Character's Bio: Grase Bailey

Grace is Honey's unmarried sister-in-law who lives with her mother, May. She has grown up with low self-confidence due to her mother’s constant scrutiny. Eventually, Grace gets a job and moves out of her mother’s house to live with Toppy. Grace is involved with a series of men, though none of her relationships last. Eventually, after a whirlwind affair, Grace marries a man named Van. She eventually learns he is a con man who lied about everything except his feelings for her.

Actor's Bio: Kathryn Greenwood

In addition to her role as Grace Bailey, Kathryn Greenwood has extensive experience working in radio, film, television and theatre. She has appeared on This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Kids in the Hall, Second City Live, and Hostage for a Day, where she starred alongside John Candy. Kathryn was also a regular on the hit TV show Whose Line is it Anyway? with Drew Carey. A winner of the Dora Mavor Moore Award, her dramatic credits include Street Legal, Queer as Folk and the Nora Ephron film, This is My Life.

Character's Bio: May Bailey

May is Honey's domineering mother-in-law who resents Honey for the death of her son, Jack. When Honey is forced to look for work, May takes in Honey’s two boys and uses this opportunity as a second chance to fix the mistakes she made with Jack. Though her decisions are harsh and manipulative, May truly believes she is doing what is best for the family. Eventually, May is diagnosed with a serious heart condition, but attempts to hide it. Soon her illness becomes apparent and she believes her family’s care is actually an attempt to steal the family mine. May remains at odds with Honey until, by chance, she is forced to deliver Honey’s son, Zach, and they eventually put aside their differences.

Actor's Bio: Shirley Douglas

A Canadian acting legend, Shirley Douglas made her Canadian television prime time series debut with her role as staunch matriarch May Bailey in Wind at My Back. No stranger to portraying strong, often sullen characters, Douglas’ stage credits include Big Momma in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Hagar in The Stone Angel. Daughter of Tommy Douglas - one of Canada’s greatest political leaders -and mother of actor Kiefer Sutherland, Shirley Douglas is one of Canada’s most celebrated talents. She received the Order of Canada in 2002 and was honoured with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Character's Bio: Del Sutton

Del Sutton is Max’s older brother who arrives in New Bedford in time to be Max’s best man at his wedding to Honey. Del is a railroad executive whose temporary decision to stay in town turns into a permanent one. When he loses his job, he decides to live a more carefree life and Honey’s children take to him. Grace helps Del get a job working as a mechanic for Ollie, and Del later helps Ollie woo Grace. However, after becoming colleagues with Grace at the radio station in town, the two soon begin to have feelings for each other. They admit their feelings, but ultimately know that they are not right for each other, and Del eventually leaves New Bedford.

Actor's Bio: Ron Lea

Ron Lea’s impressive list of film and television credits includes roles in such productions as Criminal Law, This is Wonderland, Bon Cop, Bad Cop and Saw IV. A student from the world-renowned National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal, he received a Gemini nomination for his work on the television series Street Legal in 1995. More recently, he appeared with Hollywood legend Barbara Hershey in the Kevin Sullivan film Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning.

Character's Bio: Bob Bailey

Bob Bailey is May’s eldest son and is responsible for running the mine. He and Toppy (his wife) end up having marital problems, and eventually get divorced. After the divorce, Bob leaves town and is rarely seen again. May is furious with him for abandoning the town, and often blames him for the troubles with the mine.

Actor's Bio: Dan Lett

An accomplished stage actor, Lett has performed in theatrical classics at many of Canada’s finest venues. His credits include The Cherry Orchard at Tarragon and Berkeley Square at the Shaw Festival. He has won three Gemini awards for his work on the CBC comedy show Made in Canada. Lett can also be seen in other Sullivan Entertainment films such as Under the Piano and the award-winning Butterbox Babies.

Character's Bio: Maisey McGinty

Maisey is the tomboy granddaughter of Leo - May’s husband’s old prospecting partner – who has returned to New Bedford so that Maisey is protected from big city life. Maisey and Leo don’t get along very well because Leo had a rocky relationship with her mother - a saloon singer who passed away. But Maisey quickly becomes friends with the Bailey boys and is involved in their many adventures around town. Always searching for the truth about her biological father, Maisey is confronted with the ups and downs of life with him when he returns to New Bedford after Leo passes away.

Actor's Bio: Dalene Irvine

Dalene Irvine made her television series debut when she appeared as Maisey McGinty in Wind at my Back in 1997. With a background as a soloist with the Theatre Orangeville Youth Singers, Irvine was also the voice of Felicity King in Kevin Sullivan’s animated feature Anne: Journey to Green Gables.

Character's Bio: Hubert ‘Hub’ Bailey

Hubert ‘Hub’ Bailey is Honey's eldest son. He is incredibly stubborn and often resists the control his grandmother tries to exercise over him. He soon gets into trouble in school because of a number of new stresses on his life, including losing his father, living apart from his mother and sister, and living with his grandmother. He eventually becomes interested in the mine and May begins training him to become the future owner. As he grows older, Hub becomes a much quieter and gentler young man, and eventually decides to become a priest.

Actor's Bio: Dylan Provencher

With a background in children’s theatre, Dylan Provencher made his television debut in 1996. He has since made guest appearances on popular shows such as Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps. In 1999, the Montreal native received the Young Artist Award in recognition for his role in The Sweetest Gift. Dylan returned to the set of Wind at my Back in 2001 to deliver a moving performance in “A Wind at my Back Christmas.” Currently, Dylan is a real estate agent, alongside his brother, in Toronto.

Character's Bio: Henry ‘Fat’ Bailey

Fat is the younger brother of Hub Bailey and is the more mischievous of the two. When Fat meets a police officer, he decides that becoming an RCMP officer is no longer just a dream – it’s his goal. His family does not take him seriously, but Fat is determined to succeed.

Actor's Bio: Tyrone Saveage

Son of actors Janet-Laine Greene and Booth Savage, Tyrone Savage began his acting career at a young age, appearing on the popular series Goosebumps and The Dresden Files. He also narrated the television special Isaac Newton: Pebbles of Truth. In recent years, he played Edgar in the movie American Pie Presents: Beta House. Tyrone is now part of the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre in Stratford, Ontario.

Character's Bio: Max Sutton

Max is a school teacher in New Bedford who grows very fond of Honey. Eventually he and Honey are married, but he faces initial resistance from her children and from May. Through the seasons, Honey’s children - Hub in particular- begin to trust Max and rely on him for support. Max and Honey ultimately have two more children; a biological son and an adopted daughter.

Actor's Bio: James Carroll

James Carroll is a music and theatre graduate of La Salle University and Villanova University. He is an actor with an impressive resume, having roles in such theatre productions as Guys and Dolls, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Metal Blues and White Blood. He has also starred in numerous television shows and films, including Wonderfalls, Hidden Room, Street Legal, Scales of Justice and The Gathering. In 2008, James appeared alongside screen legend Shirley MacLaine in Kevin Sullivan’s Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning.

Character's Bio: Honey Sutton

Honey is married to Jack Bailey and they own a small town hardware store. It is soon forced into bankruptcy when the bank halts their loan at the start of the Great Depression. Soon after, Jack dies in an accident and Honey is forced to leave her two sons with May Bailey (Jack’s mother), while her young daughter, Violet, is sent to live with distant relatives. Eventually, Honey remarries to a man named Max Sutton and soon gives birth to their son, Zach. Quickly after his birth, Honey is diagnosed with Tuberculosis and leaves for a sanatorium to recover. When she returns months later, Honey finds her children grown and the town worried about how her illness might affect them. Eventually she is able to recover her local hair salon and tries to move on with her life.

Actor's Bio: Laura Bruneau

Cynthia Bellvieau: Renowned for her many appearances in dramatic television series, Belliveau’s credits include fiery reporter Terry Morgan on ENG and Sally Rand in Million Dollar Babies. In 1998, she was nominated for a Gemini award for her role as Honey Sutton in Wind at My Back. The Calgary native’s most recent credit was a starring role on the popular children’s series Caitlin’s Way, which aired on the Nickelodeon channel.

Laura Bruneau: Known for her role as Kitty on the popular series Material World, Bruneau joined the cast of Wind at My Back in 2000. Her television credits include guest starring roles in The Outer Limits, Matrix, Street Legal and The Beachcombers. The Vancouver native is also an accomplished stage performer, having appeared in productions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Hot & Cold.

Character's Bio: Toppy Bailey

Toppy is married to Jack’s brother, Bob, and together they have a daughter named Doris. When Bob gets caught up in trying to save the mine from bankruptcy, he becomes irritable and Toppy eventually leaves him. They couple try to resolve their differences and save their marriage, but it ultimately ends in divorce.

Actor's Bio: Robin Craig

An accomplished stage, film, television and radio actor, Robin Craig’s resume includes three nominations for the Dora Mavor Moore Award, a nomination for an Academy Award for Life Times Nine and an ACTRA Award for her radio performance in Lies My Mother Told Me. She received the Gemini Award in 1998 for her role in Wind at My Back in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Robert Bockstael: Jim Flett

Natasha LaForce: Violet Bailey

Dougie Laforce: Zach Sutton

Kevin Sullivan: Executive Producer, Writer, Director

Kevin Sullivan is the President of Sullivan Entertainment Inc. which he and his partner, Trudy Grant, founded in 1979. Internationally recognized as one of the leading producers of high quality entertainment and renowned for his directorial ease with children and top performers, Mr. Sullivan has achieved myriad accolades and awards over the past two decades. His ability to consistently produce top-notch entertainment as well as to attract big name stars has enhanced the image of Sullivan Entertainment throughout the world.

Under Mr. Sullivan’s guidance Sullivan Entertainment has developed a distinctive brand of story-telling. Lavish productions that are emotionally compelling and entertaining have become the hallmark of the company Mr. Sullivan founded more than 20 years ago.

Trudy Grant: Co-Executive Producer

Trudy Grant is the President of Sullivan Entertainment International, which she founded in 1981. Through her leadership, the company has emerged as a major player in the world marketplace and particularly in the television arena.

Her involvement in distribution prompted her to form Sullivan Entertainment International to better administer the Sullivan product. The company’s penetration into many of the world’s less accessible markets makes it one of the few companies that can truly be considered international, having developed key relationships with buyers and financiers for various co-productions. One of Ms. Grant’s main achievements is the sale of the mini-series “Anne of Green Gables” to more than 120 countries around the globe.

Ms. Grant has evolved into the guiding light behind the company’s financial success. By strategically maximizing financial opportunities, Ms. Grant has built a very successful international business around the Sullivan brand.

Ken Jubenvill: Director

Ken Juvenvill was nominated for two Gemini Awards in 1989 for his work on the dramatic program, One Wolf, One Boy, One Summer. His other television credits include 21 episodes of Wind at my Back, Danger Bay, Lonesome Dove and most recently, The Force.

Ruth Secord: Costume Designer

“Having not done the other two Anne mini-series was my biggest challenge,” admits Costume Designer Ruth Secord. Sullivan Entertainment’s signature attention to detail and accuracy pushed Secord’s team into one of their most gratifying challenges. In just eight weeks, Secord and her team of cutters, tailors, and milliners researched, found and created authentic period costumes for 85 cast members and 3,000 background players. In a film that spanned Canada, the United States, France, Britain, and Germany, Secord was not only required to create civilian wardrobes but military uniforms indigenous to each of the five countries. Secord’s television credits include Sullivan productions of Under the Piano, Wind at My Back, Promise the Moon, Butterbox Babies, and Road to Avonlea. Her film work includes Blown Away, Oh, What a Night, Beautiful dreamers, and Johnny Mnemonic and the recent production of Disney’s The Miracle Worker.

Don Gillis: Composer

Don Gillis is a three-time Gemini Award nominee who has contributed his musical talents to several of Kevin Sullivan’s productions, including Wind at my Back, A Wind at my Back Christmas, Road to Avonlea and An Avonlea Christmas. He was nominated for a Gemini for his compositions for two Road to Avonlea seasons in 1994 and 1995, as well as for the TV series Danger Bay. In addition, Gillis was the musical director of episodes of The Jim Henson Hour and was the musical director of Fraggle Rock – also created by Jim Henson.

Raymond Lorenz: Art Director

Raymond Lorenz was born in Vancouver, B.C. where he graduated from the University of BC as an art teacher. Ray has designed many different television projects for Sullivan Entertainment, including three seasons of Wind at My Back (1999-2001), Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (2008), Sleeping Dogs Lie (1998) and An Avonlea Christmas (1998). He was also production designer on Paul Haggis’ directorial feature Red Hot (1993), as well as the pilot and first season of Due South (1994-1995). Ray designed two seasons of Jeff Ltd. (2005) and the TV miniseries Canada/Russia ’72 in 2006.

Michael MacLennan: Writer

Michael MacLennan is a Gemini Award-nominated producer and writer who has been behind several television programs, including the Sullivan Productions Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series, Super Rupert, eight episodes of Wind at my Back and Anne: Journey to Green Gables.

The Baileys are in dire straits. They learn Hugo has no intention of keeping the mine open if and when he buys it. May plans on selling some of her land holdings not to reopen the mine if it goes into receivership, but solely for her and Grace to live on (Grace can no longer provide any income to the household since Callie fires her from the radio station). However, the property at Bass Lake is one with which May will not part. But it is that property that Luc and Hugo want to purchase and develop into a resort. Luc is still interested in striking both a professional and personal relationship with Grace. With Del still confessing feelings, but not the desire for a long-term commitment, Grace entertains the idea of a relationship with Luc. On the professional front, May might be able to keep the mine open since one of her other investments - an oil exploration venture - shows promise. However, Mr. Sainsbury at the bank is unwilling to offer May any credit. Duriung a conversation Grace overhears, she learns that Hugo has other ideas for the Bass Lake property when he gets his hands on it and Hugo is in collusion with someone who can assist in getting the property from May. A family meeting is held to help May make the ultimate decision.

Three couples evaluate their relationships. Grace and Del have been dating, but Grace feels that they are still incompatible as a couple. She thinks she has scientific evidence for this fact when she takes a magazine romance quiz and fails. However, she doesn't bother to tell Del why she's been so standoffish of late. Honey and Max look at their life following Zach's birth. And Honey receives some devastating news: due to the complications from the birth, she can probably no longer have any more children. She feels that she has lost one manifestation of her love for Max and a part of her own womanhood. With this news, Max revisits his own insecurities about Honey and whether she settled for second best in choosing him after Jack's death. To help them through this difficult time, May thinks they need a romantic getaway and offers them the use of the cabin at Bass Lake for the weekend while she takes care of her grandchildren. The weekend at the lake ends up not really helping Max and Honey, as unbeknownst to anyone, Bob and Toppy have made the trek from Toronto to the Bass Lake cabin for the weekend as well. Upon seeing the Torontonians, Max and Honey can see that there is something different and troubling in Bob and Toppy's marriage. Bob and Toppy are keeping one collective secret which is placing strain on their marriage, but Bob has one of his own that could cause even more damage. Back in New Bedford, Wanless Furniture is sponsoring a bed race. Hub, Fat and Maisey are sure they can win. All they need is a bed, a sponsor (which they find in Ollie) and a little luck. But they aren't going to win if the Cramps have any say in the matter.

Following her separation from Bob, Toppy is back in New Bedford living in May's house. She is feeling self-conscious about her new separated status and the probable gossip around town. Meanwhile, fourteen-year-old Hub is growing up and getting to the stage in life where he is testing his own mettle. Honey and Max are asking more of him around the house. And the adults around town see him as a good boy. However, his goody-goody status does not sit well with him. He rebels by hanging out with the boys at the pool hall - something a good boy would not do. Although not directly associated with them, Hub does protect the wrong-doings of these boys, and even contributes to the wrong-doings by stealing pocket change from his mother's business to play pinball. Max knows what's going on with Hub. Rather than harshly disciplining him, Max decides a better course of action is to acknowledge the wrong-doings and ask Hub to make amends for it. But Hub needs to figure out for himself how he best fits into life in New Bedford. His thought process is assisted when he is asked to sit vigil overnight for the body of Ruth Fillian - a teenaged girl who committed suicide. Afterwards, he takes the literal “leap of faith” that all the other boys verging on manhood in New Bedford have taken by jumping off the railroad trestle into the lake below just before the arrival of the train.

Max and Honey have decided to give Hub a little more leeway in his life, which is difficult for Honey. Doris is coming back to New Bedford to visit with her mother. Along with Doris are her two snobbish friends - sisters Frankie and Clarice Bloore. Doris has told them fanciful stories about her mother's glamorous but tragic life and the stories seem straight out of a romance novel. Upon their arrival, the Bloore sisters only see a backward rural town and backward townsfolk not to their urban sensibilities. Toppy gets wind of her daughter's stories about her and does whatever she can to gain her daughter's approval. Doris's visit coincides with the annual New Bedford Fall Fair. Historically organized by May, the Fall Fair this year is being organized by Grace because of May's health issues. Things are going relatively smoothly until the grand prize for the fair's showpiece - the most beautiful mother-baby competition - gets broken in transit to New Bedford. Along comes Tucker Findlay to save the day. Tucker is a photographer with popular Vanity Lane magazine, and is traveling the Ontario fair circuit doing portraiture sales. He offers his services as the grand prize. Although a good photographer, Tucker is a scam artist, bilking local businesses along the way and offering unrealistic hopes of fame and fortune to his customers for a price. What's worse is that he is a Lothario preying on unsuspecting women. Although caught up like everyone else with Tucker's promises, Honey soon learns first hand of Tucker's true nature. First, he captures a risqué photograph of Honey - unintentionally risqué on Honey's part - which he talks Alden into running as the front page photograph for the Chronicle's Fall Fair edition. And second, he gropes Honey at a later photo shoot. When Tucker has run out of town without settling his financial accounts, Honey, Max, Archie, Grace and Hub go after him at what is his last scheduled meeting in New Bedford: Bailey household, where he is to take Toppy's portrait. Will they make it in time to catch Tucker and, more importantly, protect Toppy’s honour?

Many in town are getting into new business ventures. With the demise of the North Bridge bus, Alden and Callie want to start their own bus line and bring people into town in order to keep the viability and need for the hotel. They talk Del into being a 25% partner. Del is solely responsible for providing mechanical support and driving. But Del regrets getting into this venture when he sees the bus Alden purchases and when the Cramps take total control of the decision making. Max gets into a business venture of his own with the Cramps when he needs transportation for the boy's basketball team to Pinebury and talks Alden into a creative win-win solution. Max also later regrets this venture when Alden's decision making gets them into trouble. On smaller scales, Alice is working with her mother cleaning houses. And Fat and Maisey, who stumble upon an overturned transport truck with cargo, decide to take a caseload of dry breakfast cereal. Their thought is to send the boxtops to the cereal company for their advertised giveaways, and sell the cereal itself at a marked down price to whomever wants to buy it. Fat also later regrets this decision as no one wants the cereal. And when Max gets wind of what Fat did, he is grounded. Hub has other things on his mind. At age fourteen, he is going through puberty and “the fever”, as Maisey calls it, and is starting to notice girls. The one he has his eye on is fourteen-year-old Alice, who is also going through the change physically. Hub thinks he may be in love. But Alice, who is still not allowed to talk to "a Bailey", also has other things on her mind. She hates her life: her father has begun to drink due to not being able to work because of his disability, and she has to work to help make ends meet for the family. In addition to Hub, she also catches the eye of Cliff - a young man in his 20’s who is in town to help clear the transport truck mess. In Cliff, Alice sees someone who can get her out of her miserable life in New Bedford. Hub does whatever he can to stop Alice from getting involved with Cliff, but Hub isn't sure if he's doing it for Alice's sake or his own.

Penniless recluse Orvy Potter has just passed away. In his will, he has bequeathed a Mexican crystal skull to May. Orvy states in a note to May that the skull has psychic powers, but also contains a curse that will be unleashed to anyone who disposes of it unwisely. May thinks the idea that the skull has powers is nonsense, but Grace, Toppy, Fat and Maisey are intrigued. Grace and Toppy decide to test Orvy's claim regarding the skull. One by one, the questions they ask of the skull are answered in some fashion. News of the skull's powers quickly spreads around town, especially to May's friends and even Sergeant Stoneman, who wants to consult the skull on some unsolved petty theft cases. May is still skeptical until she inadvertently gets an important answer to a personal question in the presence of the skull. In another situation, she has a dream in the skull's presence which, if true, would help her on the road to saving the family business. With help from a stranger, May tests her dream. After May finds out the skull's history, cultural value and economic value, she decides to give it back to the person she feels is the rightful owner. Meanwhile, a collection of squatters is found on May's Bass Lake property. The group is part of a relocation program of homeless people out of Toronto. Among the squatters is a tough young teen, Ruby Trammel, who Maisey knew and hated in Toronto. Although Maisey has told fanciful stories of her own father being a mariner sailing around the world, Ruby is spreading rumors that Maisey never knew her father, who was is convicted criminal. Although not knowing the entire truth, Fat knows that Ruby's tales are probably closer to reality. But Fat sticks with Maisey, his friend, in her time of emotional need. Fat and Maisey decide to consult the skull about Maisey's father. This question looks to be one that will go unanswered until a mysterious young man arrives in New Bedford asking about Maisey.

Crime is on the minds of New Bedford residents. Baby Face Nelson has been pulling off bank robberies in the States, and a local band of robbers, known as the Burlesque Bandits, have been holding up unsuspecting victims. The Bandits have not yet arrived in New Bedford, but the Cramps have been stirring up fear through sensationalistic journalism by glamorizing these acts of crime both in the Chronicle and on CRNB radio. At the same time, the mysterious stranger newly arrived in town has caught the attention of Masiey. The stranger, Eddy Jackson, has been hanging around her and the pawn shop. She thinks that he's casing the place to later rob it. But Eddy has been hired by the Cramps as the new bartender at the hotel, so he is at least trying to earn a decent wage. Leo recognizes Eddy as a shifty character from Cabbagetown - the old neighborhood where they lived in Toronto. Eddy had spent some time in jail for his past illegal deeds. Leo has not told anyone he knows Eddy. When Leo finally talks to Eddy for the first time, Leo learns that he is Maisey's biological father and that Maisey is the reason Eddy has come to town. But Leo wants Eddy to have nothing to do with Maisey. When the Cramps are held up by the Burlesque Bandits, many in town jump to the conclusion that Eddy is responsible, despite the fact that Eddy's watch was also stolen in the hold-up. Sergeant Stoneman brings Eddy in for questioning and detains Eddy when he learns that he has a criminal record. The real Bandits try to hawk the stolen jewelry at the pawn shop. And the loot includes Eddy's watch, which Fat recognizes. Ultimately, the real Bandits are caught and Eddy's watch is returned. But Eddy's reputation has now been tarnished in New Bedford and he can no longer stay there. Based on the inscription on the back of the watch, Maisey suspects he may be her father and she asks him directly. Eddy denies Maisey's question and he leaves town, but not before leaving her with a keepsake.

With silver prices down and nickel prices up, May thinks it's a good time to move mining operations out to the Bass Lake property. To do so, the company will need to have their line of credit reinstated, which should only be a formality. For added insurance, May asks her old friend, Senator Carlisle Woodman - now a board member with the Royal Dominion Bank - to use whatever influence he has to ensure the line of credit is approved. The senator is in town to help his son Maurice campaign. Maurice is the Tory candidate running in the local federal by-election. Despite the senator's influence, Mr. Sainsbury still has the final say as District Manager and he politely tells the senator to stay out of the business affairs of the bank. Against the wishes of Benjamin Kendrick, the local bank manager, Sainsbury declines the credit. Catching the senator in a white lie, May reevaluates her political friendships and her politics in total, especially when she speaks to the enthusiastic, but self-deprecating, Angus Hardy - the candidate for the newly formed Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). May still has a few tricks up her sleeve with the bank and they become easier to implement when Hub and Fat uncover Sainsbury's true motivations and his actions to implement his own plans. Meanwhile, the Sutton brothers teach the local children the skill of orienteering when a small child is lost. And Del has to make some tough decisions when Ollie lays him off due to lack of business at the garage. Grace wants to be part of the decision making. Although she may not be able to ultimately influence Del, Grace can at least make decisions that affect her own happiness.

Complications and a disapproving May threaten Grace’s secret plans to attend an out of town wedding with Jud.

The birth of the Dionne Quintuplets is all the talk in New Bedford. Grace in particular is fascinated by the story. May is concerned that the Dionne Quintuplets, and the scrapbook Grace creates about them, are replacements for Del, who has left town. Other town news is the permanent nervous leave taken by Mr. Bedoes – a teacher at the school. The reason for his leaving heightens an on-going disagreement between Mrs. Whitney and Max on administering the strap on students. Mrs. Whitney is pro-strap, Max is against the strap. Jim Flett - a widower who has been looking for a permanent teaching position - takes Mr. Bedoes’ place. Jim is cerebral and quiet, but he inspires his students. His life motto is "FLETT": first learn everything, then think. May thinks that Jim would be the perfect suitor for Grace, who is embarrassed by her mother's forthrightness in approaching Jim, especially since Del has only been gone for a short time. Jim may not be ready to date either, as he has only been widowed for a short period (just over a year). With Jim is his son Pritchard, who is precocious, equally intellectual as his father and has the gift of the gab. He is also small for his age, but nonetheless plucky. Fat doesn't like Pritchard very much, and some on-going issues between the two at school again raises the issue of effective discipline on students. Mrs. Whitney increasingly pressures Max into using the strap as discipline. In Mrs. Whitney's view, Max's only other option is to resign as Vice-Principal. Max is forced to administer the strap on a student he later learns was innocent. This situation ultimately brings Fat and Pritchard closer as friends. But the issue of the strap's use eventually goes to the school board, which has the final decision on the matter.

Grace begins trying to fulfill her fantasies of a starlet's life. She starts a business that is advertised at the back of Tinsel Times magazine, not so much for the income, but because she thought it would bring her one step closer to being like a star. The venture is an utter failure. Just then, Nathan Sparks - a director with Associated Screen Productions - arrives in town. His production company specializes in newsreels and he is only passing through on his way to do a newsreel on the Dionne Quintuplets. Sparks' dream as a filmmaker is to make important feature length movies that have social significance. Grace thinks Sparks' presence in New Bedford is fate. She convinces him to turn one of his stories into a feature length film to be scripted by Max and filmed in New Bedford with real people as the actors. However, the filming has its problems, especially overacting by the non-actors, and Sparks only has a limited amount of film with which to work. Ollie sees this project as an opportunity to rekindle his relationship with Grace. But the entire project is halted when Bert Potter, Sparks’ producer, comes to town looking for his employee. Despite his dream of a feature length film not working out, Sparks' visit is ultimately beneficial for both him and Grace – they now know what they need to do to achieve their respective dreams. Grace's self-esteem is heightened with a little help from Fat, who is trying to find his own place in life in New Bedford.

The Christmas season of 1934 is a time of reflection for many New Bedford residents. On pragmatic matters, May is quickly called away to Cape Breton to take care of Cousin Jessie, who has taken a fall and requires care. Doris is spending the holidays in New York with her friends, which gets both Grace and Toppy thinking about their own lives and dreams. Grace laments never having accomplished anything she's ever wanted to do, such as travel, and thinks about the suitors that have come and gone from her life. And Toppy is saddened by her new separated status. But Alden and Callie, in addition to wanting to make money, are building on the dreams of residents by sponsoring a 126-hour dance marathon, which starts on Boxing Day and ends on the stroke of midnight New Years Day, 1935. The winners, if any, will win $200. To build loyalty into the CRNB listening audience, the Cramps also sponsor a team for which they think their listeners will cheer. They recruit Max and Honey and offer them three months free rent if they win. Max and Honey agree to this deal and think about buying a house with the possible winnings. But the Suttons aren't the only ones who hope to win. Hub enters with Alice, who he believes he is in love with, but Alice only sees Hub as a brother-figure. Toppy convinces Archie to dance with her, despite him admitting he doesn’t know how to dance. And Grace goes to reliable Ollie to ask him to be her partner. But Ollie is not there for her this time, as he is now in a serious relationship with Marjorie, his dance partner. So Grace decides to ask Jim, who she doesn't know well, but who is alone during the holiday season. Jim is still mourning the death of his wife, Kathleen, and is only agrees to it in order to become part of New Bedford life. During the process of the marathon, the respective dance partners get to know each other better and understand their own deepest dreams and feelings. Will any of them get to fulfill their dreams by winning the contest?

Left to their own devices, Fat, Maisey and Violet get into a animal care/cooking mishap. This incident puts Honey back into an old feud with May regarding what Honey sees as May's criticisms of her, both as a mother and a human being. Recently, Honey has been assisting Iris Barlow in the women's mission, specifically in halting the spread of influenza that has not quite yet reached New Bedford, and providing services and supplies to those on relief. Honey also provides free hairdressing services to those on relief. One of her free clients is Norma, who Honey believes is a lot like how she herself was after Jack’s death. Norma, with two children still in diapers, has been traveling around Northern Ontario looking for her husband who has been searching for work. Honey does whatever she can to help Norma get through this rough time. Norma and her two children become ill and Honey appoints herself as their nursemaid. But the illness turns out to be the virulent strain of influenza that has already killed six people in Pinebury and Honey ends up being quarantined at Norma's apartment. Norma and her family recover from the illness, but Honey comes down with a worse case of the illness since she had a previous chest infection that made her more susceptible. With the hospital in North Bridge already overflowing to the rafters, Dr. Barlow feels he can better treat Honey at home. May shows the family what she really thinks of Honey when it looks like Honey may not survive her illness.

The mood in the Sutton household is somber as Honey is still in the hospital in Toronto and little news is making its back to New Bedford about her condition. But the family is trying to continue with life. Max in particular is exhausted and is asking more from the boys to keep the household functioning. Fat, with Maisey and Pritchard, have a new fascination with Buck Rogers. Jim fuels this fascination with theories of life on Mars. Hub is still thinking about Alice, now that she is again speaking to him. But Mrs. MacFarlane knows that nothing can ever come of a union between a Bailey and a MacFarlane - a concern she expresses directly to May. But Alice has other thoughts on her mind, which is indirectly aided by a move by her mother. On business fronts, May is holding a shareholders meeting to publicly discuss trading the company with the new nickel venture at Bass Lake. Bob is coming from Montreal for the meeting. Both May and Toppy see Bob's impending visit as both a positive professional and personal visit to get involved in the family business once again, and move back to New Bedford to resume his life with Toppy. However, Bob's intentions are exactly the opposite as he brings his new girlfriend to New Bedford with him. The shareholder meeting also brings to the forefront the issue that Max, having never adopted the boys, is not their legal guardian. This news prompts a reaction from Fat. Meanwhile, Ollie and Marjorie are preparing for their impending nuptials. As Marjorie seemingly has few close friends, Grace throws Marjorie a bridal shower, which results in townsfolk talking about Grace trying to outwardly display that she has no romantic feelings for Ollie. When Libby - Marjorie's sister and matron of honor - sprains her ankle, Grace is also forced to act as Marjorie's new maid of honor. Grace isn't sure if she should accept this role, especially after an admission from Ollie.