Dr. Darren Markland was tired of dreading his bike commute to the Royal Alexandra Hospital. It wasn’t the length that bothered the intensive-care doctor, but the scenery. Rather than slog through traffic on his bike, he decided to transform the effort into a joyfully cumbersome two-hour journey. Affixing wheels to his canoe, he created an urban-bike portage, hauling the vessel to the Sir Wilfred Laurier boat launch, where he dismantled the bike before loading it back onto the boat and then paddling his way down the North Saskatchewan River. The last leg of “canoepooling,” as he called it, was largely an uphill bike ride.
“My general philosophy is life is short,” he told CBC about the unique commute. “You should make every day a little adventure.”
Dr. Markland lived by that simple philosophy whether he was navigating a dirt single track on his mountain bike — with a competitive streak, he outpaced many friends — building an off-grid cabin for his family or setting up as the weekly “handle barista” in Constable Ezio Faraone Park, where he served coffee brewed on his cargo bike.
While he was comfortable enough advocating for active transportation that he gained a modest social media following for it, he took longer to warm up to the idea of advocating for public health practices. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Markland, like many of his peers, was concerned the Alberta government was mishandling the pandemic response. He finally used his platforms to describe the reality inside hospitals, push back against vaccine misinformation and question the early easing of measures that many in his field warned against. Other physicians spoke to media during that time but Markland stood apart in his vulnerability, revealing personal insights from patient rooms. On social media, he chronicled the struggle to treat violent, verbally abusive and unvaccinated patients who denied the seriousness of the virus. But those posts always ended the same way: with a show of empathy, a promise to treat everyone who came through the door with respect.
Above all else, Markland took the time to listen and make others feel seen, moving them with his thoughtful, often poetic written words. There is still wisdom and inspiration to be gleaned from his lasting online presence. “Though the encroaching darkness fills me with regret, I am comforted by autumn’s light, and enthralled by my path home,” reads one message with a photo of the river valley awash in fall hues.
After his death last September, from a mountain bike accident in Nordegg, members of Alberta’s biking community gathered in Constable Ezio Faraone Park. Though many had never met him, they felt a parasocial connection from the comfort he provided online during the dark days of the pandemic, when he was severely burned out, even receiving death threats, yet still managed to offer them hope.
The doctor’s ability to connect with people stemmed from his insatiable curiosity and his love of the natural world. In a city where natural beauty isn’t always obvious, he inspired others with what he saw: sweeping valley vistas, frost-crusted pines, daylight breaking in a sky vast and full of potential. He liked to see his breath on crisp days and clock the changes in the weather. Outside, each day felt new. He didn’t waste a single adventure.
Lost Ones is a new series honouring local legends and unsung heroes who’ve recently passed. To recommend someone whose story deserves memorializing, email [email protected].
