Darwin was born in Selkirk, Manitoba, and lived in the area his entire life. From the beginning, he had a passion for sports and physical activity. In his teens, he discovered karate and worked his way up to a fourth-degree black belt. He achieved the title of Manitoba Champion, and competed internationally in the World Championship in Japan, as well as competing in Venezuela in the 1980’s. Darwin graduated as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse from the Selkirk Mental Health Centre School of Psychiatric Nursing in 1972 and began employment at the Centre where he continued to work for 43 years. Through those years, he advanced from Staff Nurse, to Charge Nurse, to Coordinator of Patient Services. He also taught Aggression Management classes to the staff. Just when everyone was convinced Darwin would be a lifelong bachelor, he met his wife Rachelle in 1992. Together they had sons, Joshua and Tanner, and daughter Tegan. Darwin took to fatherhood easily and enjoyed everything from bathing, feeding and changing diapers, to coaching and driving the kids to their activities. He was a fabulous and very involved Dad! 2014 brought tragedy, with the death of twenty-year-old Joshua. The whole family was devastated. Darwin never returned to work and retired from SMHC in 2015.