98.5 FM radio host Paul Arcand announced on Friday morning that he would be away from his show indefinitely for health reasons.
Mr. Arcand made this announcement on his own show just before 7:30 a.m. by telephone during an on-air conversation with the man who represents him on the show on Thursday and Friday of this week, Alain Crête.
He stated that he was suffering from a fairly serious infection, without giving any further details, and that he needed to undergo treatment.
Out of respect for the long-standing relationship he has with his audience and to avoid spreading unfounded rumors about his health, he wanted to speak about it publicly. He also asked that his privacy be respected.
Paul Arcand cannot specify the length of his absence from the airwaves, but it appears that it is measured in weeks.
During his interview with Alain Crête, he said that he felt tired while hosting his show last Monday, which he may have attributed to the change from daylight saving time to standard time. The next day he was at his post, but he felt like his performance wasn’t even particularly good.
His condition continued to deteriorate on Wednesday. His wife, he said, then convinced him to see a doctor and he did not return to the air on Thursday.
On the phone on Friday morning, the presenter, who was around sixty years old, seemed to be in reasonably good shape. However, he found that, like many men of his generation, he tended not to worry about the symptoms of possible illness.
This professional break comes several months after Paul Arcand announced he would be leaving hosting his daily show in Montreal in June 2024. He assured on Friday that he intends to return to work as quickly as possible by this announced deadline.
Shortly after the interview with the star presenter, Alain Crête announced that it is the parliamentary journalist Louis Lacroix who will host the morning show on 98.5 FM from next Monday, until the return of Paul Arcand.
From autumn 2024, journalist Patrick Lagacé, who currently hosts the late afternoon show on 98.5 FM, will take over the management of the morning show.