'We had such a special connection': Colleagues recall working with Darrel Janz over his 50 year career at CTV Calgary
(Note: A memorial service will be held at the Centre Street Church on Dec. 5, 1 p.m.)
Barb Higgins says hearing Darrel Janz died left her feeling numb.
Higgins spent 21 years co-anchoring the 6 p.m. CTV News with Janz, becoming the number one newscast in the city, and along the way, she developed a warm friendship with her co-anchor.
She met Janz for the first time in 1989, the day she came for the job interview.
"I met him in the dressing room getting ready to go on the set to audition with Darrel, and our eyes met in the mirror as he walked in the back, and I spun around and our eyes met, and we clicked, and we both talked about it after," she said.
"We both knew in that moment that there was chemistry, and we were able to enjoy that chemistry together for 21 years."
Election nights were electric
The pair spent more than two decades on the anchor desk and, while it's hard to pick a favourite story or broadcast, she says their election coverage stands out. They would play off each other's strengths and when they had to fill time, Darrel was an excellent ad-libber.
"He would pull some story out of the file in the back of his head about an election however many years ago, and he would remember the people and the date and what happened and the fallout, and you know, you just think, 'Wow, what a career.'"
'Gorgeous baritone'
Many people might not know that Janz was also a spectacular singer, singing in a choir and a quartet for years.
"Darrel had a gorgeous baritone voice, and he sang in a quartet for many years, and going to hear him sing was always a treat. He used to love to sing Elvira."
Outpouring of grief
Janz died early Saturday morning at the age of 83, prompting an outpouring of grief and fond reminiscences across the country as reporters, past colleagues and CTV Calgary newswatchers who recalled the huge role Janz played in their daily lives.
"I don't think there's a person in Calgary who worked in this industry who wasn't touched by him in some way," says Higgins.
"He was, he was so giving to his students and to the community.," Higgins said. "He was so proud of his students. He spoke so fondly all the time of his years in teaching, and he always kept in touch with his students afterward, and took a real interest in how they were doing."
Barb Higgins and Darrel Janz co-anchored the CTV News at 6 for 21 years. (Photo: X@BarbHiggins)
Sunday morning, Premier Danielle Smith said, “I was saddened to hear of Darrel Janz passing. He is an icon in the Calgary media landscape. I grew up watching Darrel and Barb on the evening news and he continued to tell amazing stories even after he left the anchor chair. He will be missed.”
Saturday, Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi recalled growing up at a time when Janz was the city's anchorman.
"I can’t ever remember not seeing Darrel on TV," Nenshi said. "I’m not sure that in this fragmented world, kids today grow up with an anchorman who represents everything and represents the community the way Darrel did.
"Darrel was a man of great faith," he added, "and I know that his faith will bring great comfort to his family today but I’m going to miss him."
'A kind person. A good man'
David Spence arrived at CTV Calgary in 1981 as a 20-year-old raw rookie walking into a newsroom full of seasoned veterans.
Singer and TV star Jann Arden's fond farewell to retiring CTV meteorologist David Spence
One of the first people in the newsroom to reach out to Spence was Janz.
"Of all the people there, he was the one that was the most welcoming," Spence said.
At the time, Janz was also teaching journalism at SAIT and Spence said he wished he could take a class but he had to go to work -- so he asked Janz if he could share a bit of what he taught students.
"He said OK,," Spence said, "and he brought me some textbooks and showed me examples of my work, and showed me how I could improve, and he treated me like one of his students, like a protégé – and that made me a better broadcaster.
"In fact, he probably had more influence on my career than anybody else I’ve ever worked with," he added.
Spence worked with Janz from 1981 to 2021, when he retired.
He says he's only one of hundreds of young journalists who were mentored by Janz, who taught at both SAIT and Mount Royal over the years.
"The number of people who graduated from his classes, who learned from him on the job, has to number in the hundreds and they’re right across the country, working in the business who learned from Darrel Janz.," Spence said. "He’s left an amazing legacy."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump making 'joke' about Canada becoming 51st state is 'reassuring': Ambassador Hillman
Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. insists it’s a good sign U.S. president-elect Donald Trump feels 'comfortable' joking with Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Mexico president says Canada has a 'very serious' fentanyl problem
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is not escalating a war of words with Mexico, after the Mexican president criticized Canada's culture and its framing of border issues.
Quebec doctors who refuse to stay in public system for 5 years face $200K fine per day
Quebec's health minister has tabled a bill that would force new doctors trained in the province to spend the first five years of their careers working in Quebec's public health network.
Freeland says it was 'right choice' for her not to attend Mar-a-Lago dinner with Trump
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says it was 'the right choice' for her not to attend the surprise dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Friday night.
'Sleeping with the enemy': Mistrial in B.C. sex assault case over Crown dating paralegal
The B.C. Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of sexual assault after he learned his defence lawyer's paralegal was dating the Crown prosecutor during his trial.
Bad blood? Taylor Swift ticket dispute settled by B.C. tribunal
A B.C. woman and her daughter will be attending one of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour shows in Vancouver – but only after a tribunal intervened and settled a dispute among friends over tickets.
Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson, whose rocky relationship fuelled the rapper's lyrics, dies at age 69
Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his hit song lyrics, has died. She was 69.
NDP won't support Conservative non-confidence motion that quotes Singh
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he won't play Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's games by voting to bring down the government on an upcoming non-confidence motion.
Canadians warned to use caution in South Korea after martial law declared then lifted
Global Affairs Canada is warning Canadians in South Korea to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution after the country's president imposed an hours-long period of martial law.