In the media tremor that has shaken 98.5 FM for several months, Patrick Lagacé has found a major ally in Sylvain Chamberland, a true pillar of the Quebec media.
During an exclusive interview with Hockey30 hosted by David Garel, the founder and CEO of Arsenal Media unequivocally defended Lagacé in the face of the numerous controversies surrounding his rise to power at the head of the most listened to morning show in Quebec.
Patrick Lagacé must have had shivers down his spine watching this video clip:
Sylvain Chamberland is no novice when it comes to navigating the murky waters of the media. With an impressive background – news director for TVA, -, and vice-president of Quebecor Media – and a network including 26 radio stations across Quebec, Chamberland embodies authority and credibility.
His words, especially in a context as polarized as that of 98.5 FM, resonate like a cry for objectivity.
“I can swear to you one thing, it is that in terms of management, there is no decision where, not only was Lagacé involved, he did not even ask for his opinion.
People talk through their hats. And I can tell you that Cogeco is not the tail that wags the dog.”
During this captivating interview, Chamberland not only brushed aside the rumors, but also provided a lucid analysis of the tensions that marked the year 2024 within Cogeco Media’s flagship station.
Since the controversial dismissals of Pierre-Yves McSween and MC Gilles, Patrick Lagacé has been accused by several observers and Internet users of having maneuvered behind the scenes to eliminate those who are now described as his “enemies”.
Sylvain Chamberland categorically refutes these accusations.
According to him, Patrick Lagacé has no decision-making power over hiring or dismissals at 98.5 FM. Chamberland knows Cogeco’s leaders very well, and he assures us that these decisions were made for strategic, not personal, reasons.
According to Chamberland, the tensions between Lagacé and McSween were real – a fact he does not deny – but they were not the driving force behind management’s decisions.
According to him, it’s easy to blame Patrick because he became the face of 98.5 after Paul Arcand. But believing that he orchestrated these departures is fiction. We must distinguish human conflicts from corporate decisions.
Should we believe him given that he is very close to the managers of Cogeco and that he is part of the small radio world? It will be up to the public to decide.
As for MC Gilles, Chamberland admits that his ouster was poorly managed, but insists that it responded to a desire to reposition the content of the show, and not to any personal agenda of Lagacé.
Another controversy emerged around Jessica Leblanc, partner of Patrick Lagacé, accused by some of having obtained her position as columnist thanks to her relationship with the star host.
Here again, Sylvain Chamberland steps up to the plate, recalling that Pierre-Yves McSween’s partner, Geneviève Pettersen, works at 98.5 FM, which contradicts the rumors of romantic favoritism.
Here is the video extract where Chamberland defends Lagacé’s blonde tooth and nail.
So these rumors are deeply unfair?
Is it therefore wrong to reduce the hiring of Lagacé’s blonde to her relationship with Patrick?
Chamberland also deplores the impact of these rumors on the public image of Lagacé, who saw his reputation damaged by a year filled with controversy.
According to Chamberland, people forget that Patrick is first and foremost a professional. He does not direct the programming. He hosts a show which, despite falling ratings, remains number one. This deserves to be highlighted.
Thanks to Chamberland, 2025 could be the year of renewal for Patrick Lagacé. Far from dwelling on the controversies, Chamberland sees in Lagacé a major asset for the station, capable of meeting the challenges posed by the retirement of Paul Arcand.
Lagacé has inherited huge shoes to fill. Is he Paul Arcand? No. But he never claimed to be. What he brings is a different perspective, a unique energy and an ability to capture a younger audience.
Chamberland also believes that the turbulence of the past few months, while intense, will ultimately strengthen the station.
A station like 98.5 FM goes through periods of transition. What matters is to continue to innovate and listen to your audience. Patrick Lagacé, despite everything that can be said, remains an asset for this.
Sylvain Chamberland’s intervention comes at the right time for Patrick Lagacé and his wife. In a time where criticism is coming from all sides, having the support of such a respected figure in the industry is a blessing.
Let’s say that the couple was saved “at the last minute” before the end of 2024.
Chamberland offers Lagacé and his girlfriend not only a public defense, but also validation of their role and importance within the station.
98.5 FM, despite its first place in the polls, faces major challenges: restoring its credibility, winning back its most critical listeners, and easing internal tensions.
Patrick Lagacé, although at the center of controversy, remains a key figure for the station.
With the support of leaders like Sylvain Chamberland, it seems that the path to reconstruction is still possible.
But one thing is certain: the future of 98.5 FM will depend on its ability to overcome these crises and rediscover what made it great – a quality radio station, respected by its listeners and its employees.
In a context where the station is experiencing one of the most significant crises in its history, Sylvain Chamberland, CEO of Arsenal Media, is doing them a great service by debunking rumors and allegations of collusion.
Chamberland insists that personnel decisions at 98.5 FM are solely the responsibility of management, not the hosts or columnists.
He categorically refutes the idea that Jessica Leblanc, Lagacé’s current partner, or Marie-Ève Tremblay, his ex who is in charge of the show from 10 a.m. to noon, have benefited from any preferential treatment.
For Chamberland, Patrick Lagacé is the easy target of a hyperpolarized media climate. By taking over from Paul Arcand, an icon of Quebec radio, Lagacé found himself in the spotlight in a way that amplified every decision, every word, and every rumor.
Same thing for Jessica Leblanc. By being Patrick Lagacé’s sweetheart, she finds herself a thousand times more in the public eye
Replacing Paul Arcand is like taking Maurice Richard’s place in the Canadian locker room. No matter what you do, people will compare and judge you more harshly.
Jessica Leblanc is therefore the lover of modern-day Maurice Richard.
Chamberland also strongly rejected allegations of collusion involving Lagacé and Philippe Cantin.
98.5 FM has weathered storms in the past, and has always recovered. But to move forward, we will have to learn lessons from this crisis and reaffirm the values that have made the station successful: respect, integrity, and excellence.
In the meantime, we can bet that Patrick Lagacé and his partner are less anxious today.
