'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
Felonies, assassination attempts and a last-minute change on the ticket leads voters to Tuesday's U.S. election
A campaign that has careened through a felony trial, incumbent being pushed off the ticket and assassination attempts comes down to Election Day on Tuesday.
Elections BC says box of 861 votes uncounted, others votes unreported
Elections BC says it has discovered that a ballot box containing 861 votes wasn't counted in the recent provincial election, as well as other mistakes including 14 votes going unreported in a crucial riding narrowly won by the NDP.
Peel police officer suspended after video appeared to show him at protest while off duty
Peel police say four people were arrested and an officer was injured following several protests in Mississauga and Brampton Sunday afternoon, including one at a Hindu temple that turned violent.
Musk PAC tells Philadelphia judge the US$1M sweepstakes winners are not chosen by chance
A lawyer for Elon Musk 's political action committee told a judge in Philadelphia on Monday that so-called 'winners' of his US$1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes in swing states are not chosen by chance but are instead chosen to be paid 'spokespeople' for the group.
Surprise swing state? Iowa poll has Harris suddenly leading
Based on victories in the past two elections and polls leading up to Tuesday’s election, Donald Trump had seemed almost certain to win Iowa, but a new poll has Kamala Harris with a sudden three-point lead.
Pair of rare November tornadoes touch down in New Brunswick last week
A research team has confirmed a pair of tornadoes touched down in central New Brunswick last week.
3 arrested as protesters clash outside Hindu temple in Surrey, B.C.
Three people were arrested after duelling protests erupted into violence outside a Hindu temple in Surrey, B.C., over the weekend, according to the RCMP.
Daylight savings can negatively affect worker productivity, research says
New research from the University of Oregon finds the annual practice of ‘springing forward’ into daylight time affects productivity more than previously thought.
B.C. port employers to launch lockout at terminals as labour disruption begins
Employers at British Columbia ports say they are going ahead with locking out more than 700 foremen across the province after strike activities from union members began.