It was last February 8th. A real earthquake would shake the team at Bell Media stations across the country, including here in Trois-Rivières. In the tsunami of departures caused by the loss of more than 9% of jobs in the country, the popular host of the Énergie 102.3 channel, Louis Cournoyer, was also swept away. After more than 21 years on the air.
It was a calm and, above all, grateful Louis Cournoyer who sat in front of me on Wednesday. An interview that I requested in the first hours after this news broke and which left his listeners and those familiar with the media world of the region speechless. But Louis wanted to do things right. He also wanted to take the time to land after this shock, which was followed by a wave of love that he never thought possible.
On the morning of February 8, he was woken up by a text message from his sister bringing him the article announcing these massive cuts at Bell Media. “Are you affected?” the text message said. “I still had my eyes glued together,” Louis recalls, bursting into laughter. “I had no idea what to expect, but I knew it wasn't going to be a great day at the office,” he admits.
Between his appearances on the morning show, he left the studio and gradually learned what news came in. First, the journalist Olivier Caron, who was thanked and whom the presenter supported before leaving the station. Then another colleague from the marketing department, with whom he always enjoyed working.
When he went on air for the midday show produced in Montreal around 11:30 a.m., he left the studio. Someone was waiting for him in the hallway. “We should talk, Louis.” They had…
The team was speechless to see him enter this office, the same office that others had left that morning, with a very dejected look on his face.
By reputation, the world of radio is a ruthless world. So many of his tradesmen could tell you how they found out about their dismissal when they had ten minutes to collect their belongings and leave without much fuss, accompanied by a security guard.
But for Louis Cournoyer it was completely different. We trusted him enough to take to the air again in the afternoon and greet his listeners one last time. A moment of radio without filter that doesn't lie, in which emotions mix with gratitude and that eternal respect that he has always shown to his listeners.
Far from harboring a grudge against anyone, Louis Cournoyer left the airwaves as he always did: a gentleman.
Louis Cournoyer's last on-air appearance on February 8th. (Radio-Canada Mauricie)
“I was able to take the microphone with me one last time. It was a great sign of respect that my superiors showed me. I was able to say goodbye to my world properly. It was important to me.”
–Louis Cournoyer
Surprised, and not that much! This is how Louis sums up this news that ended a career in which, as he admits, he never stopped pinching himself every morning, knowing how lucky he was to have that microphone. “I know the context in which the media finds itself. I know it's difficult. And I also know that Bell is a publicly traded company that has goals to achieve.”
“It's a decision that I didn't expect, that surprised me.” But it's a decision that I accept. I'm not leaving bitter, on the contrary. I'm fine, I'm calm.
–Louis Cournoyer
It must be said that Louis Cournoyer always considered his work a great privilege. When he was younger he listened to Énergie 102.3. When he accepted the position of host in Trois-Rivières, a “Ti-Cul” dream came true. “Imagine! During these years I was able to get up close and personal with giants: Mike Gauthier, Fernando, Marc Bossé, Stéphane Robitaille. I grew up with these voices,” he says, not forgetting François Pérusse, Martin Cloutier and the Grandes Gueules to call.
But the best thing, the greatest privilege of this job, he admits, was talking to the listeners every day. Louis pauses for a few seconds, visibly moved, searching for the right words to address everyone who has been listening to him. From Nancy to Cap-de-la-Madeleine or even from Daniel, who was able to call her almost every day to talk to her or to make a special request.
And what about the call this man took in the studio one day, between two interventions? A man in need who called him, who trusted him to help him.
“In this job we talk to the world, but we don’t save lives. But that day I was his last resort, I was the one he trusted to call for help. I chatted with him for a long time, I put him on hold so I could do my on-air interventions and then I came back to the phone to talk to him,” recalls the presenter, still amazed when he finds out through the microphone. He could help people.
It is all these listeners who have been sending him this immense wave of love since February 8th. Those thousands of texts and emails he received. Encouraging words, greetings, lack of understanding about the decision too. Louis promised to answer each of them. It could take several more days.
What's next? Still very difficult to know. Since the announcement of his departure, offers have come in from all walks of life. He thinks of them all, one by one, and feels privileged when he is thought of. He continues to play the role of house speaker for the Shawinigan Cataractes… keeping all the doors open. Including the possibility of becoming a farmer, construction worker or teacher and taking care of the youngest or even the elderly. Apparently he's interested in everything.
Or maybe even be a stay-at-home dad for a while.
But he also keeps the door open to one day finding a microphone somewhere.
For him, radio must contain local content. Music playlists and mobile applications are full of them. That's not what listeners are looking for.
“I’m a local content guy. To me that's what a radio station is all about. With the cuts that have been announced, I think what hurts me the most is that the news programs that are produced locally are disappearing.”
–Louis Cournoyer
When he left the station for the last time on February 8th, he had a heavy heart. Then he went to the daycare to pick up his little Noélie, 2 years old, who was waiting for him with open arms. “Dad!” she cried. Everything made sense again. The anchoring of the family has his two feet very firmly anchored in reality, in essence.
Noélie, but also her two big brothers Charles and Alexis and her blonde Amélie, have always had the gift of telling her that strength, that inner peace, that pride, no matter what happens in life, the most important thing is that he is there for him. And he's fine.
“We will talk again somewhere, real or virtual. I love you, Ciao!”
This is how he completed his last radio intervention. Without bitterness, without resentment. With the greatest respect for this medium, which he has always adored, and for his listeners, to whom he owes a lot.
Like a real professional, like a gentleman…
In short, from the great Louis Cournoyer!