Monday, June 8, 2015?­ — 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 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.
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 Gaspé 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.
Going to miss @B_STLAURENT a lot. Endless font of journalistic wisdom: from interviewing to writing and broadcast delivery.
Learned more from @B_STLAURENT in 1 day than 4 years of school. Earsplitting 'whoop' after booking a big guest & wearing 3 pairs of glasses.
Sad to hear my good friend and one-of-a-kind journalist @B_STLAURENT is retiring from CBC. I will always seek his excellent insight on Que.
@Steverukavina Proud to say I made @B_STLAURENT laugh to tears when I asked BQ leader Michel Gauthier who his favourite book author was.
Warm wishes for the retiring @B_STLAURENT, a deservedly legendary journalist and one of the finest observers of politics in this province.
Je salue en toi un parmi les grands journalistes que je connaisse, encore passionné par ton métier après toutes ces années.
Tout une feuille de route dont tes fonctions de courriériste parlementaire à Québec pendant les belles années du milieu des '70 alors que j'ai fait ta connaissance avec Hubert Bauch pour Inside Québec" la première infolettre sur l'activité politique et gouvernementale.
Bonne retraite de CBC. Mais je suis assuré que tu seras sollicité rapidement comme consultant par de nombreuses organisations du Québec mais aussi du ROC.
All the best to such a great journalist! Listening to C'est la Vie on podcast here in Atlanta became a wonderful way to stay in touch with home. And that was just a fraction of the great work Bernie did in all his different roles. Thank you so much!
Best wishes to a great guy & a great journalist!
Congratulations on your retirement Bernie St. Laurent. I will always remember your laugh echoing through the hallways of the Tribune de la Presse at the Quebec National Assembly when there for CJAD and you at the CBC. As a journalist in Quebec, you were bigger than life itself. You are a living legend, the go to person whenever someone has a question of what makes francophone Quebecers tick or to help people understand Quebec politics – no easy task for anglos in and outside La Belle Province. Your passion for journalism has no equal. I saw it when you were my boss at The Montreal Daily News, when I was your boss at CJAD and even more so when I competed against you at the Quebec National Assembly. And through it all, despite the pressure, your sense of humour never failed you. Now it's time to write your book, tell the stories in both English and French as only you can. And teach the future generation of broadcasters in university and colleges a thing or two about journalism and broadcasting they won't learn from anyone else. The rest of the time, stop and smell the roses and enjoy life with the family.