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[4]By Tamara Pilon [5]
BELLEVILLE – After nearly 30 years on radio in Belleville and elsewhere, Ingrid Moore [6] is leaving 95.5 Hits FM [7] for new job adventures.
Moore, the co-host of the Starboard Communications station’s morning program, is joining the Belleville General Hospital Foundation [8] as its events officer. Her last day on the air is Feb. 8.
She has worked as the morning-show host with Mark Philbin for almost 10 years. For 24 of her 30 years in the business, she has worked in the Quinte region.
When QNet News spent a morning with Moore in 95.5’s Dundas Street West studio this week, she said she’s made many memories throughout the years, but one in particular stands out.
“We were raising awareness about drinking and driving, so police came in and we were drinking on air and they administered a breathalyzer and the listeners got to hear us basically get drunk throughout the morning,” she said. “After 9 o’clock when the show’s done, that’s horrible. Nobody should have a hangover at 9 a.m.”
There are many things she will miss about radio when she’s gone, she said. Among them is the listeners and the connection she’s made with them.
“I love getting up and coming to work. I’m going to miss Mark – we have such a friendship,” she said. “I don’t think anyone spends as much time with their husband as Mark and I spend together. We always joke he’s my work husband.”
There are also a few things that she’s not going to miss, including waking up at 4:30 in the morning. She’s looking forward to being able to sleep in, she said.
But overall, Moore said, she’s loved the job, adding that the quote “If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life” is fitting for her radio career.
After announcing on the 95.5 Hits FM’s Facebook page that she was retiring from radio [9], she got a massive positive response, and she was surprised by the number of people who commented as well some of the things they said, she told QNet.
One listener said, “No! You two ARE my morning! You‘ve picked me up, made me smile and got me through the roughest times. Your passion will lead you to be amazing at your new role.”
As for her new position with the hospital foundation, Moore said she’s done similar work in the past. She was the chair of the Children’s Foundation [10] gala, special-events chair for United Way, [11] and helped other causes.
“I’ve been involved with many organizations throughout the community during my time in radio,” Moore said.
“I’ve been helping out with the Belleville General Hospital Foundation over the last couple of years,” so when the job position opened there, she felt it was the right time and opportunity to make the switch.