The loss of Derek Meyers, all too soon at age 45, is impossible to process.
So was his endless and indomitable good nature, which has been lauded in myriad ways since the devastating news circulated Tuesday that Derek had died of cancer.
Before being elected as the MLA for Regina Walsh Acres in 2020, Derek had been a sportscaster at Global. All times, under all circumstances, he was a friend.
When Mom turned 80, Derek and friends treated her like royalty at the Global Regina studio.
When Mom passed away, Derek was one of the first people to text me.
And now, unfathomably, we have lost Derek.
I didn’t even know that he had been stricken with cancer until last weekend. He had kept the news very quiet while devotedly making his constituents and his home province the priority.
Reflecting on him now, I cannot think of one instance in which Derek was not laughing and smiling. The manner in which he led his life seems utterly incompatible with the tragic news that has cast a cloud over most of this week.
It was comforting to scroll though some of our text-message exchanges and, in so doing, revisit casual and cordial conversations.
“Connecting with people means everything,” he wrote in 2021.
“I’m just happy that I’m finding my life’s work. At 43.”
At 80, G. Helen Vanstone-Mather — a.k.a. Mom — was wondering how eight decades could elapse so quickly.
She was planning to spend the latter stages of March 24, 2014 watching the weekly Global Sports roundtable, which aired on Monday nights.
One of the last 13 people on Planet Earth to own and utilize a VHS, Mom videotaped every one of my TV appearances. (The radio spots were all preserved on audio cassettes.)
When touching base with Derek on the afternoon of March 24, I asked if I could perhaps conclude the roundtable by wishing Mom a happy 80th.
“Forget about that!” Derek countered. “Bring her into the studio!”
She was a studio audience of one as Whitney Stinson read the news and Tiffany Lizee handled the weather. Derek and I waited in the wings, alongside Mom, during the night of the roundtable.
When the red light on the camera went off, another light bulb went on. The Global trio had a fine idea — to put Mom on the air at the end of the show.
For one of the few times in her life, my chatterbox of a sainted mother was utterly speechless.
A group photo was taken, printed up, and delivered to her.
She treasured that picture, that memory, for the remaining 5 ½ years of her life.
“I still love that we had her in studio,” Derek texted me. “What a treat for me.”
What a treat — what an honour — to know Derek Meyers.
MEYERS MEMORIES
- Ken Miller: “Maureen and I are so sorry to read the news of Derek’s passing. It was always a pleasure to see and visit with him. I know he will be greatly missed by his family, friends, co-workers and his fans. We extend our best wishes and warm regards to all.”
- Dean Gutheil: “Every couple of weeks during the summer (with CBC), I’d fill in for Glenn Reid as a sports reporter/anchor and videographer. Attending Rider practice and large scrums afterward were standard. So squeezing a camera and attempting to get your microphone in wasn’t easy. But Derek was usually the first to offer to hold my microphone. Always friendly, funny, thoughtful and smart. This is tough news to accept.”
- Daniella Ponticelli: “I knew him in the sports-loving capacity, where he was welcoming and quick to share a laugh whenever at the rink or stadium. May he rest in peace.”
HIGH TIMES
- Like yours truly, Derek absolutely loved local sports. There was a special affinity for high school athletics. Derek, an ardent supporter of the hometown Midale Marauders, had the utmost appreciation for events such as Hoopla — the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic association basketball championships. Hoopla 2023 was held last weekend in Prince Albert. Here’s to the winners — the Regina Riffel Royals (5A girls), Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders (5A boys), Moose Jaw Vanier Vikings (4A girls), Moose Jaw Central Cyclones (4A boys), Wynyard Bears (3A girls), Regina Christian Grizzlies (3A boys), Regina Laval Lions (2A girls), Saskatoon Legacy Christian Academy (2A boys), Lake Lenore Lancers (1A girls) and Coronach Colts (1A boys).
- The three titles won by teams from the Queen City must have delighted Regina High Schools Athletic Association commissioner Aaron Anderson, who is retiring at the end of the 2022-23 academic/athletic year. Dealing with Aaron was always one of the perks of my previous gig at the Regina Leader-Post. Aaron always appreciated the coverage given to high school student/athletes and teams. Once the RHSAA season wraps up in June, Aaron will be able to devote even more team to following and supporting his beloved Roughriders.
REID ALL ABOUT IT
- Congratulations and thanks to the aforementioned Glenn Reid, who on Friday concluded a career at CBC that dated back to 1986. I was introduced to Glenn, at least as a viewer, when he worked in television in Yorkton. CKOS, which was once available to cable subscribers in Regina, provided first-rate Winnipeg Jets highlights during the Dale Hawerchuk years. Glenn then moved to Regina and worked in radio at CKCK and CKIT. He was on duty for those stations when I met him on Oct. 2, 1985, when I was a first-year/first-month journalism student at the University of Regina. Glenn was covering a Jets practice at the Agridome (now Brandt Centre), where an NHL pre-season game had been played the previous night. Glenn was nice to me on Day 1 and that has never changed. He has been of the highest calibre as a journalist and as someone with whom to chat and inevitably share a chuckle.
BRAY DAYS
- Evan Bray announced earlier this week that June 30 will be his final day as Regina’s Chief of Police. His retirement will conclude an exemplary, 28-year tenure with the Regina Police Service. From 1997 to 2011. Evan moonlighted as the public-address announcer at Roughriders home games. At all times, Evan has been first-rate as a person and professional. The policing community could not have asked for a better or more affable leader.
SHORT SNORTS
- Confession: I stole “Short Snorts” from Leader-Post legend Bob Hughes, who would reflexively respond to this item with a “Y’er welcome.”
- Another confession: Never, ever, ever, ever, ever did I imagine that the day would come when I would write that the New Jersey Devils are entertaining. But they are … honest. Jack Hughes, especially, is a pleasure to watch. The Los Angeles Kings, on the other hand …
- Yet another confession: When filling in my March Madness bracket, I copped out and asked the provider (Yahoo) to simply autofill with a computer-generated list of victorious teams. Voila! Suddenly, I was a staunch supporter of a team that was labelled as “S.D. State.”
- So what was my response? To start cheering for South Dakota State — the alma mater of Roughriders receiver Jake Wieneke. I was then informed that the “S.D.” actually stood for San Diego. Oh. Good to know.
- Well, guess what? The San Diego State Aztecs have advanced to the Final Four and are to play the Florida Atlantic Owls in an NCAA men’s basketball semi-final on Saturday.
ROLL CREDITS …
- Nice people who deserve a plug: Laurie Ireland, Dayn Meyers, Sebastian Meyers, Eisley Meyers, Gail Mund, Jenn Senger, Carol Hoeving, Cindy Fuchs, Kelsey Rosencranz, Cindy Schneider, Dan Clark, Fred Wagman, John Lipp, Tom Shepherd, Brayden Lenius, Carla Hoffort, Maureen Ulrich, Glenn Reid, Mike Smith, Zack Smith, Rob Pyne, Evan Bray, Pat Johnston, Roger Brandvold, Areti Fourlas, Aaron Anderson, Mike Harazny, Sandy Harazny, Mike Thomas, Pam Cowan, Heather Polischuk, Alec Salloum, Brandon Harder, Jennifer Ackerman, Clinton Ackerman, Barb Pacholik, Jim Gallagher, Greg Indzeoski, Brenda Indzeoski, Rob Harrison, Rob Haroldson, Dick White, Howie Lind, Rod Schmidt, Ken Schneider, Glenn (Chico) Resch, Andrew Hamilton, Amanda Hamilton, Bill Hamilton, Olga Sereda, Joey Walters, Tom Robinson, Dr. Tom Robinson, Dr. Colette Pelletier, Ken Miller, Maureen Miller, Dean Gutheil and, with profuse thanks for so expertly and presciently filling out my NCAA bracket, Otto Fill.
