Simplified date sort query

datesort.php

<?php

/**
   * Called to add the sort to a query.
   */
  public function query() {
    $this->ensureMyTable();

    $configuration = [
      'table' => 'node__field_event_date',
      'field' => 'entity_id',
      'left_table' => $this->tableAlias,
      'left_field' => $this->realField,
      'operator' => '='
    ];
    $join = Views::pluginManager('join')->createInstance('standard', $configuration);
    $this->query->addRelationship('node__field_event_date', $join, $this->tableAlias);

    // Create a DATETIME value here to use instead of UNIX_TIMESTAMP().
    $dt = new DateTime("now", new DateTimeZone("America/Winnipeg"));
    $current_datetime = $dt->format('Y-m-d H:i:s');
    
    // Eliminate UNIX_TIMESTAMP() call (no transformation needed).
    $date_alias = "node__field_event_date.field_event_date_value";

    // Is this event in the past?
    $this->query->addOrderBy(NULL,
      // Eliminate UNIX_TIMESTAMP() call (now comparing DATETIME values).
      "$current_datetime > $date_alias",
      $this->options['order'],
      "in_past"
    );

    // How far in the past/future is this event?
    $this->query->addOrderBy(NULL,
      // Eliminate UNIX_TIMESTAMP() call (now comparing DATETIME values).
      "ABS($date_alias - $current_datetime)",
      $this->options['order'],
      "distance_from_now"
    );
  }
}