I said goodbye to Q92 Montreal this morning. I am getting loads of email, which is very flattering, but I think I need to reiterate the reasons for my departure. They aren't very dramatic, I'm afraid. The situation is thus: Corus Entertainment, my overlords, is in the midst of divesting itself of its Quebec radio properties, and has sold them to another company. I work for Corus, and, as the saying goes, you have to dance with the fella what brung ya. So that's the simple truth. I have a few regrets, because Montreal is my home town, and I have been on air in the city for 13 years or so. I started on what was then Mix 96, with Terry and Ted in the morning, followed by Andre and Nat, then Ken and Cat. When Corus bought Q92, I headed over there and did mornings with Aaron and Tasso, and then, more recently, just Aaron. I have made a lot of friends in Montreal, on air and off, and I am delighted to say that Terry DiMonte is still in my life every morning, as I am on air with him on Q107 in Calgary. If there's anyone I will miss in Montreal, it will be the listeners. Montreal listeners are a breed apart: personal, dedicated, opinionated and fiercely loyal. I went through treatment for cancer 5 years ago, and the outpouring of support I received was amazing across the board, but especially from Montrealers. So I will miss them, and I humbly hope they they will miss me too.
That being said, I'm not really going away. It's 2010, ya'll, and guess what? You can listen to the radio on the internet! Which means you can catch me on any number of stations online - why look! There's a list right over there to the right, with times and call letters and everything! And there's this blog, so you can write me and I can post your comments and we can keep in touch. In fact, it will be like I never left. OK, you can't really listen in the car, unless you have your laptop plugged into the cigarette lighter, but they're working on making podcasts available, and who knows? In no time at all, I may be sitting next to you in the passenger seat in holographic form. The future is bright.
So long Montreal, coolest city in North America. I will be back in one form or another. Je vous salue bien pour maintenant.