Longtime CJBQ morning man, Matt Mitchell (Photo: Quinte News).
He is a big man with a big voice and an even bigger heart.
The longtime host of the Matt Mitchell show is hanging up his headphones for the last time next week.
Mitchell, the man behind the microphone on CJBQ’s top-rated morning show for 28 years announced his retirement
on his show last Friday.
Thousands of people listen to Matt daily and he’s become a warm and gently amusing part of their morning routines and their families.
Unlike many who go into radio, Matt didn’t have a passion for it growing up as a boy, but while in college studying to become a minister he was short of cash and applied to a local radio station.
He didn’t even present the station’s management with a demo tape. He just spoke, and he got the job almost immediately.
After that the job offers just came rolling in.
Prior to arriving to CJBQ in 1989 to replace then morning man Peter Thompson, Matt worked at four stations, including ones in Edmonton and
Kingston.
His move to the Quinte region was sparked by a desire to be close to his father, who was nearing the end of his life, and he’s been here ever since and intends to stay in his retirement years.
“I love this area and I love my listeners. They’re like friends, like family,” says the man who regularly receives upwards of 50 calls from listeners during his morning show. When he made his retirement announcement on air last week, the phone lines lit up like a Christmas tree.
“It never ceases to amaze me how folks around here help each other during emergencies and support so many charities so generously. They’re amazing, and I’m going to miss them dearly.”
The 62 year old announcer went on to thank and praise the Morton family, the owners of the Quinte Broadcasting Company. “The late Myles Morton
was involved when I was hired, and the family has always been good to me over the years.”
Brian Decaire, no stranger to CJBQ listeners, will take over the morning show on an interim basis when Matt leaves. His last show will run 5:30 till 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 26.
