The emotion was strong, but Pierre Bruneau cracked only once during his last newscast on Thursday evening: when he learned that the TVA Nouvelles studio was being renamed Studio Pierre Bruneau.
Posted at 3:37 p.m.
Updated at 9:46 p.m.
When the big boss of Quebecor, Pierre Karl Péladeau, unveiled the sign of the premises that now bears his name, Pierre Bruneau took a few seconds to catch his breath. Unable to speak, the host hugged his wife, Ginette, before articulating a “It’s too much” in a trembling voice.
At the end of the show, during his message of thanks to viewers, the 70-year-old journalist said that they had been “the most precious thing” in his life. He left a written message to Sophie Thibault, his successor, who will take office on August 22.
“Here I am at my destination,” declared Pierre Bruneau, his eyes wet, before giving up the antenna and being joined by his relatives, who were watching the scene on the other side of the cameras.
This final speech came after a particularly emotional hour and a half for the host, who is retiring from VAT News from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. after 46 years of loyal service.
The television news quickly turned into a tribute show.
After briefly discussing the severe thunderstorm warning in effect in Quebec, Pierre Bruneau said he had only a vague idea of the content of the next 90 minutes.
Throughout the newsletter, TVA journalists from across Quebec saluted him. They described him as a “tremendous captain”, a “rigorous model”, a “passionate”, “reassuring” and “inspiring” professional.
In the studio, his accomplices Mario Dumont, Paul Larocque and Colette Provencher praised him. “Perfection doesn’t exist, but let’s say you’re really not far away,” proclaimed the weather presenter, who has accompanied her on screen since 1981.
Premiers’ Messages
In a pre-recorded video, the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau argued that Pierre Bruneau was “the example of professionalism”.
He’s a person who isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions, and trust me, I know that.
Justin Trudeau
For his part, the Premier of Quebec, François Legault, described it as “authentic”. “That’s why it connected so much with Quebecers,” said the CAQ leader.
The team of VAT News underlined his social involvement by broadcasting a report on what he considers to be his greatest achievement, the Charles-Bruneau Foundation, which he created in 1990 to provide children with cancer with the best chance of recovery. Two years earlier, in 1988, he had lost his eldest son following a long battle with leukemia.
The program was also punctuated by archive footage, which showed us the highlights of the 20e and 21 centuries that he described on the air, including the Polytechnique tragedy of 1989, the Dawson College shootings of 2006, the Oka crisis of 1990, the maple spring of 2012, the Saguenay flood of 1996, the storm ice storm of 1998, the election of Barack Obama in 2008, the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster of 2013 and the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in 2001.
In a lighter quiz portion, Pierre-Olivier Zappa, who will soon take the reins of the VAT News 10 p.m., reminded us that Pierre Bruneau had worn a mustache until 1987.
At the end of the evening, on the bulletin piloted for the very last time by Sophie Thibault, the farewells of Pierre Bruneau were the subject of other topos. The anchor described his college as a “beacon in the news service”. However, she did not reveal the content of the note that the host had left her.
Back in July?
The departure of Pierre Bruneau was not only highlighted in the evening. The tribute stretched all day.
In the morning, LCN showed – live – images of the arrival of the antenna manager at work. Since the host never takes the elevator to reach the newsroom, set up at 10e floor at 1600, boulevard de Maisonneuve Est, the TVA team had decorated the stairwell with souvenir photos, both professional and personal. Colleagues, relatives and surprise guests were waiting for him on different levels to mark his departure. His spouse, Ginette, accompanied him during his climb.
Pierre Bruneau also walked the plateau of Hi hello. In an interview with Gino Chouinard, the face of information at TVA recalled that he might return briefly next fall to pilot the Face to face of VAT. He will also host election night.
The workaholic also mentioned the idea of returning to the airwaves in July, on the occasion of the passage of Pope Francis in Quebec. “When management calls me, I will say yes. I always answered yes. It’s something important to me. »