Barb's Story

Nothing in Barb Higgins’s childhood predicted her remarkable future. Born in 1962 in Edmonton, she was a typical “Shep kid” – a normal, cheerful student at Ross Sheppard High School in the city’s suburban northwest. After graduation she enrolled at NAIT, studying first  Business Administration, then Radio and Television Arts, where she demonstrated a unique gift for communication. She found work in local television stations, and soon her talents, energy and intelligence were noticed by both CBC and CTV. Barb’s star began to rise.

With both networks, Barb traveled across Western Canada, honing her skills in television newsrooms from Manitoba to British Columbia. Covering many local beats, she learned how to efficiently investigate an issue, check the facts, find the heart of the story – and communicate with clarity and passion. By 1989 CTV considered her one of its most promising journalists, and offered her the anchor’s position in Calgary.

In 1989 Barb moved to Calgary with CTV, and began one of the most remarkable careers in Western Canadian broadcasting. For 21 years she was the senior writer, co-producer and co-anchor of CTV Calgary's 6 p.m. newscast. Higgins and co-anchor Darrel Janz were named Calgary's most trusted news personalities in Calgary's "most watched newscast."

Over two decades Barb developed a close, personal connection with the people of Calgary, extending well beyond the broadcast booth. She became deeply involved with the city at a grass-roots level, spending countless hours with its more vulnerable people, using her profile to raise awareness of their issues and needs. She served on many of Calgary’s volunteer committees and was a constant, dedicated supporter of the United Way. In 2007 she co-chaired the United Way’s 2007 campaign, under the theme "For a city to be great, it must be great for everyone." That same year Barb received the prestigious UNICEF National Award for Volunteerism.

Barb often used her communication skills to make a difference in Calgary. She wrote and produced the award-winning documentary film, “Running on Empty” to raise awareness of the need for charitable funding. To encourage more participation among Calgarians she produced the film “Charity: What’s In It For Me?” Sometimes Barb would decide to raise awareness of a specific instance of injustice. She highlighted local firefighter Greg McDougall’s battle with the WCB. That series received national attention and was named “Best News Series” by the Radio and Television News Directors Association. Every time Barb focused on an issue, she made things happen.

On July 28, 2010 Barb told Calgarians that she no longer wished to maintain the journalist’s neutrality. She announced that she would run for mayor. To those who had been following her passionate commitment to the city, her deep understanding of its issues, and her strong advocacy for its less fortunate citizens, the decision came as no surprise.