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

But now that Ashby’s final CHUM 104.5 show is just days away — 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.”

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