Radio reshuffles bring new voices to Montreal's fall lineup across major stations

Montreal's radio stations are marking the fall season with significant on-air changes, reshuffling talent across top-rated morning and afternoon slots beginning August 24.

At 98.5 FM, Patrick Lagacé's morning show is getting an overhaul. Bénédicte Lebel, previously covering faits divers, becomes the new cultural affairs commentator, replacing Catherine Brisson who spent 11 years in the role. Carl Marchand, a veteran of the station, takes over police and judicial affairs. Marie-Eve Fournier's economics segment—she did not return from La Presse—is now handled by Alexandre Leblond, who previously anchored Fridays. In an election year, journalist Mathieu Boivin inherits the prominent political block, succeeding Jonathan Trudeau, who left media in spring.

At Qub (99.5 FM), former Liberal MP Marwah Rizqy, who announced nearly two years ago she would leave politics when her term ended, becomes the new co-host of afternoon drive alongside Rémi Villemure. Rizqy, who is stepping down from active politics after the October 5 elections, will join the station after that date. For the next few weeks, Villemure will anchor alone. The move follows Isabelle Maréchal's departure from the afternoon slot, a position she held for a year. The new lineup aims to compete with Luc Ferrandez and Nathalie Normandeau, who are in their third season anchoring afternoons at 98.5 FM.

Rythme is marking Julie Bélanger's return after a four-year absence. Starting Monday, she launches Génération J, a new afternoon show co-hosted by rotating personalities including Serge Denoncourt, Jean-Michel Anctil and Simon Boulerice, alongside other collaborators.

On ICI Première, Annie Desrochers moves to weekends after 11 years anchoring weekday afternoon drive. Effective August 22, she launches Ça promet, the new weekend morning show airing 7 a.m. Saturdays and 6 a.m. Sundays, with collaborators including international journalist Frédérick Lavoie, Dr. Michelle Houde, butcher Renée LeBlanc-Paulin and rapper Jenny Salgado.