The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum » Marilyn Denis Retiring from CHUM and the industry

AspectRatio · February 26, 2026 9:41 am

Newstalk 1010's John Moore mentioned - and played a clip - of Marilyn Denis announcing on-air this morning on her CHUM-FM show that she's leaving the station after 40 years this summer, and apparently the industry in general - that the time feels right to "step away". Further news/links likely to come.

Bristol · February 26, 2026 10:09 am

Remember Marilyn in her pre CHUM-FM days in Calgary at CJAY-FM ...a star in the making even then. Best wishes for her future.

RadioActive · February 26, 2026 10:25 am

In an appearance on John Moore's show on CFRB Thursday, Denis confirmed that it was her decision and her health is fine. She insisted she wasn't "retiring" because that means you're not doing anything any more. She calls it "stepping away" to do something else - although she would not reveal what that might be. "I do not have any plans," she admits.

RadioActive · February 26, 2026 10:35 am

The Bell Media press release on the announcement contains some info I never knew - one of Denis' first jobs in the industry was at a station called KRPL in Moscow, Idaho, of all places. And she was the first ever female announcer on their airwaves. Little did she know where her career would take her.

After 40 Incredible Years, Marilyn Denis Announces She’s Stepping Away from the CHUM 104.5 Morning Show

AspectRatio · February 26, 2026 10:36 am

Moore mentioned earlier in the morning that he began "Moore in the Morning" in 2009 and him and Marilyn Denis are the two longestmost "surviving" on-air personalities at the company in one continuous stretch.

AspectRatio · February 26, 2026 10:38 am

This video is not new - posted June 2023 after her TV show was winding down - but a fun collection of archival footage and moments that seemed suited to this thread.

RadioActive · February 26, 2026 10:40 am

What does it take for the newspapers in this town to finally acknowledge radio? This Marilyn Denis departure story has appeared on both the Toronto Sun and the Toronto Star's websites. It's not often the medium even gets mentioned, let alone two full articles.

paterson1 · February 26, 2026 11:05 am

That was a great video for her goodbye on CTV. Thanks for posting AspectRadio. Nice that two Toronto papers are giving her announcement some exposure. It will be interesting to see who other than Bell TV stations will mention it on the news. City? Maybe CBC?

RadioAaron · February 26, 2026 11:18 am

Great news for CHFI

eladb · February 26, 2026 11:21 am

40 years at one station is quite an incredible accomplishment. Congrats to Marilyn Denis on a great career.

RadioActive · February 26, 2026 11:25 am

eladb wrote:
40 years at one station is quite an incredible accomplishment. Congrats to Marilyn Denis on a great career.

Wally Crouter, Roger Ashby and Marilyn Denis. Are they the three longest serving/surviving announcers ever in Toronto radio?

RadioActive · February 26, 2026 11:41 am

paterson1 wrote:
It will be interesting to see who other than Bell TV stations will mention it on the news. City? Maybe CBC?

Definitely City.

CityNews: Marilyn Denis announces departure from CHUM 104.5 after 40 years

Paul Jeffries · February 26, 2026 12:28 pm

RadioActive wrote:
eladb wrote:
40 years at one station is quite an incredible accomplishment. Congrats to Marilyn Denis on a great career.
Wally Crouter, Roger Ashby and Marilyn Denis. Are they the three longest serving/surviving announcers ever in Toronto radio?

Add Ingrid Schumacher to that list. She and Marilyn would be tied for the amount of time spent exclusively at CHUM-FM. Unfortunately, Ingrid's 40 years came to an abrupt end when she was ousted out of CHUM-FM in 2017.

Roger Ashby had been with the CHUM family for almost 50 years when he retired, but a good portion of that was on the AM side before he moved over to CHUM-FM in 1985.

PJ

Last edited by Paul Jeffries (February 26, 2026 8:36 pm)

Dale Patterson · February 26, 2026 3:37 pm

Bill Stephenson had a long run at CFRB, 39 years from 1960 to 1999. I had the pleasure of interviewing him while going to Ryerson, and he showed me around the station. A true gentleman in every way, and a voice so deep he was nicknamed "Golden Tonsils"

https://broadcasting-history.ca/personalities/stephenson-bill/

Last edited by Dale Patterson (February 27, 2026 4:41 pm)

mace · February 27, 2026 9:08 am

RadioActive wrote:
The Bell Media press release on the announcement contains some info I never knew - one of Denis' first jobs in the industry was at a station called KRPL in Moscow, Idaho, of all places. And she was the first ever female announcer on their airwaves. Little did she know where her career would take her.

After 40 Incredible Years, Marilyn Denis Announces She’s Stepping Away from the CHUM 104.5 Morning Show

KRPL was a little 1000 watt top 40 station when Denis was there. The late great Larry Lucack of WLS/WCFL fame also worked there in the early 60's. Today the station airs the ESPN Sports format and it is still 1000 watts on 1400.

unclefester · February 27, 2026 10:29 am

AspectRatio wrote:
Moore mentioned earlier in the morning that he began "Moore in the Morning" in 2009 and him and Marilyn Denis are the two longestmost "surviving" on-air personalities at the company in one continuous stretch.

Hasn't Frank Cohn been hosting the Home Improvement Show on 1010 for 25 plus years?

Sorry John

unclefester · February 27, 2026 10:52 am

Binson Echorec wrote:
unclefester wrote:
AspectRatio wrote:
Moore mentioned earlier in the morning that he began "Moore in the Morning" in 2009 and him and Marilyn Denis are the two longestmost "surviving" on-air personalities at the company in one continuous stretch.
Hasn't Frank Cohn been hosting the Home Improvement Show on 1010 for 25 plus years?

Sorry John
Apples and oranges. Comparing a proper employee to a paid time weekend host is specious at best.

Did Mr. Moore mention the "qualifcation" you've sighted?

Because if he didn't then I stand by my comment

Last edited by unclefester (February 27, 2026 10:53 am)

RadioAaron · February 27, 2026 10:54 am

Anyone can have longevity if they're paying for it. Not an employee; doesn't count.

AspectRatio · February 27, 2026 11:34 am

Incidentally, Moore's chat with Marilyn Denis from Thursday morning can be found here:

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/962-moore-in-the-morning-107770507/episode/hour-4-marilyn-denis-and-david-324926014/

Time index on the slider 9:43-19:48.

albertaboy4life · February 27, 2026 12:50 pm

Here's a bit Marilyn did for the CFCN AM, TV and CJAY FM 1985 Christmas party from the CFCN Archive on YouTube -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DimN_n4vCX4

Jim Ripley voices the intro.

Marilyn was a big part of Don Steven's morning show at CJAY 92, with newscaster David Spence, and also was a weather presenter on CFCN TV's late morning newscast before heading to Toronto.

Last edited by albertaboy4life (February 27, 2026 12:51 pm)

RadioActive · February 27, 2026 12:58 pm

May be the best CHUM-FM TV commercial ever. Cleverly shot and it had a lot of people talking. Which is just what a commercial is supposed to do.

markow202 · February 27, 2026 1:19 pm

CHUM FM is a good station and I did put them on for a few hours yesterday - the one thing I have to say is the playlist is very stale and hasnt changed now in years. Its the same recycled pop music. There is a lot of good music out there so maybe im not understanding...there was nothing exciting to be heard.

RadioActive · February 27, 2026 1:27 pm

Binson Echorec wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
May be the best CHUM-FM TV commercial ever. Cleverly shot and it had a lot of people talking. Which is just what a commercial is supposed to do.
The blonde woman with the boombox at the end of the spot was an usher at MLG...and eventually became Mrs. Doug Gilmour #2.

Wow, what a great piece of trivia!

RadioActive · March 1, 2026 2:59 pm

Came across this great pic of Roger, Rick & Marilyn from the year 2000. Only one of them is still on the air in Toronto and that will end this summer.

RadioAaron · March 1, 2026 4:49 pm

Binson Echorec wrote:
From another thread:

RadioAaron wrote:
Binson Echorec wrote:
For those of us in the dark, how will we know if/when this ominous rumour goes public or is proven true?
I doubt it will go public.

If a well-rated morning show breaks up soon, at least the company will have dealt with it.
Guessing we can consider this situation dealt with?

The situation was Mailyn-adjacent; so probably.

RadioActive · March 3, 2026 6:32 pm

RadioAaron wrote:
Binson Echorec wrote:
From another thread:

RadioAaron wrote:
I doubt it will go public.

If a well-rated morning show breaks up soon, at least the company will have dealt with it.
Guessing we can consider this situation dealt with?

The situation was Mailyn-adjacent; so probably.

And yet, Denis insists in a Toronto Star interview she's leaving totally of her own accord, and was not forced out.

"Many wondered: Why is Marilyn Denis leaving, and is it of her own volition? She assures that it is, and that she chose this timing. “I feel like I’ve hit a benchmark,” Denis said, “and people seem extra happy for you because these days a lot of people in our business are not.”

She recalls moving from Edmonton to Toronto to try for the CHUM gig four decades ago, with no assurances she'd get the job. Then came the audition with Roger Ashby.

“We went into the production room with Roger, and it felt like just the two of us, though I’m told there were other people in the room,” she said. The chemistry, that indefinable quality that makes radio hosts’ banter connect with listeners, was there. “Roger went down the hall and said, ‘She’s the one.’ I didn’t know I had gotten the job, but I felt it."

Marilyn Denis reflects on life after CHUM, and what’s next for her: ‘It’s been an emotional week’

AspectRatio · March 4, 2026 11:22 am

RadioActive wrote:
And yet, Denis insists in a Toronto Star interview she's leaving totally of her own accord, and was not forced out.

Yes, but "Marilyn-adjacent" does not necessarily refer to Marilyn herself.

paterson1 · March 4, 2026 11:49 am

Marilyn will be 68 this summer on July 1st. She likely is looking forward sleeping in a few more hours, rather than getting up at 4am. If she says she is leaving on her own accord, why would anyone question otherwise?
Most people still retire when they want to...

markow202 · March 4, 2026 5:49 pm

Article:
=20px"She was always mindful of who was tuning in, and of “how far the signal went out.” One morning, driving to visit family in Pittsburgh so early it was still dark out, Denis came to a toll booth in Dunkirk, N.Y. “When I spoke to the woman in the booth, she heard my voice and said, ‘Is that you?"

Im sure Marilyn knew the signal was coming from the CN Tower?