆🤣
hah Really?
I live in North Bay on Trout Lake Road ☺️
Cool cool, I used to live in Birchaven as a little kid.
Nostalgia is sometimes terible thing.
Aren’t there people in it please?ken.Thanks
haha Yes, there are people!
How old are you Ken?
52 years!
@@TheKenContinuum really? I am 56...geeze we spent a few of the same years there, heheh, wonder if we ever passed each other or anything, although I always lived in Ferris and it seems you lived across the overpass, so maybe not. Still interesting though.
🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦❤❤❤❤
The strippers used to stay at the Sands. Sketchy af...but they girlies were cute.
haha Indeed.