November 8, 2023 • 38 mins
We sit down with Darrel Janz as he shares about the excitement, challenges, and innovation during his 60 years in radio and television. Darrel’s infectious passion for current affairs and sports took him on an extraordinary career path, traveling all over Canada and earning a remarkable reputation in the broadcasting industry.
But Darrel’s story is not just about the glamour of the broadcasting world. It’s a testament to the power of family, love, and sacrifice, as he made hard decisions to prioritize his loved ones, showcasing the vital balance between career and family life. His candid reflections on remaining connected in our technology-driven society are valuable for everyone grappling with the demands of work-life balance.
Darrel also opens up about his faith journey, illustrating how it has shaped his life and career. It’s a compelling tale of strength, belief, and the power of prayer that has guided him through life's ups and downs. Join us on this riveting episode, where we explore the intersections of broadcasting, faith, family, and leadership.
Thanks for listening!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 2 (00:07):
Welcome to the Leader Impact podcast.
We are a community of leaderswith a network in over 350
cities around the worlddedicated to optimizing our
personal, professional andspiritual lives to have impact.
This show is where we have achance to listen and engage with
leaders who are living this out.
We love talking with leaders,so if you have any questions,
comments or suggestions to makethis show even better, please
(00:29):
let us know.
Best way to stay connected inCanada is through our newsletter
at LeaderImpactca or socialmedia at LeaderImpact.
If you're listening fromoutside of Canada, check out our
website at LeaderImpactcom.
I'm your host, Lisa Peters, andour guest today Darrel Janz.
Darrel entered this world in1941 on a farm northeast of
Swift Current, saskatchewan.
(00:50):
Graduating from Herbert HighSchool, he moved on to graduate
Saskatchewan Teachers College in1961.
Studying for only one year in aone-room, a multigrade school
on the edge of the Quapal Valleynorth of Regina was just about
enough for him, because as soonas school was out for the summer
, he began his incrediblebroadcasting career at CFAM in
(01:12):
Manitoba.
By 1963, he made his way to doradio and TV news at CHAB in
Moushchah and soon began a60-year adventure with CTV
taking him across Canada.
He anchored the CTV Calgarynews for 40 years, from 2013 to
2023, and did a weekly featurefor CTV called Inspired
(01:33):
Albertans.
In June 2023, Darrel beganco-hosting a weekly talk show
that runs on YES TV calledLegacy Makers.
He has been involved withLeaderImpact since 2016 and
became a co-leader in 2017.
A widower with two children onVancouver Island and a stepson
in High River Alberta, Darrelcontinues to be active speaker
(01:55):
and emcee and has a voice ofgold.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Welcome to the show Darrel.
Thank you very much, lisa, goodto be with you.
It is nice, you're near myroots.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yes, I am, and I have a cabin on Lake Diefenbaker
which is even closer to yourroots.
Oh, definitely.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
As a matter of fact, if you have time someday, I have
some great Lake Diefenbakerstories.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Are they like big fish stories?
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Well, that's the latter part.
The earlier part is whenDiefenbaker was having that damn
build.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yes, we have friends out there that were there for
that, but I would love to hearyour story because you're the
news guy, you're it.
So thank you again for joiningus, Darrel, it is nice to be
here with you.
So our podcast over the lastfew weeks has really sort of
taken this turn to really divedeep into pivotal points
(02:53):
greatest failures, mistakes,principles of successes.
So that's where we're going tohead, because I think that's
where some of our greateststories are.
So, if you're ready to begin,I'm going to start with asking
you to tell us a little bitabout your professional story
and how you got to where you aretoday and if you can give us a
couple of snapshots that werepivotal turning points along
(03:13):
that journey.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Well, my mom told me that it really started in that
farmhouse in which I was born atMain Center, Saskatchewan, and
at the age of two she said Iwould be playing in the kitchen
while she had the batterypowered radio on.
We didn't have electricity yetand she said I'd be playing on
(03:38):
the floor or sitting in my highchair, paying no attention to
the music that was being playedon the radio.
But as soon as the musicstopped and the announcers
started talking, at age two Iwould start mimicking the
announcers, repeating what theywere saying, and so she said I
(03:59):
figured you'd be a broadcaster.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Really at age of two.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
At age of two so, and all through at age four or so,
maybe three, when the war wasstill underway, my dad always
listened to the CBC radio newsat eight o'clock at night.
It wasn't at 11 back then, itwas or 10.
It was at eight o'clock and itwas radio news and it was read
(04:27):
by Lauren Green.
Before he went to Hollywood hedid the CBC national news on CBC
Saskatchewan and all of the CBCstations, and while my brothers
would be playing on the floor Iwould go and sit with dad and
listen to the Lauren Green newsand I was mesmerized by this
(04:50):
incredible voice and it justfascinated me.
Plus, the war fascinated meeven at that stage and current
affairs in general fascinated mefrom a very young age and at
age four.
If dad went to Swift Currentand brought home a Regina leader
(05:12):
post, I would.
After he was finished with it, Iwould read it at age four, I
was nobody ever taught me toread, it's just a God given gift
.
And so by the time I was injunior high, I was whipping the
grade 12s in current affairsquizzes, and my current affairs
(05:36):
teacher, or my social studiesteacher, mr Swatzke, began to
recommend a career in journalism.
I also had a high school coach,mr Gorious, who saw my love of
sports but my total inapness atthem, and so he recommended a
(05:57):
career in sports casting.
And so I kind of blended thetwo and became a journalist on
radio and television rather thanat a newspaper, the way Mr
Swatzke envisioned it, becausewriting was also a passion of
mine.
So it was just kind of natural.
(06:18):
And yet at that time there werenot schools like there are today
teaching that stuff, except forRyerson in Toronto, and that
was so far away.
No Saskatchewan kid would evendream of going there to go to
school.
And so you got a job in a smallradio station and for me that
(06:38):
happened to be Altona ManitobaC-F-A-M radio, in what is today
a much larger company calledGolden West Radio.
And in 1962, on July 1st,dominion Day 1962, I began my
career by covering the DominionDay picnic in Dominion City, a
(06:59):
little place with a big name,south of Winnipeg, right near
the North Dakota border, firstplace in Canada to flood
whenever the Red River overflowsits banks.
And so that was my beginning.
Worked there for a year andthen, in the fall of 1963, got
hired at C-H-A-B in Moose Jaw todo both radio and television,
(07:23):
and as soon as I sat in front ofa TV camera I knew I'd found my
game.
And so that lasted for well sofar, for 60 years and counting,
because I'm still working andhappy to be doing it.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, I love your story when I listen to those
teachers that encouraged you.
You know people that say youknow you should do this, and I
mean you never became a likesports broadcaster.
But well, I don't think you did.
Did you?
Did I miss that?
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Well, I did sportscast when I worked.
My journey was Altona Moosja.
Well, I really have to be fair.
I was three months at CJGXRadio in York and Saskatchewan
spinning country music, andwhile I didn't mind it, it was
kind of fun.
And I remember two songs fromthat summer of 63 when I was
(08:19):
spinning this country music wasJohnny Cash's Ring of Fire and
Porter Wagner had a big hitcalled.
I've Enjoyed as Much of this asI Can Stand, and so those are
the two songs that stick in mymind.
But after three months of that Iquit and and CHAB gave me a job
(08:40):
doing just news.
Saskatoon was also just newsfor three years at CFQC and then
four years in Montreal, andyou'd think in what was in the
biggest private station inCanada, you'd think that you'd
be more pigeon holed Then in thesmaller stations.
But no, I did more stuff atCFCF in Montreal than I did at
(09:05):
these smaller stations.
I did sports, I did weather, Idid news News mainly, oh, and I
did traffic helicopter reportsand survived a crash into the St
Lawrence River.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah you, you survived a crash.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
I survived a crash.
I stole the stole the frontpage from the Expo's, the
Montreal Expo's.
On the first day they played ahome game against the St Louis
Cardinals.
We were covering traffic and wecrashed into the St Lawrence
River that day, and so the nextday we kind of shared the
(09:42):
headlines with the Expo's in theEnglish papers.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Wow, look at you making news.
You're crashing.
What I also love about yourstory is just there was no
schools, as you said.
When you mean, since you weretwo, you were reciting the news
and amazed and reading thenewspaper there, ryerson, was it
right?
And that was a long ways fromSwift quarantine.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Oh yeah, no kidding.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
And just to get in, start doing those things and
getting involved and and like doit, almost doing it yourself,
and having teachers who werelike you can do this.
It's inspiring you.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
I've spoken at many a teacher's convention and I tell
them this story and I say youhave no idea how much influence
you have on a, an impressionableyoung person, to hear from one
of you, from a teacher hey,you're good at this, why don't
you make that your career?
(10:42):
And and I owe both Mr Swatskyand Mr Gorious a lot for the
success of my career- yeah, oh,that's awesome and good.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Shout out to those two people and thank you for
sharing.
So our next question is justabout your best, if you can give
us your best principle ofsuccess and tell us a story that
illustrates this.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
The best I can offer is do whatever they ask you to
do within reason, as long asit's legal and moral.
Do it If they ask you to do it.
And and I had many examples ofthat I was asked to cover things
(11:29):
that I would not have wanted tocover, but there was nothing
wrong, nothing illegal orimmoral about it, and so I did
it and it added to my resume.
It added to my reputation assomeone who'll do what you ask
them to do.
But I also refused to do a fewthings because they were not, in
(11:55):
my mind, moral.
Legal, perhaps, yes, moral, no.
I'll give you the best example Ihave in the somewhere in the
1980s, long before the principleF word was used as frequently
as it is today.
(12:15):
So our court reporter here atCTV Calgary came back from a
case where that word had beenused in testimony and he felt it
belonged in there.
Our producer agreed with himand wanted to put it in.
I wasn't going to be reading it, but he was going to be saying
(12:39):
it in his, in his report, and sofinally it had to come down to
an adjudication by our directorof news and public affairs, and
thank God he came down on myside because I was ready to put
my job on the line for that.
I did not feel it belonged in asupper hour newscast where kids
(13:04):
were listening and so on, andtoday that word is far too
commonly used, but back then itwasn't, and I wasn't about to
read the first newscast in whichit was included.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Yeah, I find.
And what year was this?
It would have been like yousaid, 80s, I think 83, 84
somewhere in there.
I find that amazing because asyou listen to, I don't hear it.
I don't hear the F word a lot,I'll have to admit, but I hear
offensive language.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
You live a sheltered life.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Clearly I do too much community television.
I see, yeah, but when I do hearit, I turn it off and I
probably won't listen to thatstation again because it's
common right, it is theirlanguage, it is just, and I will
turn it off.
But to actually put your job onthe line, for.
You know that's a big deal andI get you know.
(14:03):
If it's an effort, or if it'ssomething the president's not
doing or some way, you've beentreated.
Yeah, you know, morally it'swrong.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Yes, yeah, and but you know, wherever possible, I
said yes.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Yeah, and, like you said, it added to your resume
those stories you may not havewanted to cover, but it was
legal and it was more.
Yeah, I'll remember that whenI'm doing stories, because
Sometimes I'm just I don't knowif I should cover this.
But thank you for sharing those.
Those are great stories.
So I'm not sure where you sitwith your your failures and
(14:43):
mistakes, but I think we allknow we learn from those.
We learn more from our failuresand mistakes than our own
successes and I was wondering ifyou could share one of your
greatest failures or mistakesand what you have learned.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Well, my greatest failure, my greatest mistake was
putting career ahead of familyand it ended in a divorce and
and long estrangement from twowonderful kids.
But God has brought about areconciliation in recent years.
(15:17):
Their mother passed away ofcancer in 19 or 2013 and we have
had, just in the last few years, an incredible Reconciliation
that only God could have broughtabout and we have a wonderful
Relationship now.
They're two wonderful peopleliving on the beautiful West
(15:39):
Coast of Vancouver Island, farfrom, far from Saskatoon where
they were born, montreal wherethey kind of started life, and
then Calgary, where they grew upand lived here until after
their mother's passing and thenMoved out there, and both are
very, being very successful outthere.
Yeah and and so To.
(16:01):
To conclude my answer to yourquestion biggest mistake, and
from which I Hopefully learned,was was putting career ahead of
family.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
So in the time that it happened.
So go back how many years whenyou were putting your career.
What were your thoughts?
Where you're like I need to dothis.
This is the only way I'm gonnaget ahead.
I'm not gonna get noticed if Idon't work this hard because I'm
I'm a woman who is working howmany hours a day so I can get
ahead.
And I always tried to sort ofwhen my kids got home from you
(16:37):
know, like that time I, Icommitted, but I can understand
that we want to get ahead.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
So Maybe, maybe we need some advice well, for for a
kid who grew up in a largefamily and I, I didn't have the
athletic skills of my twobrothers, one older, one younger
.
There was a lot I didn't have.
The two things I was good atwere writing and talking, and so
(17:08):
when I Finally got a job thatgave me recognition as a kid, I
felt well, the one time I wouldfeel recognized is when they put
me up on the stage as a, as anelementary school student, to
recite poems or Something alongthat line, or in high school,
(17:35):
when they put me in in a dramaand in a play where, I Must
admit, I kind of stole the show,and so it it.
It was so good for the ego, andso that that is what began to
drive me, and, and so, evenafter I married, sadly, that
(17:59):
Took priority over and, and men,especially women, today more so
than in years past, have atendency to do that and to be
identified by their career, bytheir job.
And so I thought you know, if Idon't put on all this time and
(18:20):
all this effort, then I'll nevergo anywhere.
And so Once I got to Calgary, Inever did go anywhere, but I
did okay here, and and so I.
I just felt I needed to do that.
But looking back now Isometimes think if I had put
(18:40):
more effort into my family andless into my career, I might
have done even better at mycareer, because there would have
been that, that satisfaction ofbeing a good husband and a good
dad.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, you're not the first one to ever say that.
On our podcast I've heardsimilar stories of one I think
it was Bruce and he talked aboutthat and he, he, he's good in
his marriage.
But there was a point where herealized like things need to
change and.
I need to go home and turn off.
(19:15):
We are too connected as I holdup my phone.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Right like this is by my bag.
I need to let go.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Yes, easy, it's very important.
I'm trying, I have mine.
Mine is my alarm clock.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Yes, but.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
I try to ignore it during the night.
When, when nature calls in themiddle of the night, I try to
ignore it because if you spendany time on it, you'll wake up
enough that it'll be difficultgetting back to sleep.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Yes, right, I need to take.
I'm going through a change oflife, darryl, so I wake up in a
little bit of a hot sweat On myphone.
Actually, I just need to goaway.
I need to go back to theold-style alarm clock, where
it's just an alarm clock.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
That's a good idea, and and on on nights, when I
don't have to be somewhere.
The next morning I don't set myalarm, I and I leave my phone
elsewhere, and Every once in awhile I have wakened in the
morning and reached for it andit wasn't there.
And I thought good, because ifthey do occupy far too much of
(20:36):
our time, yes, we have to knowwhat everybody else is doing, as
.
I say, we do yeah oh, it's justa.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
I needed this lesson today, thank you.
So I mean, you've been involvedin leader impact for many years
and you became a co-leader in2017, so you know that our goal
is we want to growprofessionally, personally and
spiritually For increasingimpact.
So would you be willing toshare an example of how the
spiritual makes a practicaldifference in your life as a
(21:04):
leader?
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Spiritual is who I am .
It wasn't always the case.
I went to the far country likethe particle Sun for a time and
God has a wonderful way ofanswering mother's prayers and
and he, he dragged me back and Iwon't say kicking and screaming
(21:28):
, I didn't kick and scream, buthe worked at me for a long time
and and I had to wind up Prettylow before I finally said okay,
I got to go home to the father'shouse and Get this thing
straightened out and then myspiritual life became the core
(21:51):
of who I am and it made such adifference in in so many ways.
People at work saw thedifference.
I'll give you one kind of funnyexample Back when, in the 80s,
when political correctness wasjust becoming a big issue and
today it's gone to ridiculousextremes.
(22:13):
But back then we were sitting inthe cafeteria at CTV Calgary
one day and Talking about thiswhole political correctness
issue and I Said well, you know,there's really only two Groups
of people you can make fun ofthese days publicly and get away
(22:34):
with it.
One is white males and theother is born-again Christians.
And one of our sports guys, whowas quite a Religious and and
almost anti-religious, looks atme with a smirk and says, yes,
you both ways, doesn't it?
And I thought, okay, I'm gladthey notice not that I'm a white
(22:59):
male, that's obvious.
Yeah, that I'm a believer, andthey knew it.
I I wasn't.
I wasn't preachy about it, butI also wasn't silent about it.
Yeah, I said to one co-workerone time who claimed to be an
atheist I said well, I wish Ihad your faith.
And he kind of a double-take.
(23:21):
He said what do you mean?
I have no faith.
I said oh, yes, you do.
I said it takes far more faithto believe what you believe than
what I believe, because there'sso much evidence for what I
believe and there's no evidencefor what you believe.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Wow, and, and where did that conversation go?
Oh.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
That was the end of it for them.
It didn't go any further.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
So when you in the 1980s, when you talked about
your best principle of successand you said legal, moral, and
you said you wouldn't say the FWord, you wouldn't let allow it
to happen.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
This was, was this part of Growing and just saying
no, I'm, we're gonna stop thisright here.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
I'm Christian, I'm not doing this, yes, yeah, that
plus.
As word got out that I hadsurrendered my life, I started
to get an increasing number ofrequests to come and Speak to
men's breakfast, ladies,banquets, various other things,
(24:29):
and share my story and andthere's nothing better for your
growth than to go out and putyourself out there on on on the
plank, and Tell your story andand be be brutally honest.
Don't just don't whitewash it.
Yeah, and it's, it's soimportant.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
I would agree with you and I think that's why I
show up here every, you know,every episode is.
For that reason I I have tohear this, I have to be here as
much as I'm interviewing.
I Get fulfillment from this,like I get something.
But interesting, that thetreating the differently and now
people are like Darrel shouldcome speak to our group.
(25:13):
He, he has, he is a follower ofJesus and he has story.
And to be real about that story, that's very important.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
And yeah, because You've heard the term secret
service Christians who you knowthey're believers but they don't
.
They don't say much about it.
Yeah, and and I I had somegreat mentors, some wonderful
Christian men, businessmen,professionals and so on, who
(25:48):
really showed me what it waslike to be a Christian in the
public eye.
When I first surrendered mylife, I Said to God okay, I'm a
public person.
If you want me to go publicwith this surrender of mine,
(26:09):
with my walk with you, thenyou're going to have to arrange
it, because I don't know how togo about that.
I had a younger brother who wasa great preacher and he had no
problem confronting anyone withthe gospel.
And not more than a few weeksafter I had said that to God, a
(26:33):
local pastor in Calgary who wasdoing a weekly TV show program
on our station and recording inour studio, came to me and said
understand God's vented work inyour life.
I said, oh.
I said you've been talking tothe pastors at my church.
(26:54):
He said yeah, and he said willyou come on my show and talk
about it?
And I said, god, you didn'thave to act that fast, but I
know he did, because thatcreated an accountability.
I used to love going into thesupermarket, the mall and having
(27:19):
people tell me how great I wasand so on.
I knew it wasn't true, but Istill enjoyed it.
And now what meant the most waswhen fellow believers would
come up to me in the store inthe mall and say saw you on that
program.
And now every time I see youreading the news, I pray for you
(27:41):
.
And that meant more to me thananything.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Earlier, when you had said you know talking about
your journey and sharing thatoutwardly to the public.
If I heard correctly, I'mthinking you grew up in a
Christian family.
You left for a while and thenyou came back and your mom
prayed for you, and you're likemom's prayers.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
And I think we didn't all grow up in beautiful
Christian families.
Some did, some didn't.
As I watch my children, theyjust both moved out and I raised
them as best I could.
And now they're in another citythree hours away and I can't be
(28:27):
there.
But I raised them and I knowthey'll come back.
You know they're probably notgoing to church.
I know they believe and I knowit's my prayer too as a parent.
You know they'll find their way.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
As I said, praying mothers are one of the most
powerful weapons God has.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Oh, I've got a rats.
Just a quote I got to writedown, thank you.
So I believe these are sort ofmy last two questions.
I had a wealth.
I seem to ask all the gueststhe same question, but we talk
about lasting impact.
Of course, leader impact isdedicated to leaders having a
lasting impact.
So, as you continue to moveyour through your own journey of
(29:07):
life, have you considered whatyou want your faith legacy to be
when you leave this world?
Speaker 1 (29:13):
Well, first of all, to see my children continue the
incredible heritage that theyinherited.
My family goes back generations, both of my great-grandfathers
on my mother's side and myfather's side.
(29:33):
When they came from Russia asMennonite migrants, they both
planted in their own respectivecommunities, planted the first
Mennonite brethren church inthose communities and then in my
dad's family.
My dad was the oldest of 11children, eight boys, eight men,
and he stayed and farmed thefamily farm in Saskatchewan, at
(29:59):
Maincedar.
But three of his brothersformed the core of the Janz
gospel quartet and then abrother in law sang the bass.
There were no basses in thatgeneration of Janz, as they were
all tenors and baritones, butno deep basses.
(30:20):
So as an adult I had a childhooddream come true I got to sing
with my three uncles.
The brother-in-law stepped outand let me sing with them, and
to this day it touches me sodeeply standing there with these
(30:40):
men that I had so admired allmy life, and to sing with them
was incredible.
So I want my legacy to live onthrough my children, who are
both followers of Christ andalso people that I want to get
(31:02):
to heaven and see, people thatare there at least in some part
because of me and some.
I know about some, but some Iprobably don't know about, and
so when I get there I want tosee people like that, but the
(31:22):
first thing I want to hear iswell done, good and faithful
servant.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Well done when you talk about.
I married into a Mennonitefamily the Peters and my first.
Well, one of many familyreunions and the singing it
brings you to tears.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Well, when you walk past the nursery in a Mennonite
church, you hear the babiescrying in four-part harmony.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
You do, I bet.
Oh yeah, that's why I alwayssay it's the four-part harmony.
It's.
How do you know this?
And even I mean to this day.
You know, funerals happen andeveryone goes and they are all
in the choir.
And it is yeah, it's abeautiful thing, Thank you for
sharing that.
So, Darrel, to continue on, mylast question is just what
(32:15):
brings you the greatest joy?
Speaker 1 (32:18):
The greatest joy is when I see a prayer for a soul
answered.
And I've had that happen quitea number of times, where fellow
workers have come to me to mydesk and said I accepted Christ
on the weekend, and I jump up,give them a hug and say I've
(32:42):
been praying for that and theysaid I thought you probably had
and that just gives me that.
And seeing my children afterall this time, that is probably
my greatest joy of all and thefact that they have such a good
relationship with God.
Yeah, that is.
(33:03):
And they tell me I didn't seethem for many years.
But they tell me there arethings about the intervening
years I'm not going to tell youabout and so that's fun.
They don't have to, but just tosee where they are at today is
(33:26):
just such a blessing.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Yeah, yeah, oh.
So when someone comes to yourdesk and they say that to you,
and is it an emotional moment?
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Oh it is, Can I?
Speaker 2 (33:38):
say that yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Mm-hmm.
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
So we've spent the last 33 minutes together and
I've heard a lot of stories.
Is there anything else?
Have I not asked you anyquestions?
I feel like I have an icon, aCTV icon, and I'm like and it
was funny because, as we wereabout to begin, you are, I think
Paul prayed for you and I waslistening in and just living in
(34:04):
the moment and I don't know ifthere's, is there anything else,
any other story that you canshare with our viewers that
might lift them up?
I don't know, I just I havethis.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Well, whenever I now publicly tell my story of
reconciliation with my kids, youcan't believe how many people
come up to me and say thank you.
I needed that encouragementbecause I didn't realize how
many estranged families thereare and what a blessing it is to
(34:38):
them to hear a story ofreconciliation.
It gives them hope.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Yeah, that's a great message, and I think we have to
keep sharing, don't we, Darrel?
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Oh, we do.
Absolutely, absolutely.
It's not something you ought tokeep to yourself.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
Yeah, all right.
Well, this ends our podcast.
But if anyone is listening andthinking I want to hear Darrel
speak or I would like to bookhim because I know you're still
active, or how can they find youand engage with you?
Where would be the best way?
Speaker 1 (35:09):
The best place would be on my email.
It's Darrel D-A-R-R-E-L.
Nearly, even though it wassupered on the bottom of the
screen for 40 years here.
I anchored for 40 years at CTVCalgary and every day my name
(35:31):
was supered there, but even tothis day the majority of people
spell my name.
They'll email me atD-A-R-R-E-Ljanz1.
That's.
I'll finish giving you thatJ-A-N-Z-1, digit one at gmailcom
(35:53):
.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
OK.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
And so, anyway, they'll send me something at
D-A-R-R-E-L.
And then they'll say hi, Darrel, d-a-r-y-l, because that's the
most common spelling.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Yeah, maybe they got auto corrected.
Life is auto corrected.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Well, auto correct.
Can I tell you a little funnything that somebody sent me a
little meme about auto correct.
You know it helps if you thinkof auto correct as a tiny elf
inside your phone trying so hardto be helpful but is in fact
quite drunk.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
Then it just makes you laugh.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
And are you on LinkedIn?
If anyone wants to find moreabout you, I'm on.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
LinkedIn.
Yes, I'm on LinkedIn.
That's the only social mediaI'm on.
I was on Twitter for quite awhile, but I quit.
We aged out?
Speaker 2 (36:50):
I don't know yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Yeah, that's.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
OK, linkedin, I'm with you there.
I like it there too.
Well, darrell, I want to thankyou for taking the time out of
your day.
I know that it was hard to getyou scheduled.
You are a busy guy, which isfantastic, but I just want to
thank you for sharing this timewith us.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Thank you very much, lisa.
It's a pleasure, all right.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Well, if you're listening and if you're part of
Leader Impact, you can alwaysdiscuss or share this podcast
with your group.
And if you are not yet part ofLeader Impact and would like to
find out more and grow yourleadership, find our podcast
page on our website atleaderimpactca and check out our
free leadership assessment.
You will also find on our webpage chapter one of Brayden
(37:31):
Douglas' book Becoming a Leaderof Impact.
You can also check out groupsavailable in Canada at
leaderimpactca or, if you'relistening from anywhere else in
the world, check outleaderimpactcom or get in touch
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And if you like this podcast,please leave us a comment, give
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(37:52):
This will help other globalleaders find our podcast.
Thank you for engaging with usand remember Impact starts with
you.
Welcome to the Leader Impact podcast.
We are a community of leaderswith a network in over 350
cities around the worlddedicated to optimizing our
personal, professional andspiritual lives to have impact.
This show is where we have achance to listen and engage with
leaders who are living this out.
We love talking with leaders,so if you have any questions,
comments or suggestions to makethis show even better, please
(00:29):
let us know.
Best way to stay connected inCanada is through our newsletter
at LeaderImpactca or socialmedia at LeaderImpact.
If you're listening fromoutside of Canada, check out our
website at LeaderImpactcom.
I'm your host, Lisa Peters, andour guest today Darrel Janz.
Darrel entered this world in1941 on a farm northeast of
Swift Current, saskatchewan.
(00:50):
Graduating from Herbert HighSchool, he moved on to graduate
Saskatchewan Teachers College in1961.
Studying for only one year in aone-room, a multigrade school
on the edge of the Quapal Valleynorth of Regina was just about
enough for him, because as soonas school was out for the summer
, he began his incrediblebroadcasting career at CFAM in
(01:12):
Manitoba.
By 1963, he made his way to doradio and TV news at CHAB in
Moushchah and soon began a60-year adventure with CTV
taking him across Canada.
He anchored the CTV Calgarynews for 40 years, from 2013 to
2023, and did a weekly featurefor CTV called Inspired
(01:33):
Albertans.
In June 2023, Darrel beganco-hosting a weekly talk show
that runs on YES TV calledLegacy Makers.
He has been involved withLeaderImpact since 2016 and
became a co-leader in 2017.
A widower with two children onVancouver Island and a stepson
in High River Alberta, Darrelcontinues to be active speaker
(01:55):
and emcee and has a voice ofgold.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Welcome to the show Darrel.
Thank you very much, lisa, goodto be with you.
It is nice, you're near myroots.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yes, I am, and I have a cabin on Lake Diefenbaker
which is even closer to yourroots.
Oh, definitely.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
As a matter of fact, if you have time someday, I have
some great Lake Diefenbakerstories.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Are they like big fish stories?
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Well, that's the latter part.
The earlier part is whenDiefenbaker was having that damn
build.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yes, we have friends out there that were there for
that, but I would love to hearyour story because you're the
news guy, you're it.
So thank you again for joiningus, Darrel, it is nice to be
here with you.
So our podcast over the lastfew weeks has really sort of
taken this turn to really divedeep into pivotal points
(02:53):
greatest failures, mistakes,principles of successes.
So that's where we're going tohead, because I think that's
where some of our greateststories are.
So, if you're ready to begin,I'm going to start with asking
you to tell us a little bitabout your professional story
and how you got to where you aretoday and if you can give us a
couple of snapshots that werepivotal turning points along
(03:13):
that journey.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Well, my mom told me that it really started in that
farmhouse in which I was born atMain Center, Saskatchewan, and
at the age of two she said Iwould be playing in the kitchen
while she had the batterypowered radio on.
We didn't have electricity yetand she said I'd be playing on
(03:38):
the floor or sitting in my highchair, paying no attention to
the music that was being playedon the radio.
But as soon as the musicstopped and the announcers
started talking, at age two Iwould start mimicking the
announcers, repeating what theywere saying, and so she said I
(03:59):
figured you'd be a broadcaster.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Really at age of two.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
At age of two so, and all through at age four or so,
maybe three, when the war wasstill underway, my dad always
listened to the CBC radio newsat eight o'clock at night.
It wasn't at 11 back then, itwas or 10.
It was at eight o'clock and itwas radio news and it was read
(04:27):
by Lauren Green.
Before he went to Hollywood hedid the CBC national news on CBC
Saskatchewan and all of the CBCstations, and while my brothers
would be playing on the floor Iwould go and sit with dad and
listen to the Lauren Green newsand I was mesmerized by this
(04:50):
incredible voice and it justfascinated me.
Plus, the war fascinated meeven at that stage and current
affairs in general fascinated mefrom a very young age and at
age four.
If dad went to Swift Currentand brought home a Regina leader
(05:12):
post, I would.
After he was finished with it, Iwould read it at age four, I
was nobody ever taught me toread, it's just a God given gift
.
And so by the time I was injunior high, I was whipping the
grade 12s in current affairsquizzes, and my current affairs
(05:36):
teacher, or my social studiesteacher, mr Swatzke, began to
recommend a career in journalism.
I also had a high school coach,mr Gorious, who saw my love of
sports but my total inapness atthem, and so he recommended a
(05:57):
career in sports casting.
And so I kind of blended thetwo and became a journalist on
radio and television rather thanat a newspaper, the way Mr
Swatzke envisioned it, becausewriting was also a passion of
mine.
So it was just kind of natural.
(06:18):
And yet at that time there werenot schools like there are today
teaching that stuff, except forRyerson in Toronto, and that
was so far away.
No Saskatchewan kid would evendream of going there to go to
school.
And so you got a job in a smallradio station and for me that
(06:38):
happened to be Altona ManitobaC-F-A-M radio, in what is today
a much larger company calledGolden West Radio.
And in 1962, on July 1st,dominion Day 1962, I began my
career by covering the DominionDay picnic in Dominion City, a
(06:59):
little place with a big name,south of Winnipeg, right near
the North Dakota border, firstplace in Canada to flood
whenever the Red River overflowsits banks.
And so that was my beginning.
Worked there for a year andthen, in the fall of 1963, got
hired at C-H-A-B in Moose Jaw todo both radio and television,
(07:23):
and as soon as I sat in front ofa TV camera I knew I'd found my
game.
And so that lasted for well sofar, for 60 years and counting,
because I'm still working andhappy to be doing it.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, I love your story when I listen to those
teachers that encouraged you.
You know people that say youknow you should do this, and I
mean you never became a likesports broadcaster.
But well, I don't think you did.
Did you?
Did I miss that?
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Well, I did sportscast when I worked.
My journey was Altona Moosja.
Well, I really have to be fair.
I was three months at CJGXRadio in York and Saskatchewan
spinning country music, andwhile I didn't mind it, it was
kind of fun.
And I remember two songs fromthat summer of 63 when I was
(08:19):
spinning this country music wasJohnny Cash's Ring of Fire and
Porter Wagner had a big hitcalled.
I've Enjoyed as Much of this asI Can Stand, and so those are
the two songs that stick in mymind.
But after three months of that Iquit and and CHAB gave me a job
(08:40):
doing just news.
Saskatoon was also just newsfor three years at CFQC and then
four years in Montreal, andyou'd think in what was in the
biggest private station inCanada, you'd think that you'd
be more pigeon holed Then in thesmaller stations.
But no, I did more stuff atCFCF in Montreal than I did at
(09:05):
these smaller stations.
I did sports, I did weather, Idid news News mainly, oh, and I
did traffic helicopter reportsand survived a crash into the St
Lawrence River.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah you, you survived a crash.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
I survived a crash.
I stole the stole the frontpage from the Expo's, the
Montreal Expo's.
On the first day they played ahome game against the St Louis
Cardinals.
We were covering traffic and wecrashed into the St Lawrence
River that day, and so the nextday we kind of shared the
(09:42):
headlines with the Expo's in theEnglish papers.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Wow, look at you making news.
You're crashing.
What I also love about yourstory is just there was no
schools, as you said.
When you mean, since you weretwo, you were reciting the news
and amazed and reading thenewspaper there, ryerson, was it
right?
And that was a long ways fromSwift quarantine.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Oh yeah, no kidding.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
And just to get in, start doing those things and
getting involved and and like doit, almost doing it yourself,
and having teachers who werelike you can do this.
It's inspiring you.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
I've spoken at many a teacher's convention and I tell
them this story and I say youhave no idea how much influence
you have on a, an impressionableyoung person, to hear from one
of you, from a teacher hey,you're good at this, why don't
you make that your career?
(10:42):
And and I owe both Mr Swatskyand Mr Gorious a lot for the
success of my career- yeah, oh,that's awesome and good.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Shout out to those two people and thank you for
sharing.
So our next question is justabout your best, if you can give
us your best principle ofsuccess and tell us a story that
illustrates this.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
The best I can offer is do whatever they ask you to
do within reason, as long asit's legal and moral.
Do it If they ask you to do it.
And and I had many examples ofthat I was asked to cover things
(11:29):
that I would not have wanted tocover, but there was nothing
wrong, nothing illegal orimmoral about it, and so I did
it and it added to my resume.
It added to my reputation assomeone who'll do what you ask
them to do.
But I also refused to do a fewthings because they were not, in
(11:55):
my mind, moral.
Legal, perhaps, yes, moral, no.
I'll give you the best example Ihave in the somewhere in the
1980s, long before the principleF word was used as frequently
as it is today.
(12:15):
So our court reporter here atCTV Calgary came back from a
case where that word had beenused in testimony and he felt it
belonged in there.
Our producer agreed with himand wanted to put it in.
I wasn't going to be reading it, but he was going to be saying
(12:39):
it in his, in his report, and sofinally it had to come down to
an adjudication by our directorof news and public affairs, and
thank God he came down on myside because I was ready to put
my job on the line for that.
I did not feel it belonged in asupper hour newscast where kids
(13:04):
were listening and so on, andtoday that word is far too
commonly used, but back then itwasn't, and I wasn't about to
read the first newscast in whichit was included.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Yeah, I find.
And what year was this?
It would have been like yousaid, 80s, I think 83, 84
somewhere in there.
I find that amazing because asyou listen to, I don't hear it.
I don't hear the F word a lot,I'll have to admit, but I hear
offensive language.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
You live a sheltered life.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Clearly I do too much community television.
I see, yeah, but when I do hearit, I turn it off and I
probably won't listen to thatstation again because it's
common right, it is theirlanguage, it is just, and I will
turn it off.
But to actually put your job onthe line, for.
You know that's a big deal andI get you know.
(14:03):
If it's an effort, or if it'ssomething the president's not
doing or some way, you've beentreated.
Yeah, you know, morally it'swrong.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Yes, yeah, and but you know, wherever possible, I
said yes.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Yeah, and, like you said, it added to your resume
those stories you may not havewanted to cover, but it was
legal and it was more.
Yeah, I'll remember that whenI'm doing stories, because
Sometimes I'm just I don't knowif I should cover this.
But thank you for sharing those.
Those are great stories.
So I'm not sure where you sitwith your your failures and
(14:43):
mistakes, but I think we allknow we learn from those.
We learn more from our failuresand mistakes than our own
successes and I was wondering ifyou could share one of your
greatest failures or mistakesand what you have learned.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Well, my greatest failure, my greatest mistake was
putting career ahead of familyand it ended in a divorce and
and long estrangement from twowonderful kids.
But God has brought about areconciliation in recent years.
(15:17):
Their mother passed away ofcancer in 19 or 2013 and we have
had, just in the last few years, an incredible Reconciliation
that only God could have broughtabout and we have a wonderful
Relationship now.
They're two wonderful peopleliving on the beautiful West
(15:39):
Coast of Vancouver Island, farfrom, far from Saskatoon where
they were born, montreal wherethey kind of started life, and
then Calgary, where they grew upand lived here until after
their mother's passing and thenMoved out there, and both are
very, being very successful outthere.
Yeah and and so To.
(16:01):
To conclude my answer to yourquestion biggest mistake, and
from which I Hopefully learned,was was putting career ahead of
family.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
So in the time that it happened.
So go back how many years whenyou were putting your career.
What were your thoughts?
Where you're like I need to dothis.
This is the only way I'm gonnaget ahead.
I'm not gonna get noticed if Idon't work this hard because I'm
I'm a woman who is working howmany hours a day so I can get
ahead.
And I always tried to sort ofwhen my kids got home from you
(16:37):
know, like that time I, Icommitted, but I can understand
that we want to get ahead.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
So Maybe, maybe we need some advice well, for for a
kid who grew up in a largefamily and I, I didn't have the
athletic skills of my twobrothers, one older, one younger
.
There was a lot I didn't have.
The two things I was good atwere writing and talking, and so
(17:08):
when I Finally got a job thatgave me recognition as a kid, I
felt well, the one time I wouldfeel recognized is when they put
me up on the stage as a, as anelementary school student, to
recite poems or Something alongthat line, or in high school,
(17:35):
when they put me in in a dramaand in a play where, I Must
admit, I kind of stole the show,and so it it.
It was so good for the ego, andso that that is what began to
drive me, and, and so, evenafter I married, sadly, that
(17:59):
Took priority over and, and men,especially women, today more so
than in years past, have atendency to do that and to be
identified by their career, bytheir job.
And so I thought you know, if Idon't put on all this time and
(18:20):
all this effort, then I'll nevergo anywhere.
And so Once I got to Calgary, Inever did go anywhere, but I
did okay here, and and so I.
I just felt I needed to do that.
But looking back now Isometimes think if I had put
(18:40):
more effort into my family andless into my career, I might
have done even better at mycareer, because there would have
been that, that satisfaction ofbeing a good husband and a good
dad.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, you're not the first one to ever say that.
On our podcast I've heardsimilar stories of one I think
it was Bruce and he talked aboutthat and he, he, he's good in
his marriage.
But there was a point where herealized like things need to
change and.
I need to go home and turn off.
(19:15):
We are too connected as I holdup my phone.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Right like this is by my bag.
I need to let go.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Yes, easy, it's very important.
I'm trying, I have mine.
Mine is my alarm clock.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Yes, but.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
I try to ignore it during the night.
When, when nature calls in themiddle of the night, I try to
ignore it because if you spendany time on it, you'll wake up
enough that it'll be difficultgetting back to sleep.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Yes, right, I need to take.
I'm going through a change oflife, darryl, so I wake up in a
little bit of a hot sweat On myphone.
Actually, I just need to goaway.
I need to go back to theold-style alarm clock, where
it's just an alarm clock.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
That's a good idea, and and on on nights, when I
don't have to be somewhere.
The next morning I don't set myalarm, I and I leave my phone
elsewhere, and Every once in awhile I have wakened in the
morning and reached for it andit wasn't there.
And I thought good, because ifthey do occupy far too much of
(20:36):
our time, yes, we have to knowwhat everybody else is doing, as
.
I say, we do yeah oh, it's justa.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
I needed this lesson today, thank you.
So I mean, you've been involvedin leader impact for many years
and you became a co-leader in2017, so you know that our goal
is we want to growprofessionally, personally and
spiritually For increasingimpact.
So would you be willing toshare an example of how the
spiritual makes a practicaldifference in your life as a
(21:04):
leader?
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Spiritual is who I am .
It wasn't always the case.
I went to the far country likethe particle Sun for a time and
God has a wonderful way ofanswering mother's prayers and
and he, he dragged me back and Iwon't say kicking and screaming
(21:28):
, I didn't kick and scream, buthe worked at me for a long time
and and I had to wind up Prettylow before I finally said okay,
I got to go home to the father'shouse and Get this thing
straightened out and then myspiritual life became the core
(21:51):
of who I am and it made such adifference in in so many ways.
People at work saw thedifference.
I'll give you one kind of funnyexample Back when, in the 80s,
when political correctness wasjust becoming a big issue and
today it's gone to ridiculousextremes.
(22:13):
But back then we were sitting inthe cafeteria at CTV Calgary
one day and Talking about thiswhole political correctness
issue and I Said well, you know,there's really only two Groups
of people you can make fun ofthese days publicly and get away
(22:34):
with it.
One is white males and theother is born-again Christians.
And one of our sports guys, whowas quite a Religious and and
almost anti-religious, looks atme with a smirk and says, yes,
you both ways, doesn't it?
And I thought, okay, I'm gladthey notice not that I'm a white
(22:59):
male, that's obvious.
Yeah, that I'm a believer, andthey knew it.
I I wasn't.
I wasn't preachy about it, butI also wasn't silent about it.
Yeah, I said to one co-workerone time who claimed to be an
atheist I said well, I wish Ihad your faith.
And he kind of a double-take.
(23:21):
He said what do you mean?
I have no faith.
I said oh, yes, you do.
I said it takes far more faithto believe what you believe than
what I believe, because there'sso much evidence for what I
believe and there's no evidencefor what you believe.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Wow, and, and where did that conversation go?
Oh.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
That was the end of it for them.
It didn't go any further.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
So when you in the 1980s, when you talked about
your best principle of successand you said legal, moral, and
you said you wouldn't say the FWord, you wouldn't let allow it
to happen.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
This was, was this part of Growing and just saying
no, I'm, we're gonna stop thisright here.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
I'm Christian, I'm not doing this, yes, yeah, that
plus.
As word got out that I hadsurrendered my life, I started
to get an increasing number ofrequests to come and Speak to
men's breakfast, ladies,banquets, various other things,
(24:29):
and share my story and andthere's nothing better for your
growth than to go out and putyourself out there on on on the
plank, and Tell your story andand be be brutally honest.
Don't just don't whitewash it.
Yeah, and it's, it's soimportant.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
I would agree with you and I think that's why I
show up here every, you know,every episode is.
For that reason I I have tohear this, I have to be here as
much as I'm interviewing.
I Get fulfillment from this,like I get something.
But interesting, that thetreating the differently and now
people are like Darrel shouldcome speak to our group.
(25:13):
He, he has, he is a follower ofJesus and he has story.
And to be real about that story, that's very important.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
And yeah, because You've heard the term secret
service Christians who you knowthey're believers but they don't
.
They don't say much about it.
Yeah, and and I I had somegreat mentors, some wonderful
Christian men, businessmen,professionals and so on, who
(25:48):
really showed me what it waslike to be a Christian in the
public eye.
When I first surrendered mylife, I Said to God okay, I'm a
public person.
If you want me to go publicwith this surrender of mine,
(26:09):
with my walk with you, thenyou're going to have to arrange
it, because I don't know how togo about that.
I had a younger brother who wasa great preacher and he had no
problem confronting anyone withthe gospel.
And not more than a few weeksafter I had said that to God, a
(26:33):
local pastor in Calgary who wasdoing a weekly TV show program
on our station and recording inour studio, came to me and said
understand God's vented work inyour life.
I said, oh.
I said you've been talking tothe pastors at my church.
(26:54):
He said yeah, and he said willyou come on my show and talk
about it?
And I said, god, you didn'thave to act that fast, but I
know he did, because thatcreated an accountability.
I used to love going into thesupermarket, the mall and having
(27:19):
people tell me how great I wasand so on.
I knew it wasn't true, but Istill enjoyed it.
And now what meant the most waswhen fellow believers would
come up to me in the store inthe mall and say saw you on that
program.
And now every time I see youreading the news, I pray for you
(27:41):
.
And that meant more to me thananything.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Earlier, when you had said you know talking about
your journey and sharing thatoutwardly to the public.
If I heard correctly, I'mthinking you grew up in a
Christian family.
You left for a while and thenyou came back and your mom
prayed for you, and you're likemom's prayers.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
And I think we didn't all grow up in beautiful
Christian families.
Some did, some didn't.
As I watch my children, theyjust both moved out and I raised
them as best I could.
And now they're in another citythree hours away and I can't be
(28:27):
there.
But I raised them and I knowthey'll come back.
You know they're probably notgoing to church.
I know they believe and I knowit's my prayer too as a parent.
You know they'll find their way.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
As I said, praying mothers are one of the most
powerful weapons God has.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Oh, I've got a rats.
Just a quote I got to writedown, thank you.
So I believe these are sort ofmy last two questions.
I had a wealth.
I seem to ask all the gueststhe same question, but we talk
about lasting impact.
Of course, leader impact isdedicated to leaders having a
lasting impact.
So, as you continue to moveyour through your own journey of
(29:07):
life, have you considered whatyou want your faith legacy to be
when you leave this world?
Speaker 1 (29:13):
Well, first of all, to see my children continue the
incredible heritage that theyinherited.
My family goes back generations, both of my great-grandfathers
on my mother's side and myfather's side.
(29:33):
When they came from Russia asMennonite migrants, they both
planted in their own respectivecommunities, planted the first
Mennonite brethren church inthose communities and then in my
dad's family.
My dad was the oldest of 11children, eight boys, eight men,
and he stayed and farmed thefamily farm in Saskatchewan, at
(29:59):
Maincedar.
But three of his brothersformed the core of the Janz
gospel quartet and then abrother in law sang the bass.
There were no basses in thatgeneration of Janz, as they were
all tenors and baritones, butno deep basses.
(30:20):
So as an adult I had a childhooddream come true I got to sing
with my three uncles.
The brother-in-law stepped outand let me sing with them, and
to this day it touches me sodeeply standing there with these
(30:40):
men that I had so admired allmy life, and to sing with them
was incredible.
So I want my legacy to live onthrough my children, who are
both followers of Christ andalso people that I want to get
(31:02):
to heaven and see, people thatare there at least in some part
because of me and some.
I know about some, but some Iprobably don't know about, and
so when I get there I want tosee people like that, but the
(31:22):
first thing I want to hear iswell done, good and faithful
servant.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Well done when you talk about.
I married into a Mennonitefamily the Peters and my first.
Well, one of many familyreunions and the singing it
brings you to tears.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Well, when you walk past the nursery in a Mennonite
church, you hear the babiescrying in four-part harmony.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
You do, I bet.
Oh yeah, that's why I alwayssay it's the four-part harmony.
It's.
How do you know this?
And even I mean to this day.
You know, funerals happen andeveryone goes and they are all
in the choir.
And it is yeah, it's abeautiful thing, Thank you for
sharing that.
So, Darrel, to continue on, mylast question is just what
(32:15):
brings you the greatest joy?
Speaker 1 (32:18):
The greatest joy is when I see a prayer for a soul
answered.
And I've had that happen quitea number of times, where fellow
workers have come to me to mydesk and said I accepted Christ
on the weekend, and I jump up,give them a hug and say I've
(32:42):
been praying for that and theysaid I thought you probably had
and that just gives me that.
And seeing my children afterall this time, that is probably
my greatest joy of all and thefact that they have such a good
relationship with God.
Yeah, that is.
(33:03):
And they tell me I didn't seethem for many years.
But they tell me there arethings about the intervening
years I'm not going to tell youabout and so that's fun.
They don't have to, but just tosee where they are at today is
(33:26):
just such a blessing.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Yeah, yeah, oh.
So when someone comes to yourdesk and they say that to you,
and is it an emotional moment?
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Oh it is, Can I?
Speaker 2 (33:38):
say that yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Mm-hmm.
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
So we've spent the last 33 minutes together and
I've heard a lot of stories.
Is there anything else?
Have I not asked you anyquestions?
I feel like I have an icon, aCTV icon, and I'm like and it
was funny because, as we wereabout to begin, you are, I think
Paul prayed for you and I waslistening in and just living in
(34:04):
the moment and I don't know ifthere's, is there anything else,
any other story that you canshare with our viewers that
might lift them up?
I don't know, I just I havethis.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Well, whenever I now publicly tell my story of
reconciliation with my kids, youcan't believe how many people
come up to me and say thank you.
I needed that encouragementbecause I didn't realize how
many estranged families thereare and what a blessing it is to
(34:38):
them to hear a story ofreconciliation.
It gives them hope.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Yeah, that's a great message, and I think we have to
keep sharing, don't we, Darrel?
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Oh, we do.
Absolutely, absolutely.
It's not something you ought tokeep to yourself.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
Yeah, all right.
Well, this ends our podcast.
But if anyone is listening andthinking I want to hear Darrel
speak or I would like to bookhim because I know you're still
active, or how can they find youand engage with you?
Where would be the best way?
Speaker 1 (35:09):
The best place would be on my email.
It's Darrel D-A-R-R-E-L.
Nearly, even though it wassupered on the bottom of the
screen for 40 years here.
I anchored for 40 years at CTVCalgary and every day my name
(35:31):
was supered there, but even tothis day the majority of people
spell my name.
They'll email me atD-A-R-R-E-Ljanz1.
That's.
I'll finish giving you thatJ-A-N-Z-1, digit one at gmailcom
(35:53):
.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
OK.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
And so, anyway, they'll send me something at
D-A-R-R-E-L.
And then they'll say hi, Darrel, d-a-r-y-l, because that's the
most common spelling.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Yeah, maybe they got auto corrected.
Life is auto corrected.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Well, auto correct.
Can I tell you a little funnything that somebody sent me a
little meme about auto correct.
You know it helps if you thinkof auto correct as a tiny elf
inside your phone trying so hardto be helpful but is in fact
quite drunk.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
Then it just makes you laugh.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
And are you on LinkedIn?
If anyone wants to find moreabout you, I'm on.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
LinkedIn.
Yes, I'm on LinkedIn.
That's the only social mediaI'm on.
I was on Twitter for quite awhile, but I quit.
We aged out?
Speaker 2 (36:50):
I don't know yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Yeah, that's.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
OK, linkedin, I'm with you there.
I like it there too.
Well, darrell, I want to thankyou for taking the time out of
your day.
I know that it was hard to getyou scheduled.
You are a busy guy, which isfantastic, but I just want to
thank you for sharing this timewith us.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Thank you very much, lisa.
It's a pleasure, all right.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Well, if you're listening and if you're part of
Leader Impact, you can alwaysdiscuss or share this podcast
with your group.
And if you are not yet part ofLeader Impact and would like to
find out more and grow yourleadership, find our podcast
page on our website atleaderimpactca and check out our
free leadership assessment.
You will also find on our webpage chapter one of Brayden
(37:31):
Douglas' book Becoming a Leaderof Impact.
You can also check out groupsavailable in Canada at
leaderimpactca or, if you'relistening from anywhere else in
the world, check outleaderimpactcom or get in touch
with us by emailinfoatleaderimpactca and we will
connect you.
And if you like this podcast,please leave us a comment, give
us a rating or review.
(37:52):
This will help other globalleaders find our podcast.
Thank you for engaging with usand remember Impact starts with
you.
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