For over a quarter century ‘Sports Page’ was more than just a TV show — it was a nightly tradition. Debuting on CKVU (UTV) in 1977, the 30-minute late night sports recap became essential viewing with fans hungry for highlights and humour; presented with a distinct West Coast voice. Before the 24-hour national sports networks era, the ‘Page’ - as it was affectionately known - was where plays of the day came alive. It was a simple premise.

“Sports Page transcended the traditional sportscast and gave its strong following a solid half-hour of highlights,” says Tom Mayenknecht, Sports Business Commentator; host of The Sport Market on Sportsnet 650 and Marketing Communications Executive with Emblematica Brand Builders. 

“It delivered the goods but dug deeper on local stories than anyone during its heyday”. The ‘Secret Sauce’ was the ‘Page’s’ execution and roster of engaging sports anchors that made it even more magical. There was no glossy corporate polish and no affiliation with Toronto. It was a stand alone local production. ‘Sports Page’ was a fastpaced; slightly irreverent look at the day in sports; hosted by the very best in the business. Personalities such as Paul Carson, Barry Macdonald, Don Taylor, Dave Randorf and John Shorthouse were the key drivers of its success - all would become household names, and some would further shape sports broadcasting across Canada and beyond.

Chief among them was Randorf. Long associ ated with TSN and Sportsnet in Toronto after his time at ‘The Page’, Randorf currently broadcasts the television play-by-play for the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. As an alumnus of the heralded show, the affable host is quick to boast proudly of his affiliation. “I grew up in North Delta watching Sports Page”, says Randorf. “To find myself a few years later sitting in that host chair at 11pm was one of the most exciting times of my career. We really had something special. Our boss, the late Paul Carson let us be ourselves and have fun. We could be loose on the air and crack some jokes; we grew playoff beards in the 1994 Canucks playoff run and we always put local first.

“Whether it was the latest Canucks news or a feature on an unknown, up-and-coming high school basketball player named Steve Nash. And we were a great team - the whole crew. I had so many laughs in that room every single day. I smile just thinking about Don Taylor chirping everyone as soon as they walked in. Add it all up and that was the energy that came out on the air at 11pm”. 

‘The Page’ blazed a trail with its unique charm and fan following. “It was impossible to spend a half hour with those hosts and not have a smile on your face,” adds Mayenknecht.

The show’s roots stretched back to an era when Vancouver was finding its professional sporting identity.

The BC Lions were CFL contenders, but the Canucks were still searching for their first real taste of success.

The Whitecaps had achieved earlier acclaim in the NASL days, while the NBA Grizzlies were yet to make their mark.

‘Sports Page’ became the connective tissue. It celebrated not just professional teams but high school tournaments, local heroes and even obscure sports that rarely got airtime elsewhere.

The local focus was prime. A junior hockey player’s goal or a high school track athlete’s accomplishment could easily find video of themselves featured between the nightly highlights. That grassroots commitment gave the ‘Page’ its authentic flavour — part community bulletin board, part comedy act. “The unique take on highlights, the made-in-Vancouver jokes; the bloopers and the signature personality of ‘Sports Page’ built the show into a unicorn of fan engagement,” says Mayenknecht. “It became a community unto itself and made the connection something special. A prime example was ‘Yulin’ with the Page’; the annual two-part series that became synonymous with the holiday season - and I mean synonymous!

“It was Christmas for sports fans.” But authenticity doesn’t necessarily translate to longevity in broadcasting and by the early 2000s, the television landscape had changed. National networks like TSN and Sportsnet were dominating with slicker production, real-time updates and multi-platform coverage. Viewers were shifting online, and the economics of local sports programming became harder to justify.

In 2005, ‘Sports Page’ signed off after 28 years. For fans, that final broadcast was a genuine gut punch as it was the end of an era. Yet the spirit of the ‘Page’ never really disappeared. Its alumni went on to anchor both local and national broadcasts and radio shows, further shaping Canadian sports media. More importantly, the ‘Page’ ethos — that sports should be fun and rooted in community — continues to echo amid the city’s media landscape.

‘Sports Page’ was honored with an exhibit in the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 celebrating its 40th anniversary.

“That was one of the most popular special exhibits ever rolled out”, says Mayenknecht; whodoubles as the BC Sports Hall of Fame chair.

Today, when fans reminisce about ‘Sports Page’ it’s with a reverence reserved for something truly unique. More than just highlights and scores; it was the heartbeat of local sports culture - a nightly gathering of fans and storytellers who loved the game and the city in equal measures. “My last time hosting ‘Sports Page’ was July 1995,” adds Randorf. “I remember getting a little choked up signing off telling viewers that I was moving on. To this day - all these years later - I don’t go more than a couple of months without somebody somewhere coming up to me and saying: “Loved watching you on the ‘Page’ – you guys made it so much fun.”

“For that half-hour, 6 nights a week, ‘Sports Page’ mattered to people and I’m very proud to have been a part of that”. And within that 30 minutes, Vancouver saw itself reflected through the lens of sport, camaraderie and intense local pride.