Brian Bird, co-creator and executive producer of the top-rated Hallmark Channel series When Calls the Heart, experienced an epiphany during COVID, as he was stuck in his house like a hermit, trying to survive the craziness while remaining productive.

“An idea occurred to me that, while not diminishing in any way whatsoever the amazing miraculous hard work, the truly heroic efforts of people who save lives daily, storytellers in their own modest way also save lives. They bring food to people. It may not be physical food but it’s food for all that—soul food—and writers provide sustenance to people’s souls.”

Feeding Souls

When Calls the Heart, now in its 11th season, follows in the footsteps of Touched by an Angel, which Brian also worked on.

“We did that show for 10 years, 200 episodes in total,” Brian says. “It literally saved lives. It was an essential service, as we would hear from suicide hotlines on Monday morning that their call volume would go up after our show, which meant people were calling for help. 

“We got letters saying: ‘I was considering doing harm to myself and your show came on. I heard from those angels that God loves me and has a plan for my future, and I decided maybe there’s some hope for me, and I reached out for help.’ It’s unbelievable that a show, a story, can actually save lives.” 

The When Calls the Heart production team soon discovered that their own show had a similarly fervent fan base, two million strong, called Hearties.

“They love the show, are passionate and emotionally connected,” smiles Brian. “They’re passionate about us because we’ve fed their souls.” 

Coming Home

Besides Touched by an Angel and When Calls the Heart, Brian has written and/or produced nearly three dozen films, including The Heart of Man and The Case for Christ, and close to 400 episodes of television, working on shows such as When Hope Calls, Step-by-Step and Evening Shade. He’s currently developing five new feature films.

But his most important production to date is his 43-year marriage to his wife, Patty. They have five children. 

“If it weren’t for Patty and her commitment to my crazy career, I would just be wandering around mumbling to myself, probably jumping railcars and just vagabonding the globe, because life makes no sense without family to come home to. Somehow, through nearly 40 years of doing what I do, my family still wants me to come home. I’m honoured by that and grateful.”

Embedding Heaven

“We do our best on a budget,” explains Brian. “When Calls the Heart is not an expensive show, like some of the others that are amazing, made with millions of dollars behind every episode. But our little show is fearless in that it projects hope, faith and love on television.

“Writers like us, who provide something different than stories dripping with cynicism, zombies and vampires, crooked politicians and lawyers, corrupt cops, mafiosos and crystal meth dealers, who shine a light on hope, faith, love, community, sacrifice, redemption and resurrection, create a different kind of story.”

Jesus was the Master Storyteller, says Brian. “He had the master class on how to tell a story to big groups of people. Those parables were earthly stories with heavenly meaning. That’s what He was doing, telling stories that resonated with those local folk because it was relatable. But there was deep heavenly meaning embedded in them. 

“This is exactly what I’m talking about. We need to be doing the same, embedding heaven in earth-bound stories, and feeding the souls of starving audiences.” 

Hearty Visits

Filmed in Vancouver, the When Calls the Heart set has been visited by Janette Oke, whose novel became the basis for the TV series. And speaking of visits, perhaps you have heard of the Hearties Family Reunion. This multi-day event offers a chance for the fans to meet the cast members, visit the Hope Valley set, and connect with others who love the series.

Photos: Courtesy of Brian Bird