It was a particularly difficult and moving meeting for the journalist, for whom the radio was the life raft of a lifetime. A comfortable, warm place where he could be exactly what he wanted to be.

” The radio, like books and music, has been my refuge. “

At the age of 76, the veteran of the airwaves thus completes a 24-year lap at the animation of Saturday and nothing else.

His program was one of the favorites of Quebecers, as evidenced by the Numéris polls of recent years.

Joël Le Bigot was able to attract the attention of listeners by his way of hosting in an atmosphere of pleasure and conviviality, which reflected his great culture and his passion for the French language.

” I have retained throughout my life this curious astonishment that one can speak into a microphone, and that people listen. “

The radio giant has also taken advantage of his last moments on the air to send a message of love to his audience, a love that must triumph over the desire to accumulate excessive wealth, according to him.

Adventurer on the air as in life, Joël Le Bigot has not forgotten to provide one last piece of advice to the younger generation: there’s still time to put your bag on your back, and go see the world.

Of radio and sea

Joël Le Bigot is a key figure at Radio-Canada. Its beginnings date back to 1967 at the regional station of Chicoutimi.

He made a name for himself as a radio presenter in 1977 with the CBF-Bonjour program, a flagship morning daily for the public broadcaster which he hosted for 19 years.

Born in France and arrived in Quebec at a very young age by boat, Joël Le Bigot maintained a passion for the sea alongside his job as a journalist.

In 1984, he took part in the Transat Tag Québec-Saint Malo race aboard the ship Radio-Canada.

After a world tour, the host returned to the air in 1998 at the helm of Saturday and nothing else. On Sundays, he adds to his schedule the show why not sunday the same year, of which he was captain until 2011.

When announcing his departure in May, Joël Le Bigot explained that he wanted to sail towards new horizons while he was still master of his life. He did not want wait for life to decide [lui] when he would have to hang up his microphone.