North Bay Sasquatch Conference Organizer Shares Family Investigation Journey

A new Sasquatch conference is making waves in North Bay, Ontario, and if the buzz from a recent podcast episode is any indication, this October event is shaping up to be something special for anyone who's ever looked into the trees and wondered what might be looking back. The Backros Build podcast recently sat down with Andrew McKeller, the man behind the upcoming North Bay Sasquatch Conference happening October 10th. The theme? "Bringing awareness and embracing reality." And based on the conversation, Andrew is the right person to carry that message. His journey into the Sasquatch world started the way it does for so many of us — books from the school library and stories passed down from family. Andrew's dad had his own encounters, including sightings as a teenager and another as an adult. Those stories lit a fire that eventually led Andrew and his father to start heading out into the woods together, doing what any curious researcher would do — gathering intel, learning the land, and paying attention to the patterns. It's that kind of generational curiosity that keeps this subject alive and moving forward. One of the most fascinating parts of the conversation came when Andrew opened up about the tactics he and his dad developed during their outings. They noticed that no matter how careful they were, the forest always seemed to know they were coming. Knocking sounds, distant movement — the signs were there. So they came up with a strategy. They'd walk down one side of a rocky hillside where activity seemed to spike, then loop back around and climb up the other side, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever was keeping tabs on them. It's the kind of fieldwork thinking that separates casual curiosity from serious investigation. Andrew also talked about his connection with Ontario Sasquatch and Peter Smith, who has become a familiar name in the Canadian research community. Ontario Sasquatch focuses on collecting reports — sightings, encounters, and experiences that just don't fit the usual explanations. Andrew mentioned a peanut butter jar as one of the more compelling pieces of physical evidence he's come across, and while he understands that's subjective, it's the kind of thing that keeps researchers digging. The podcast also touched on the broader picture. As Dr. Jane Goodall has pointed out, the notoriety of Sasquatch, Yeti, Bigfoot — whatever name you give them — stretches across every continent. These beings aren't just a North American phenomenon, and conferences like the one Andrew is organizing help bring that global conversation to a local stage. North Bay has a growing reputation in the Sasquatch community. Past guests on the show have included Kendo Keith, an Indigenous police chief who shared his own encounter, and Dr. Jonathan Pitt, who has presented on the subject at local events. The October 10th conference looks to continue that momentum and bring even more awareness to the area. If you're in Ontario or anywhere close enough to make the trip, this is one of those events worth marking on the calendar. Conferences like these are where researchers, witnesses, and the simply curious come together to share stories, swap evidence, and keep the conversation moving forward. Andrew McKeller and his team are putting in the work, and it shows. Definitely check out the full episode for the deeper dive into Andrew's story and the details on the conference. It's a conversation that captures exactly why this subject continues to capture imaginations — because the people involved aren't just chasing a myth. They're chasing something real to them, and they're not afraid to say it.