04:06
In a huge corridor at 800, rue De La Gauchetière Ouest, where the Cogeco studios are located, including those at 98.5, Paul Arcand looms on the horizon. He tries to appear relaxed, but we sense a certain excitement. In addition to my colleague Patrick Sanfaçon and me, a film crew follows him in order to immortalize the moment. “I feel like a political leader,” he tells us with a laugh.
04:12
He takes us into the studio where, normally, he presents his show Puisqu’il aussi se leva. But for this last one, it takes place in a large room specially designed to accommodate many guests. “I usually get up at 2:45 a.m. and after a shower and coffee, I check emails and texts. I also read La Presse , because it is already available. I then go to the station and read the other newspapers from 4 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. But this morning I don’t know anything about the roadmap. »
04:22
Paul Arcand makes a tour to greet his colleagues. In two and a quarter seconds, laughter bursts forth from all sides with Alain Crête, Sports columnist and faithful ally. Then he goes to Catherine Brisson, the cultural columnist. “You see, I’m all in black today,” she said, smiling. I am in mourning. »
04:40
Paul Arcand locks himself alone in a studio. Jessyka Dumulong, content producer for the show, joins him and says a few words to him. “Paul likes to control things,” says Alain Crête. He must hate this so much right now. »
04:45
The host enters the room transformed into a giant studio. The technical team as well as director Richard Marquis are doing microphone tests. Behind a large table, the researchers, Lise Lapointe, Émilie Côté and Frédéric Muckle, are already seated. The day before, they texted each other a lot, wondering if the others would be able to sleep.
05:03
There is great excitement in the room, which is increasingly filled with colleagues. Paul Arcand observes them. His look is sad. He gets up to greet his two sons who are present, Jean-Philippe and Guillaume.
05:21
The entire Since we must rise team is in place. Paul Arcand is supervised by Bénédicte Lebel, Marc Brière, Frédéric Labelle, Catherine Brisson, Esther Morin and Alain Crête. The latter two (as well as Lise Lapointe) are leaving 98.5 at the same time as the host.
05:26
Despite the presence of around fifty people, the tone drops. We’re getting ready to go on air. Paul Arcand jokes with his colleagues. There is no doubt, a very strong bond unites this team.
05:30
The director sends the show callsign. Alain Crête is the host of this ultimate show. Paul Arcand must agree to be guided. “I haven’t known what to do since recently,” he said. I turn around. » Then he says: “I would like to ask the Montreal Fire Department to let us finish the show. » Everyone bursts out laughing. The tone is set. This goodbye will be as funny as it is moving.
05:41
After a first testimony from Luc Dionne, we present a parody of the song La jour du check by Plume Latraverse which becomes La jour de la retirement. Roland Barbier, director of the Hochelaga Community Center, comes to express his pride in having Paul Arcand as an ambassador for the organization Opération sous zero, which aims to provide winter coats to underprivileged children.
06:01
Esther Morin does a press review which allows you to discover the major events that Paul Arcand experienced as a host and journalist. The Oka crisis, the ice crisis, the September 11 attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic and, the tragedy that most marked it, that of Polytechnique. “My son Guillaume was born during this period. I remember that at Sainte-Justine, they took away the baby blankets so that we wouldn’t know who were the boys and who were the girls. There were security guards everywhere. »
06:28
After the testimonies of Richard Châteauvert and Fabrice de Pierrebourg, Catherine Brisson presents a list of songs that Paul Arcand particularly likes. His choice is eclectic. We discover that he found Émile Proulx-Cloutier “intense” at first and is now an admirer.
06:41
It’s time for the famous enigma. The team had the good idea of asking Laurent Laforêt, an auditor and great champion of this event, to read two riddles. Paul Arcand gives a poor performance to the delight of his colleagues.
06:50
Élisabeth Crête and Frédéric Labelle look back at some of their columns on social media. Frédéric Labelle says that when he started with Paul Arcand, he was so nervous that he only ate soup and soda biscuits. Then one day, the host called him Fred. A huge weight was lifted from the shoulders of the young columnist.
07:01
The room is now almost full. About a hundred people crowded there. I see Patrick Lagacé, Pierre-Yves McSween, Jocelyne Cazin, Bernard Drainville, Mario Cecchini, Caroline Proulx, Louis Lacroix and Jonathan Trudeau. A testimony is heard from Claire Samson. “Take good care of your spouse. She’s very nice and she’s obviously very patient. » These words make Annick Mongeau smile, sitting in the room.
07:33
A segment is devoted to those who have the difficult task of presenting the daily political chronicle in front of Paul Arcand. To all honor, we begin with a montage of the colorful expressions of Jean Lapierre. “I think of him every day,” says Paul Arcand. Marie-Anne, the daughter of the ex-columnist and politician, ensures her presence. We also hear the most recent ones, Louis Lacroix, Jonathan Trudeau and Bernard Drainville. The latter told Arcand that, to highlight the role he played in the Frenchization of newcomers, he could entrust him with a class, perhaps even a school. “I know, you’ll take anyone,” Arcand replies bluntly, causing general hilarity in the room.
07:43
After a testimony from Céline Dion, which provokes a lot of reactions, we welcome Pierre-Yves McSween. The financial columnist plays the game of numerology with Arcand. Raynald Brière, the boss who recruited Arcand around thirty years ago at the time of CJMS, then CKAC, recalls that the “king of the airwaves” was not very good at the start. But through hard work and perseverance, he captured the crown.
07:50
Patrick Masbourian, the host of Tout un matin, on Ici Première, gives a hilarious testimony. “Do you know how many years Radio-Canada morning hosts have been hoping for this day? Thank you from the heart ! »
07:51
Paul Arcand takes the floor to address the listeners. “It’s a moment that I’m a little dreading… It’s too much, too much kindness and even a little too much affection. When I hear the reactions in the House of Commons or the National Assembly, I have the impression that I have died. […] You managed to break my shell, to shake me quite a bit in the last few weeks. I try to pretend I’m above it all, but I’m not. […] In the car, you imposed me on your children who in turn impose me on their children. Listening to Paul Arcand at six years old is a case of DPJ! » During the 18 minutes of this speech, the people present literally drank in his words. He pays tribute to each of his colleagues in the morning. Everyone’s eyes are full of water.
08:10
There are two hours left before the real end. Not keen on personal confessions, Paul Arcand recounts two funny memories about his sons. One day, Jean-Philippe tells him that he has to do an assignment on a media personality he admires. ” Can you help me ? », asks the boy. “Of course,” replies Paul Arcand proudly. “Can you put me in touch with Ron Fournier? », adds his son. It also relates the time when Guillaume was asked by his teacher if Paul Arcand was his father. The boy’s response? “No, it’s Denys Arcand! “.
08:16
The current and former commissioners all meet around the same table: Nathalie Normandeau, Luc Ferrandez, Patrick Lagaçé, Pierre Curzi and Mario Dumont. Only Marie-France Bazzo is missing. The secret to these fiery tandems? “Let them be an antidote to current polarization,” says Pierre Curzi.
08:32
During the commercial break, Ricardo gives Paul Arcand a huge cake that his daughter Jeanne made. The result is shaped like a clown. However, if there is one thing that the host hates, it is clowns. He bursts out laughing upon receiving this present.
08:37
Time for sports with Réjean Tremblay, Dany Dubé, Martin McGuire and, of course, Alain Crête. This is an opportunity for Arcand to pay tribute to his idol, Guy Lafleur.
08:53
Surprisingly, the moment devoted to news items is very funny, in particular thanks to the presence of the incomparable Claude Poirier. He says he came to Paul Arcand’s rescue when the latter made his radio debut. A man, armed with a revolver, demanded that Arcand meet the court reporter. “I spoke to him again recently,” Claude Poirier told Paul Arcand. It came out! »
09:10
Arcand found himself surrounded only by women: Émilie Perreault, Élisabeth Crête, Catherine Brisson, Monic Néron, Bénédicte Lebel and Esther Morin. Monic Néron underlines in broad strokes that Paul Arcand was the first to make room for women before many others. With wet eyes, for the first time on the show, the host displays emotion.
09:26
Paul Arcand’s regular team re-establishes itself around him on stage. We hear the testimony of Philippe-Audrey Larue-Saint-Jacques. “You don’t know how good it feels to say to yourself: Paul, y’é en tabarnak! » Fabien Cloutier then continues with a number that will make you roll on the floor. “A new era is dawning! That of the mornings where the surroundings will lounge in loose boxers, an era where you will spend the morning escaping and it will be Lagaçé’s turn to have black eyes. »
09:49
After a testimony from Yvon Deschamps which surprises Paul Arcand, he addresses the listeners for the second time on the show. The voice breaks at times. He first turns to his successor, Patrick Lagaçé. ” Be yourself ! Don’t listen to all the comments, don’t go on social media, take a break and do what you want to do. »
Then, Paul Arcand insists on the importance of the right to be indignant. “We must never lose this right. And as long as I’m able, as long as I have the energy to do it, I’m going to continue to be indignant. There are things that deserve to be raised and said enough is enough. I need you to continue. » Thereupon, Paul Arcand received a loud ovation for several minutes. He carries his glass of bubbles towards the people. We know that this is really the end.
We console ourselves by saying that we will find it this fall on other platforms, notably the digital media that you hold in your hands. Outrage still has a bright future ahead of it, rest assured.
