This Friday, June 14, it was with emotion and in good company that Paul Arcand ended his career as a radio host, after 34 years at the helm of a morning show.
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For this latest edition of Since you have to get up, the conductor of the most listened to show in Canada has not put on his hosting hat. Alain Crête instead led the charge, introducing the many speakers invited to pay tribute to the “king of the airwaves”.
Ben Pelosse / JdeM
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Recorded in front of an audience of around a hundred people, who gave him a warm ovation at 10 a.m., the show allowed Paul Arcand to come full circle surrounded by the most significant people of his career.
“For the last two weeks, it’s been too much. You managed to pierce my shell and shake me quite a bit,” admitted the 64-year-old man in his acceptance speech.
A civic duty
Ben Pelosse / JdeM
A few minutes after saying goodbye to the morning microphone, Paul Arcand was relaxed, but still blown away by the wave of love he received.
“I can understand that I’m breaking a habit that people have had for a long time, but I never thought I would have this reaction,” he admitted in an interview with The newspaper. I say it as a joke, but I’m not dead!”
“What I will miss is the direct contact with people, but above all the team spirit. You don’t do radio for that long if there’s no chemistry. This part will be harder to wean.”
Assuring that he is not retiring and that he will increase his projects in the coming years, Paul Arcand wishes to leave as his legacy a love of current affairs and Quebec culture.
“French-speaking content will always have a clientele,” he maintained. The duty of Quebecers is to take an interest in important subjects. The more informed you are, the more you are an active citizen, a citizen who plays a role. I think we should never give up.”
Rain of tributes
“We wouldn’t do that for just anyone at four in the morning,” said Pierre-Yves McSween, economic columnist at 98.5 FM since 2015, during this ultimate broadcast.
Several distinguished guests left a message to testify to the impact of Paul Arcand on their lives and the media landscape, including Céline Dion, Jacques Villeneuve and Mikaël Kingsbury.
The great Yvon Deschamps, laughing, wished the famous host to achieve serenity. “Life is going to be pretty boring,” he joked. That does not make any sense. There are good sides: you’ll be able to hang out in bed until 5:30 a.m.!”
A message left by his biggest rival in the morning time slot, Patrick Masbourian, also sowed hilarity in the studio on rue De La Gauchetière Ouest.
“Congratulations for this spectacular career,” he praised. Thanks for leaving, I’m so happy. Do you know how long Radio-Canada hosts have been waiting for this day?
For her part, journalist Monic Néron delivered a vibrant plea on the place that Paul Arcand reserved for women in Since you have to get up. “You are a monument of our media heritage,” she underlined.
The native of Saint-Hyacinthe, formerly of CKAC, joined 98.5 FM in 2004.
Paul Arcand and Since you have to get up will be replaced by Weary in the morning, program piloted by columnist Patrick Lagacé, starting this fall.
Ben Pelosse / JdeM
