After 40 years as a veteran journalist and broadcaster, Bernard St-Laurent or Bernie, as he is known to many of his listeners, announced his retirement today from CBC. His last day on the air will be June 26.
Bernie was first introduced to the world of politics and journalism when he was a young boy in Compton, Quebec. His great uncle was Louis St-Laurent, then Prime Minister of Canada. When Uncle Louis visited the family general store reporters would always follow him around. That experience, along with talk of politics around the kitchen table, would set the stage for Bernie’s lifelong passion.
“Bernie is synonymous with CBC Quebec. “He is part of the texture of this place,” said Shelagh Kinch, Managing Director, CBC Quebec. “Over the years, Bernie has guided our audience through some of this province’s most intense and memorable moments. We will miss his exceptional journalism, his deep political knowledge and his extensive understanding of how this province works.”
Bernie has told the story of every political event in Quebec. From the 1984 Denis Lortie shooting in the National Assembly and the 1995 referendum to his coverage of the passing of former Premier Jacques Parizeau, listeners could always count on Bernie to get to the heart of what mattered. Since joining CBC, he has worked as news assignment editor, producer, national reporter and host of CBC Radio’s Homerun and Radio Noon. More recently, he was CBC’s senior political analyst in Quebec.
In 1998, he co-created C’est la vie, an award-winning CBC Radio program about life in French-speaking Canada. After more than 17 years, C’est la vie is still as immensely popular as it was on day one, with a loyal following across the country. In 2012, Bernie received the Award of Excellence from the Commissioner of Official Languages.
“With his warmth, sense of humour and intellect, Bernie has the ability to connect with everyone,” says Cindy Witten, Interim Executive Director of Radio and Audio. “We learned so much about Quebec in English Canada because of Bernie. He is an extraordinary talent and will be sorely missed on the airwaves.”
Over the years, Bernie has also guest hosted various CBC Radio programs including The Current, Sounds Like Canada, As It Happens, The House and Cross Country Check-up and contributed to a number of Radio-Canada radio and television programs.
Prior to joining CBC, Bernie worked as a cub reporter at the Sherbrooke Record and was a founding member of the group that started the Townships Sun. In 1974, Bernie co-founded Spec, a weekly paper for the English-speaking communities of the Gaspe that is still enjoyed today. He then went on to Quebec City and the National Assembly Press gallery. Bernie was elected Press Gallery president in 1986. He also worked as a reporter for CJAD, columnist for the Montreal Daily News and the Gazette.
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CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.
For more information please contact:
Debbie Hynes, Regional Manager
CBC Quebec, Communications, Marketing and Brand
514-597-4522/514-951-5527
