Annie Desrochers and a quiet shift that changes the rhythm of ICI Première
For listeners who have long started and ended their days with the same voices, annie desrochers is about to become part of a new routine. When the fall schedule arrives, the familiar cadence of ICI Première will change, with weekend mornings and weekday afternoons exchanging hosts in a move that touches both habit and identity on the public broadcaster.
What is changing on ICI Première?
At the center of the reshuffle is a direct swap of roles. Annie Desrochers, who has spent about 11 years hosting a daily current-affairs program, will move to the Saturday and Sunday morning slots. Monic Néron, after only one season at the helm of Mimosa on Saturday mornings, will take over the weekday drive-home period. The change is meant to bring a more unified format to the weekend schedule, which has recently been split between different hosts.
The move comes after a period of adjustment on the network, including the death of Franco Nuovo in February, which left one of the weekend programs in transition. For Radio-Canada, the new arrangement restores a simpler structure to the mornings while giving Monic Néron a more prominent weekday role.
Why does this matter to listeners?
Radio changes often sound administrative on paper, but this one reaches into the daily routines of thousands of people. Weekend mornings are where many listeners look for a steadier pace, a blend of news, reflection and a little comfort. Weekday afternoons, by contrast, are the hours when commuters and homebound listeners want company, pace and a clear read on the day.
That is why the personalities involved matter so much. Annie Desrochers is being asked to bring her voice to a format built around the weekend’s slower rhythm. Monic Néron, whose desire to host a daily program was already publicly known, now steps into a slot that demands regularity and a strong presence. The shift also reflects a broader effort to match each host’s strengths with the time of day they now occupy.
How are Annie Desrochers and Monic Néron describing the move?
Both women have framed the change as a meaningful professional step. Annie Desrochers said the new offer immediately won her over after 11 years in daily current affairs. She also pointed to the appeal of the weekend format, describing it as a space for conviviality, creativity and reflection. For her, the new assignment is not simply a change of schedule; it is a different kind of contact with the audience.
Monic Néron has spoken with equal enthusiasm about the challenge ahead. She described the weekday program as a dream opportunity and said she is grateful to be part of creating a renewed daily show. In a field where familiarity is often prized, her comments underline how much ambition and anticipation are tied to the role.
annie desrochers will not be stepping into the weekend alone. The new morning format is expected to include opportunities for her to go on the ground, a detail that suggests a more flexible and active approach to the broadcast. That choice signals a desire to keep the program connected to lived reality rather than letting it settle into a purely studio-based routine.
What are the institution’s goals with this reshuffle?
Mélanie Thivierge, first director of ICI Première, has explained the decision as a way to match two well-known voices with new responsibilities. She emphasized that both hosts are appreciated by listeners and said the network is pleased they accepted a challenge that puts their passion at the service of the public. Her comments point to a strategy that is both practical and symbolic: keep the lineup recognizable while refreshing the energy around it.
There is also a scheduling logic behind the change. The weekday program, now in Monic Néron’s hands, will be renewed for listeners in the Greater Montreal area from Monday to Friday. On weekends, Annie Desrochers will address audiences in Quebec on Saturday mornings and across the country on Sunday mornings. In both cases, the network is betting that voice, tone and trust matter as much as format.
What happens next for the audience?
Some details of the two programs will be unveiled later with the fall programming release, but the broad direction is already clear. The shift places two established radio personalities in settings that ask different things of them, while keeping continuity for listeners who follow the schedule closely.
The real test will begin when the new routine settles in: when annie desrochers reaches listeners on weekend mornings, and when Monic Néron takes over the weekday close of day. For now, the change feels less like a break with the past than a carefully arranged handoff, one that leaves ICI Première sounding familiar, but with a new pulse.
