It's a hot summer evening this past August, but winter’s in the air, with piles of white snow lining the sparkling streets of an early 1900s Toronto. Festive decorations adorn the city’s shops, and the familiar sight of a Salvation Army kettle sets the scene.

It’s Christmas on the set of Murdoch Mysteries, Canada’s favourite detective series.

This year’s special, which aired on CBC November 25, reflects a unique partnership between Murdoch Mysteries and The Salvation Army, which is featured in several scenes.

It’s the second time the show and the Army have collaborated in this way, the first time being a Christmas episode in 2016.

“The response to the first episode was incredibly positive among the cast, crew and everyone involved,” notes Julie Lacey, producer of Murdoch Mysteries. “From the positive reactions we received across our social media channels, we could see that the episode resonated with our audience as well.”

Perfect Fit

Now in its 18th season, Murdoch Mysteries is led by Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), a member of the Toronto Constabulary and a man of both science and faith, being a devout Catholic. He’s joined by a cast including Chief Constable Thomas Brackenreid (Thomas Craig), Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy), Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris) and, starting this season, Inspector Albert Choi (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Kim’s Convenience).

In this holiday special, Detective Murdoch and his colleagues from Station House #4 find themselves searching for a missing man on Christmas Eve, when they come across a Salvation Army kettle and pause to enjoy the music. 

The episode’s kettle musicians are not actors, but actual Salvation Army members. Four members of the Canadian Staff Songsters and four members of the Canadian Staff Band—the Army’s premier musical groups—are featured.

The group’s musical talents are well used in the episode, as they share a rousing rendition of Joy to the World with an appreciative audience.

“The Salvationists we worked with were wonderful, and having them in our holiday special really added to the authenticity of the time of year and the period,” says Julie. “The scenes they are in look and sound amazing. The music is a perfect fit for the already music-centric episode.”

Corey Robert, the Army’s territorial marketing director, agrees. “Having the Canadian Staff Songsters and Canadian Staff Band involved made the experience even more special, bringing authenticity and a powerful sense of community to the project.”

One of the Salvationists featured in the episode was Andrew Burditt, who plays solo cornet with the Canadian Staff Band.

“I thoroughly enjoyed participating in an episode of Murdoch Mysteries,” he says. “The chance to meet the actors and learn about the process was wonderful, and any opportunity to promote the work of the Army is something we should embrace.”

Positive Message

Making sure The Salvation Army was seamlessly integrated into the episode was a collaborative effort. 

“Working closely with the CBC, the Murdoch production team and The Salvation Army Heritage Centre, we were able to ensure historical accuracy while showcasing the impact of the Army’s mission during that period,” says Corey.

The Salvation Army has been active in Canada since 1882 and was well established in Toronto by the early 1900s. Today, the Army serves in more than 400 communities, providing hope, assistance and compassionate care to Canadians in need.

“Like everybody else in the country, we see the Army out in full force during the holiday season, but when approaching the script, we also wanted to highlight the amazing work they do all year round,” says Julie. “We specifically had Inspector Choi address this in a line of dialogue, as we thought this was the most effective way to put the message in people’s minds. In the episode, Detective Murdoch and Inspector Choi donate to the Salvation Army kettle in support of the Army’s mission, encouraging people to give.”

That mission is more vital than ever, as many Canadians struggle to meet basic needs due to the rising cost of living. Christmas is the season of giving, a reminder to love one’s neighbour, as this episode of Murdoch Mysteries emphasizes. “It shares a positive message of supporting the people in your life, not only at Christmas, but all year round,” Julie continues. “It’s similar to the message of The Salvation Army.”

Global Reach

Along with this heartwarming Christmas episode, this season of Murdoch Mysteries promises to be an exciting one. For Julie, who has worked on Murdoch Mysteries since the very beginning, it’s no surprise that the show continues to be popular worldwide, even as it reaches the 300-episode milestone this season.

“Murdoch appeals to a broad audience of people who love murder mysteries, but it’s also a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously,” she says, “and the accessibility of the humour created by Peter Mitchell and his writing team is a large part of what draws people to the show.

“Detective Murdoch is a brilliant role model with an open mind,” she concludes, “a true inspiration at Station House #4, and to our audience.”

Watch Murdoch Mysteries Season 18 Mondays on CBC TV and CBC Gem.