Time off is nice for father of two, but Darling would like to get back to work
SCENE & HEARD
Hayley Darling, 8, and her fiveyear-old brother Hunter think it’s neat that Dad has been able to drive them to school in the mornings and pick them up later in the afternoon.
“It’s been great,” says Papa Steve. “But I would like to get back to work sooner than later. I like working. It’s part of my makeup.”
Steve Darling was blindsided when he was informed two weeks ago by management at Global TV that his position as morning news anchor was being eliminated after 18½ years with the station.
Darling worked the Vancouver broadcasting market mainly in the sports departments of radio stations CKWX, CHRX and JRfm before joining his pal Squire Barnes at BCTV Sports in 1998. Three years later, he left the jock assignments for the early-morn- ing news gig where he gained an enormous following with his good-natured attitude that rubbed off on his fellow workers.
Along the way, Darling established himself as a solid member of the community donating his time to the Ronald McDonald House, B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation, Variety — The Children’s Charity and his pet project as provincial ambassador of the ALS Society of B.C.
“I’ve heard from several families that I came to know through these organizations,” Darling says. “And I’ve heard from a ton of my friends in the media business. Now it’s time to move on. Of course I would be open to television or radio opportunities, but obviously the broadcasting industry is in transition. Maybe the corporate sector is the answer.”
In the meantime, he will spend as much time as possible with his family, including driving the kids to school and his Port Coquitlam coaching chores with Hunter’s hockey buddies and Hayley’s soccer team.
HERE ‘ N’ THERE
‘Tis the season for fundraising award dinners and there are some hot ones coming up. The inaugural Chilliwack Sports Dinner on Oct. 27 has as its headliners Jim Benning, Wally Buono and Bob Lenarduzzi. Squire Barnes will moderate a “hot stove” session with proceeds going to the Chilliwack Chiefs’ Education Scholarship Fund and the Chilliwack Sports Hall of Fame.
B.C. Lions legend Lui Passaglia will be honoured as the 2016 recipient of the Angelo Branca Sportsman of the Year Award at the Italian Cultural Centre gathering of the Confratellanza Italo-Canadese on Nov. 17 that includes live fight cards staged by the North Burnaby Boxing Club. Tickets are available at john@gibsonhospitality.com or pholmes@macful.com.
END ZONE
Dan Jukich, who just completed his 26th year as the voice of the races at Hastings Racecourse, might have written himself into the Guinness Book of World Records by calling 44 races over the span of four racing dates. He covered back-to-back 12-race cards with the standardbreds at Fraser Downs at Elements Casino last Thursday and Friday nights, then consecutive Saturday/Sunday 10-race cards at the closing of the Hastings thoroughbred season.
Retired jockey Dave Wilson, a four-time leading rider at Hastings and two-time national Sovereign Award winner, will be inducted into the B.C. Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Newlands Golf Club on Dec. 1.
Tickets can be purchased at cthsbc@cthsbc.org or cgossen@ gmail.com.