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.