The day after host Paul Houde died at age 69, testimonies continued to pour in, symbolizing the unifying side of an extraordinary person.
Thérèse Parisien, his long-time friend and radio accomplice, will remember him as a very friendly person and an “outstanding radio man”.
In an interview on the program D'abord l'info on ICI RDI, she told some anecdotes about a surreal stay with him and Pierre Arpin on the streets of the United States about ten years ago.
A few days before we left, he sent me a 72-page document that said, “We leave at this time, we stop for gas at this time,” and I knew that we would stop in Corning, New York at Going for ice cream at Dippity Do Dahs at 11am, she confided with a grin.
In the first city we visited, I also realized that he would invite me to visit all the baseball stadiums, soccer stadiums, and hockey arenas!
Presenter Jean-René Infoman Dufort met Paul Houde on the show “The End of the World is in Seven Hours” when he was still a researcher. He was the one who gave me my first idea for a story topic when I had just blatantly lied to production by saying I had experience, he said.
On Paul's advice, the future infoman returned with a topic about the Boyaux-Macoutes, referring to the municipal officials of Lachenaie (the town where Paul Houde lived) who issued citizens tickets for illegal irrigation. I owe my entire career to him.
The Paul we saw on TV laughed, that was life […] It was wonderful to be with him.
Michel Barrette will long remember a trip he took with Paul Houde to Death Valley in California to find the hideout where Charles Manson allegedly fled with his gang after a series of murders.
During these hours on the road, the two men played a challenging trivia game, a challenge that only two detail geeks could master. I never managed to catch them (…) He will tell you the color of the Attorney General's stockings when President Kennedy was assassinated and the temperature that prevailed there, Mr. Barrette confided. I met my master.
It was the author and director Stéphane Laporte who initiated the television meeting between Paul Houde and Marc Labrèche as part of the show La fin du monde est à sept trois, which he conceived. “It's as if two aliens meet, there are surreal moments,” he confided at the microphone of the show “Dessine-moi un matin” that recalls two educated beings, but in an almost opposite way in their manner, in their culture.
The chronicles surrounding Nostradamouse, a mouse sports forecaster, are still fondly remembered.
The sports journalist Marie-José Turcotte, with whom he reported on the Olympic Games, also reacted with emotion to his death. What always impressed me about Paul was his preparation, his passion, his attention to detail… Being with him meant passion, she said in an interview with RDI.
I'm very moved at the moment because he really is a figure that we are losing in our society.
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Paul Houde
Photo: Radio-Canada
Réjean Tremblay will certainly miss his friend Paul Houde, a man with whom he says he had great pleasure working. He admired his knowledge, which never ceased to amaze him.
He had anecdotes, he told stories and he put things into perspective. He was able to master social issues, politics, economics, astronomy and sports. “We sometimes said to ourselves: If you take Paul with your pants down, you have to get up early,” Mr. Tremblay said in an interview with RDI.
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The presenter of La jour est encore jeunesse and Bonsoir bonoir, Jean-Philippe Wauthier, spoke with great emotion to ICI RDI about his friend. I don't think anyone was prepared for Paul to leave us so soon. […] We were expecting him. The day is still young, it was there every Monday.
They say never meet your heroes, but I wasn't disappointed: we were a great duo. I was so lucky to work with Paul! […] The ability to portray athletics at the Olympics and star in Les Boys is a palette that only Paul could have.
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Radio presenter Paul Arcand worked with Paul Houde for several years. The two men were initially colleagues and became friends. Learning of his death in this way is a shock. “I don’t think anyone expected this,” he told ICI RDI.
Paul Arcand valued Paul Houde very much as a colleague.
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Paul Houde at the microphone of CKAC 73 (archive photo)
Photo: Twitter
He was a professional. The preparation took a long time. He didn't do anything lightly. Paul was an encyclopedia of sports, current events, politics, history and economics. We could talk about anything. He was an excellent communicator, he spoke the language. A chemistry developed between us. He was a great, great, great radio host.
Actor Marc Messier, who starred alongside Paul Houde in Les Boys, said he was really sad it was so unexpected.
He told a filming anecdote at the ICI RDI microphone. We teased him by saying, “After what you just shot, you'll never have the credibility to speak seriously again.” And he said, “Ah yeah, do you think so?” He was very worried about that. He had a naive and childish side that made him extremely pleasant and extremely charming, the actor recalls.
The presenter and actor Charles Lafortune also paid tribute to him: “I am sad, my friend.” […], your humor, your culture, your memory and our laughter. I had the chance to be one of your executive producers for your latest television project “Paul in All His States”. Today it's my turn.
Host Sonia Benezra wrote this on the X network: “Her love for her family was so visible and palpable. When he talked about it in an interview, he shed tears. Today we are the ones paying them for him. We miss him already. We will always miss him. Irreplaceable Paul. »
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Yesterday, Prime Minister François Legault quickly responded on the »
He added: “I have such funny memories of his exchanges with Marc Labrèche and his role as Fern in Les Boys. As a numbers fan, he was the perfect presenter for the Olympic Games. My condolences go out to his family and loved ones.
Quebec Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx had worked with Paul Houde on the radio. I was saddened to learn of the death of my dear Paul Houde, with whom I worked for many years at Rythme FM and the CKAC Comedy Festival. His departure leaves a big void. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones. “I am heartbroken,” she confided to her X account.
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Paul Houde and Minister Caroline Proulx worked together for several years at Rythme FM and the CKAC Comedy Festival. (archive photo)
Photo: Twitter
Mathieu Lacombe, Quebec's culture minister, praised his diverse talents: What sad news. I didn't know him personally, but like many Quebecers, I was always impressed by his talent as a presenter and storyteller, by his impeccable French and his unbeatable memory.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed his condolences. With his great wisdom, inexhaustible talents and sincere kindness, Paul Houde was revered by many. “His death is a great loss and I express my condolences to his family, friends and all Quebecers affected by this sad news,” he wrote on the X network.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said she was deeply saddened to learn of Paul Houde's death. I would like to express my most sincere condolences to his loved ones. Quebec loses a great leader and a legend of science. We will miss you, Mr Houde.
With information from The Canadian Press