2023-06-19 05:39:48
There were more than 300 loyal listeners lining up, early Sunday morning, near the new Maison de Radio-Canada, who came to say goodbye to Michel Désautels, the flagship host of Canadian French-language public radio.
After 50 years on the airwaves, it was time for the last lap for whoever held the helm of Desalts on Sunday for 10 years now. The farewell party was led by the host of All one morning Patrick Masbourian, who did not hide his admiration for the one he considers a mentor.
It was an opportunity to look back punctuated by sound archives, three months in the news service of a French-language radio station in Timmins – Les nouvelles Shell, with Michel Désautels, at CFCL, remembered the main interested party – from his beginnings at the regional station of Radio-Canada in Toronto, in 1973, until his return to Montreal, where he established himself as a host at the helm of many outstanding programs on the airwaves of the public broadcaster.
Hosts Michel Désautels and Patrick Masbourian hugged each other on Sunday.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Ivanoh Demers
Faithful to the Désautels style, this special program however gave pride of place to the guests, many of whom came not only to salute the man and his career but also to indulge in the host’s favorite sport: conversation.
From the remuneration of artists with singer Michel Rivard to the history of Quebec and the state of its society with journalist Lise Bissonnette, passing through the memories of The Europe-Asia Race with the filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, Michel Désautels might not prevent himself, even during this party given in his honor, from asking questions, trying to understand, to find out more.
“I’ve always had the impression that when you do an interview with Michel Désautels, you come out smarter followingwards. »
— A quote from Denis Villeneuve
He was well surrounded for his last lap. After 50 years of career at Radio-Canada, host and journalist Michel Désautels has turned off his microphone. A report by Danielle Kadjo.
This taste for dialogue and conversation was also the central theme of the tribute recorded by Gilles Vigneault. I find it beautiful when there is not only one person of the two who speaks, summed up the singer and poet, who wished the host, for his retirement, all the happiness of conversation freed from schedules.
“I find that conversation sometimes teaches us a little regarding each other but a lot regarding ourselves. It is precious, more precious than the image. »
— A quote from Gilles Vigneault
[La radio], it’s a discussion, a meeting, that’s how I see the job. It’s not a confrontation, agreed Michel Désautels.
You have to let things go
In an interview a few minutes before going on the air for the last time, the host took the opportunity to reflect on his 50-year career and the evolution of his profession.
Michel Rivard came to greet Michel Désautels in song.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Ivanoh Demers
Radio communication between the sender and the receiver is an extraordinary thing, technically simple, which has not evolved so much, he analyzed. What has changed is the splintering of platforms, which comes with the challenge for us to keep our world to remind them how much what we offer them cannot be found elsewhere.
But the bottom, he should never change, he launched.
Radio artisans should, he says, be in the moment. This is an extremely important quality. It brings spontaneity and it requires sincerity and availability, to the guest, but also to the moment.
“It means being well prepared, but once you have a guest and a microphone, you have to let things go. You have to leave room for improvisation. »
— A quote from Michel Désautels
It is for this reason that the host had given himself clear guidelines in preparation for his interviews: no plan, no questions or written presentations in advance.
Michel Désautels in front of an overjoyed audience
Photo : Radio-Canada / Ivanoh Demers
I tell myself that if I understand what I want to do, I should be able to talk regarding it, he explained. It forced me to keep a simple vocabulary, not to play Knowing Joe and to stay in the moment: listen, watch and bounce back. It becomes a sport at some point.
And for those who will remain following him on the radio? If we keep this spontaneity, this immediacy and this presence, we have come a long way.
If you missed Michel Désautels’ latest broadcast or if you want to listen to it once more or share it, go to Ohdio.
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