Edmonton radio fixture Layne Mitchell departs Sonic 102.9 after nearly 20 years

Longtime voice signs off

One of Edmonton’s most familiar radio voices is moving on. Layne Mitchell, a host on Sonic 102.9, announced in a social media video posted Sunday evening that he is leaving the station, closing out nearly 20 years as a recognizable presence on the city’s airwaves.

In a clip running just under four minutes, Mitchell thanked listeners and colleagues while reflecting on the on-air moments and news cycles he witnessed with the audience over the years. He told fans the station will carry on without him and emphasized his gratitude to supporters and partners.

“I really hope you continue to listen to Sonic, and I hope the station does just as well without me. I do want to say a huge thank you to Rogers, thank you to all the sponsors, but more than anything, thank you. Thank you for listening. We laughed together. We shared stories,” Mitchell said.

What Mitchell says comes next

Mitchell said he is not immediately stepping into a new full-time role. Instead, he expects listeners will still hear him in various places while he weighs longer-term options. He cited continuing national voice work and creative projects within the local music scene, alongside personal pursuits beyond broadcasting.

• Ongoing commercial and promotional voice work across Canada
• Plans to engineer and produce local bands
• Potential to take on personal training clients

He framed the move as an opportunity to reset and look for a new challenge, telling listeners he would be following his interests while he considers what’s ahead.

“Mostly, I’m gonna just follow my bliss while I look for that next mountain to climb. Until then, sincerely, thank you for listening,” he said. “Three decades of adventure and hijinks that somehow managed to put food on my family’s table, and I have you to thank. Peace and love.”

Why this matters for Edmonton listeners

For an audience that grew up with Sonic 102.9 as part of their weekday routines, Mitchell’s exit marks a transition at a station that helped shape the sound of modern rock in the city. Regular listeners who tuned in for his blend of music talk and community updates will be watching for how Sonic adjusts its lineup and presentation in the weeks ahead. Mitchell’s message that the station will continue without him suggests programming will remain in place while management determines next steps.

Edmonton’s radio community is accustomed to changes over time, but shifts in familiar voices can alter listening habits and the relationship between stations and their audiences. Mitchell’s plan to stay connected through commercial work and local production means many in the city may still encounter his work in different formats, even if not as a daily on-air presence.

A week of change in local media

Mitchell’s news comes amid a busy period for the broader media landscape in the city. The same week, Global News Edmonton six o’clock anchor Scott Roberts said he was affected by Corus layoffs, underscoring the pace of change across platforms and formats. While the two developments are unrelated, both point to a moment of transition for how local audiences connect with news, information and entertainment.

Listeners who grew up with Sonic’s alt-rock format and personality-driven segments may see this as a generational handoff, with new voices stepping forward while established hosts explore different avenues. For Mitchell, that means widening his scope to include production and training, alongside the voiceover work many listeners already recognize between songs, at concerts and in movie trailers.

At a glance

For Edmonton listeners, the station’s next schedule update will signal how Sonic aims to maintain continuity while reshaping its roster. For Mitchell, the sign-off is not a goodbye to the industry so much as a pivot to a broader mix of creative and professional projects that continue to originate from, and speak to, this city.