After 46 years as an anchor at TVA, Pierre Bruneau will retire on June 16.
• Read also: [QUIZ] How well do you know the life and career of Pierre Bruneau?
• Read also: Pierre Bruneau looks back on his biggest career challenge
The journalist made the announcement during the 5 p.m. bulletin on Thursday. He said he was now ready for a “well-considered retirement”.
However, viewers will find him in another role this fall during the provincial election campaign.
“Closing the end of a chapter is always destabilizing, even if beautiful things await us. It has been a real honor for me to hold this seat for so many years and to have established a special bond with the public,” he said.
“I am sincerely grateful to viewers for their loyalty and to my colleagues for their support and excellent work. The transition to this new stage of my life will be smooth since I will be back this fall during the provincial election campaign.
Furthermore, Pierre Bruneau will continue to be involved in the Fondation Charles-Bruneau as instigator, administrator and spokesperson.
• Read also: Pierre Bruneau both surprised and moved to tears by his 22e Arts trophy
Groupe TVA’s interim president and CEO, Pierre Karl Péladeau, paid tribute to Pierre Bruneau in a press release.
“Pierre, you are an exceptional man respected by your peers and loved by the public. It was an honor to count you in the large Quebecor family for the past 46 years. Thank you for your passion and your professionalism, you were able to bring the TVA news service to new heights,” he wrote.
Mr. Péladeau made a point of emphasizing the “very special bond” that the anchor had succeeded in forging with “Quebecers of all generations”.
“It is an integral part of their daily life by accompanying them every evening with rigor, relevance and humanity.”
It was in 1972 that Pierre Bruneau began his career as a journalist at CFDA radio in Victoriaville. After a stint on CJTR Trois-Rivières radio, he began working at CKAC Montreal from 1973 to 1980.
He joined TVA (Télé-Métropole at the time) in 1976 as news anchor.
From 1978, he held the reins of TVA 12h as well as the 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. bulletins at LCN and TVA.
Ben Pelosse / Journal de Montreal
• Read also: Here are the top 5 of your favorite news anchors
From the Polytechnique massacre to the ice storm, including the September 11 attacks and more recently the covid-19 pandemic, Pierre Bruneau has accompanied viewers through significant events.
– 23 Artis trophies
Sébastien St-Jean / QMI Agency
– Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2002
– Decorated with the Order of Merit from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters in 2003
– Decorated with the National Order of Quebec in 2008
– Decorated with the Order of Canada in 2012
– Raymond-Charette Prize in 2021 for having known how to stand out for the precision of his language, the richness of his vocabulary as well as the clarity of his expression.