Cat Spencer leaving Virgin radio, heading to The Q

Cat Spencer and Lisa Player (image from Virgin Radio, 95.9 FM)

Big changes are once again coming to Montreal's English radio scene.

Friday morning a source with Virgin Radio (CJFM 95.9) confirmed that Cat Spencer will be leaving the most-listened to radio station in English Montreal and heading to the competition, The Q (CFQR 92.5).

The news comes as long-time morning man Aaron Rand announced on-air that he will be leaving The Q at the end of April.

Rand said he is not ready to retire, but after more than 25 years hosting morning radio, he has plenty of alternatives.

He reportedly owns two restaurants located on St. Jacques Ave. in Montreal.

Mark Dickie at The Q told CTV Montreal Friday afternoon that Rand will be greatly missed.

He called him a "phenomenal broadcaster" who has "given this city 26 great years."

Listen to Aaron Rand's announcement as recorded by Montreal blogger Steve Faguy, aka Fagstein.

Previous changes in Montreal radio

The last large-scale shakeups in Montreal morning radio happened in 2009.

In January 2009 Ted Bird left CHOM-FM after 17-years of working for CHOM, then Mix-96, then CHOM again.

He finally landed as a morning man at K103 in Kahnawake, and makes weekly appearances on CTV Montreal.

That same year The Q fired long-time announcers Paul 'Tasso' Zakaib and Suzanne Desautels.

Tasso and Rand had worked together for 25 years before being unceremoniously split up.

Desautels, a former reporter for CTV, has since resurfaced as morning weather woman on CJAD.