Toronto Radio: CHUM Host Roger Ashby Retiring With Mixed Emotions

Roger Ashby’s retirement from Toronto radio after 50 years was announced in late October.

But according to the Toronto Sun, now that Ashby’s final CHUM 104.5 FM show is just about here — it will take place Wednesday before 500 invited guests and contest winners at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Grand Ballroom beginning at 5 a.m. — he’s got “mixed emotions.”

“I’m looking forward to having a flexible schedule and not having the daily responsibility of having a morning show, not having to get up at four o’clock. But on the other hand I’m going to miss it because it’s what I love,” said Ashby, who says he’s been asked by Bell Media to stay on in a part-time capacity to do some work for the iHeartRadio app.

“I have a passion for radio. I really enjoy working with the people I work with. I’ve worked with Marilyn (Denis) and our producer Tom (Jokic) for 32 years. So I’m happy and I’m kind of sad in another way. All I wanted to do is turn the microphone on and talk on the radio ever since I was ten years old. And I grew up listening to CHUM and I was thrilled to death when I worked there. I started three days before my 20th birthday.”

But Ashby says the time was right for him to walk away.

His most recent two-year contract called for him to end his treasured gig in late 2018 at the age of 69. Earlier this year, the CHUM 104.5 morning show also welcomed a new co-host Jamar McNeil.

“Our target audience is people now who could be my children because the target audience hasn’t changed but we’ve all gotten older,” said Ashby. “It just seemed like the right time.”

“The station is going through some changes. Social media is such a big thing right now and that’s not really what I’m into,” he said.