Hope Valley Days 2022 : My very first Hearties reunion

This weekend, I attended my very first Hearties reunion dedicated to the TV show When Calls The Heart : The Hope Valley Days (formely The Hearties Family Reunion) in Vancouver. The event included a meet and greet with the show’s creators, panel discussions with the cast and a set tour. I didn’t know what to expect and I went without really belonging to a group or knowing anyone there. I was on a cloud nine and soaked up the place, which feels so good these days.

Please note that all the pictures in this post (unless otherwise specified) belong to me, it is forbidden to use them without my consent or credit.

Hope Valley Days – Day 1 

Registration

I’m not going to lie, I’m a little bit nervous about picking up my nametag and starting the weekend. I’m not very comfortable being on my own. The first day is divided into two identical sessions and we have to choose to attend the morning or afternoon activities. Since I come from Squamish that morning, I attend the afternoon meeting at 1:30 pm. I notice that the Hearties community is mostly composed of older women. There are a few teenagers with their mothers, husbands accompanying their wives, but no one under the age of 30 in sight. However, I see right away that many women have come alone, just like me. I spot Kim, the admin of the official Canadian Hearties Fan group, with whom I have been chatting for a few weeks. After some ID and health checks, the team of volunteers gives us the schedule and a backpack full of goodies. I wasn’t expecting this, I am curious and excited to unpack everything. I move away to explore my treasures, the socialization will wait a little longer. 

The mingle party 

The mingle party starts at 3 pm with the purpose of mixing the Hearties together and making new acquaintances. This is clearly not easy for me as I am always shy when it comes to meeting new people. I don’t regret having chosen the afternoon session which is quieter and less crowded than the morning one. Kim introduces me to a couple of the organizers, which helps break the ice, big thanks to her. From there, Lori kindly offers to introduce me to the other people there:

• Janette Oke, the author of the book When Calls The Heart which led to a TV film and then the show. At 87 years old, Janette is an adorable and lovely lady. She doesn’t hesitate to hug and be interested in everyone, where we come from, what is our story. It inspired me to read her series of novels Canadian West published in 1983.
• Michael Landon Jr, the director and screenwriter of the first TV adaptation and co-creator and exclusive producer of the show. He has also written and directed several episodes over the past ten years. As we speak frankly, I have to say that I had no idea who he is, which made our conversation quite amusing. Michael didn’t seem to be offended and made a joke of it. This shows how approachable and humble these people are.
• Brian Bird, the producer of the first TV adaptation and the co-creator and exclusive producer of the show. Having seen his name and face on many online content dedicated to the series, I know he is important but not much more. I didn’t fully understand the difference between him and Michael, but I saw many more people talking to him about the series and complaining about what they don’t like. 
• Don McDonald, CEO of Super Channel the network that broadcasts the show in Canada. I found really interesting to have a senior executive attend this kind of event to meet its viewers. Plus, he’s very friendly.

There are also representatives from Hallmark Channel, several marketing and social media people from both broadcasters. I meet Karen and Kathie sitting next to me, two American fans who could be my aunts or moms, they don’t hesitate to approach me and talk about the show. They kept talking to me all weekend long and as we parted, they offered me a place to stay if I ever found myself in Kansas. I witness many passionate conversations, lots of laughter, and endless hugs. It seems like people have known each other forever and have just met again after years of being apart. Nope, they just love the same television series and understand each other right away. I hear that a woman made the trip from Australia and it blows my mind. There are also the fans who proudly represent their region (hello New England Hearties!) or the ones who haven’t missed any of these events for 10 years. They are a bit of a legend. You can recognize them with their custom t-shirts. They speak to everyone and they certainly don’t want to miss a thing. Normally I would find this intense, but today I think it’s moving. They are the happiest people and see the world through the eyes of a child. 

The activity ends around 5 pm, some new friends make plans to have dinner together or watch the pilot in one of the rooms. I head for my hotel, it’s a lot of energy spent for the introvert that I am. 

Hope Valley Days – Day 2

Destination Langley

Arrival to the Jamestown Movie Set

A few minutes before arriving on site, I perfectly recognize the road I drove on three months earlier. Next right and first left, I spot the MacInnes Farms sign: This is it. The coach stops next to a big barnum, there are about ten trailers for the actors, more than twenty cars on the parking lot. The surroundings are unrecognizable, we are definitely in the middle of a shooting! Under the tent 21 tables are installed to accommodate us in a country setting. There are many cameras, screens and a control room in the back. 

Once everyone is settled, the festivities begin with Brian Bird who expresses his gratitude and appreciation to the Hearties community. We learn that the tent we are in is normally used as a catering area for the crew and actors. A short video then presents us a new Edify Films project : The Edify Show, an online talk show coming out on October 25th. The recurrence is not yet known but the goal is to connect with the fans and keep them engaged in between seasons.

The Hearties who wish to do so are then encouraged to speak up and share what the show means to them. There is a lot of emotion flying around and to my surprise, many of the stories are quite sad. WCTH is their comfort show and they watch it to escape from heavy and difficult situations in their lives. It’s like a warm hug, something they look forward to every week. There is also a lot of reference to the fact that it is an intergenerational program that can be watched between parents and children. I learn that several fans host virtual watching parties for each new episode, or to simply hang out between seasons. And when they don’t live too far from each other (hundreds of kilometers is acceptable), they meet in person. I find myself out of step with this entire crowd. I love the show, I admire the actors, but I don’t have such a visceral attachment to it. Even though I know the show like the back of my hand, I feel like I don’t fit in, like I’m not fan enough. I try to think about the question in my head, what does the show mean to me, but no clear answer is coming to me. And at the same time, I am carried away and moved by all the human warmth and kindness. 

Then Melanie MacInnes, the owner, tells all about how her property became Hope Valley and the family history of the farm. She invites anyone who is still around the next day to share a BBQ at her brewery.

Panel discussion with the cast

Suddenly the audience starts to get excited, Brian has promised a surprise since the beginning of the morning and it is about to be revealed. For months, the organizers had told us that there would be no cast presence because of the covid. And naive as I am, I didn’t think otherwise. But under the cheers and applause, they all parade before my eyes. They are here in their 2022 clothes and I must admit that I need a little time to adapt, it’s a change from their period costumes. Then I look at them attentively and it is as if I had already seen them, spoken to them. I guess I’ve watched the show so many times that it doesn’t impress me much. I see many people around me crying, and others with their mouths wide open, unable to speak. Brian Bird leads the discussion and asks each of them two pre-selected questions. I note their attitudes. Erin is very disciplined, sit up straight. Her voice is good, her answers are flawless, and she emphasizes how important her acting partners are. She interacts a lot with the audience, listens carefully to everyone’s answers. You can tell that she is used to the exercise as the leading actress. I find her glowing and very pretty, prettier in real life. I am surprised by her short hair, I understand that she wears a wig or extensions on set and I immediately have admiration for the hair and make-up team. Jack Wagner is overwhelmed by emotion from the beginning and breaks down in front of everyone as he brings up the recent loss of his son and how working on the show saved him. Erin and Pascale on each side are comforting him and I feel like I am witnessing a private scene. He remains very quiet and discreet, you can tell he’s kind of the dad of the group. Later, Brian will also shed some tears when talking about the last episode of season 5 and Erin’s acting performance.

Pascale is cheerful, smiling and happy to be there, she takes a lot of pictures. I am stunned by her beauty. She is way more humble than her character, but Kavan and her have a true bond that goes beyond fiction. It’s fascinating to watch them together, it’s like an old couple bickering but caring deeply for each other. They interrupt and snipe at each other. Pascale also teases Erin who is just a few feet away from her. Both are now best friends after 10 years of filming. Kavan is far from being as smooth and easy-going as Lee, he’s a joker who can’t stand still. He laughs and speaks loudly, a real bundle of energy that interacts with the public to its great delight. He doesn’t hesitate to affectionately make fun of his partners, whom he defines as newbies, and claims to be the “master”. Next to him Chris is almost invisible, you would forget that he is there and yet Chris, what a handsome man! I am definitely not objective because, remember, Chris is the reason I watch WCTH. This guy is different from his confident and flirtatious character. I get the feeling that if he could sink into his chair, he would. He doesn’t interact much with the crowd but his voice is very soft and soothing. He looks tired, the fault of the overnight shoot of the day before or his new life as a dad?

However, he talks and laughs a lot with his neighbor Kevin. The two are without a doubt very close, they seem to support each other. Kevin is not the most comfortable person either. He moves around a lot, often leans forward on the table or completely back on his chair, he sometimes struggles to express himself. He and Chris are very similar, I’m quite surprised at the shy personality I see in them. Am I disappointed? No, because it makes them seem very human and down to earth. If I were in their shoes, I would probably behave the same way. I didn’t really like Kevin, whom I identified too much with Nathan, but I was able to distinguish between the two in a few seconds. Natasha is very quietly attending her very first fan event. She has a strong English accent which she hides very well on screen. I find her much younger and less of a mom than her character. She tries to contain her “husband”, sitting next to her, who like Kavan is a real showman. Viv is not afraid to crack a lot of jokes and make the audience laugh. He is not stingy with anecdotes. He brings a lot of freshness and dynamism to this panel. Am I the only one who thinks that Andrea is pregnant again? That being said, I find her very likeable and solar. She answers questions with enthusiasm and passion. It’s not easy to be at the end of the table, but she is a great presence. 

After one hour the panel ends and the actors leave the tent. There is no opportunity to take pictures with them or to talk to them, we have to stay inside because another surprise is coming. We just hear the cars come and go from the parking lot. I am relieved to have witnessed their complicity, they seem to sincerely all get along well.

Unfortunately my camera, which was only half charged, went out. As I had not anticipated the cast’s appearance, I intended to take pictures of the set with my iPhone. I don’t have very nice pictures of the teenagers who followed their peers to the table. Yes, I say teenagers because the “children” of Hope Valley are not children anymore. The girls are beautiful young women with make-up and the boys have moulted voices. It’s hard not to compare them to their characters, they all seem to have similar personalities. Jaiven is as funny and loveable as Robert, Jaeda is bubbly and playful like Allie, Vienna is charming and kind like Angela. They are all very professional, I tend to forget that some of them have been in this business for 10 years! Brian has them talk about what they would like to see happen to their character and to them personally. Then Little Jack runs along the stage, he is in great shape. Not at all impressed by the people in front of him, Hyland also answers Brian’s questions. Some of his answers are meaningless and the little boy is more interested in making faces at the audience. While I think it’s adorable and he makes me laugh, I can’t help but think about directors working with young children and the challenges it brings to the set. It’s something I would have loved to discuss further with Erin and Chris.

Lunch time

All this excitement is making everyone hungry, and the smell of grilled meats is starting to spread all around us. Each table is invited to help themselves one after the other to the buffet: hamburger, hot-dog, condiments, salads, cake and fruits on the menu. During the break, clips from the show are broadcasted on the screens.

Allie Devereaux is then welcomed on stage by two administrators, she is one of the writers since season 8. She is also the one who wrote all the excerpts and chapters of Elizabeth’s book that we see or hear on the screen. She reads one of them to us and we all hang on her every word between bites. Allie reveals that after seeing the entire series 15 times as part of her job (lucky her!) she created a 500+ page bible that lists all the facts about the storyline, places and characters of the show. So in the writing room, she can check if what her team wants to develop has not already been covered or is consistent with what has already been done. And here’s something I’ll confess to you: I myself have a bible of about 200 pages of notes that I’ve taken while watching the show as well. Don’t ask me why, it calms me down to write down what I see and helps me remember what’s going on and who’s who. So clearly I think Allie and I are UNBEATABLE about WCTH and should definitely work together. New #LifeGoal: TV writer!

The set exploration

Around 2 pm, it’ s the long awaited moment of the set tour. Hope Valley’s main street is just behind the parking lot and the trailers, I know it but I can’t help my heart racing at the sight of the first set roofs. I remember how indescribably emotional I felt the first time I walked down the street with Melanie. I had tears in my eyes. It was in May 2022, I was in Vancouver on vacation and I had a private tour during the off-season. Everything was empty but it was still iconic. This time, there are a lot of people around and the novelty is gone. Still, seeing all the props, the setting, the signs on each building and the “Hope Valley Days” banner is just amazing. At any moment, I feel like I’m going to hear “Action!” over my shoulder and everything will come to life. Some areas like the interior of the saloon, Henry Gowen’s old office and outdoor spaces are embargoed to preserve the story line and exclusivity of the next season. I walk into every room, every house, every building and try to put my eyes everywhere so I don’t miss any details. From the ceilings with the spotlights to the floors with the electrical cables and spikes for the actors. I am thinking, without really understanding why, that everything looks a lot bigger when it is dressed and furnished than when it is empty. I can only think of one thing now: finding a way to watch the filming one day. Just throwing it out there… Down the street, you can get real scoop of ice cream at the Soda Fountain counter and a singer plays folk music at the Stage Coach. All the vintage cars and Lee’s (well Lucas’) motorcycle are out. A few fans are lucky enough to take a ride. The two hours of exploring the set are truly suspended hours. I really enjoy seeing people taking over the place, sitting in the chairs or on the benches, reenacting some of the scenes, hanging out in the saloon or the café. It’s sunny, hot and everyone has a big smile on their face. This must be the definition of happiness.

The chat with Lindsay and the previews of season 10

We are compelled to leave this paradise around 4 pm to go back to the tent. The last activity of the day is the interview with the new showrunner of the series: Lindsay Sturman. She oversees all aspects of season 10: the plot, the writing, the artistic direction, etc. She has been working in the TV industry for many years, and she says she has never witnessed such a loyal core of fans. They all keep that in mind as they work on the show to honor the Hearties. She reveals a few scoops like a radio station coming to Hope Valley and gives us an exclusive preview of five scenes from the upcoming season. Nothing that gives too much information, scenes of everyday life. When Rosemary’s pregnant belly appears on the screen, the entire tent can’t hold back cries of joy. After watching these very polished scenes, I tell myself that the shooting must be advanced and the post-production already underway. We will still have to wait until mid-2023.

This last surprise ends the day full of excitement and marks the imminent return to Richmond. Brian appears one last time at the podium. His speech encourages fans to be active on social media, to make their voices heard and to show broadcasters and TV networks that we want to keep watching the show. The whole thing almost sounds like an election campaign but after a day like that, I sign on! I really don’t want to get on the bus and walk away from Hope Valley again…

Back to reality

I am writing this blog post on the plane back to Montreal. My heart is heavy from a weekend that flew by, my head is full of memories and I’m grateful to have been able to experience it. I have been hearing all weekend that the #Hearties are more than a community, or a friendship, they are a family. I used to think that was a bit of a cheesy statement, but after a couple of days, I get the meaning. I have seen creators and writers invested in their work, available and approachable to fans for a decade. I have seen actors who are genuinely friends with each other and who undeniably bring it to the screen. And finally I have seen people of all ages and backgrounds united around the same passion, willing to convey the many values of the show around them. I only wish I had someone with me to share these special moments. I hope to create new friendships in the coming year to remedy that at the next reunion.