Since its launch in 2023, Sullivan's Crossing has emerged as one of the most beloved Canadian romance drama series. It is based on Robyn Carr's five-novel series of the same name. Carr is also well-known as the author of the Virgin River novel series, which Netflix adapted into a series.
Sullivan's Crossing sees the namesake character, Maggie Sullivan, return to Sullivan’s Crossing, a close-knit community in the fictional seaside town of Timberlake, located in Nova Scotia, eastern Canada. Maggie is a neurosurgeon in Boston, whose career takes a hit when she gets into legal trouble.
In an attempt to escape the events in Boston, she moves back to her hometown and reconnects with her estranged father, Harry 'Sully' Sullivan, her childhood best friend, Sydney, and her family friends, the Cranebears. She also meets a handsome local man, named Cal, who might complicate her relationship with Andrew, her boyfriend back in Boston.
The show was filmed in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The decision to shoot the show in Nova Scotia contributed to its authenticity.
So far, two seasons of Sullivan's Crossing have been released, while a third season is scheduled to be released in August 2025. In Robyn Carr's books, the location is stated to be the Rocky Mountains.
In an interview with Variety published on August 25, 2022, show creator, Roma Roth, revealed that they decided to shift the narrative to the countryside to make it visually different from Virgin River. Consequently, it was set and filmed in Nova Scotia.
In an interview with Parade in October 2023, Chad Michael Murray, who plays Cal in the show, opened up about the filming of the romance drama in Halifax.
"It’s fantastic. We’re on the East Coast in Halifax. It is a hidden gem. This place is absolutely magic. When you’re flying here, you kind of feel like 'Okay, where am I going?' It kind of looks like life before people. And then, boom, you hit Halifax. We’re out there every day and it’s just such a breath of fresh air filming," Murray said.
At the beginning of the show, viewers see Maggie return to her hometown. The road where those shots were filmed is the 1901 Beaver Bank Road, the former Harold T. Barrett Fun Forest Camp. This area is close to where Shubie Park meets Beaver Bank, which has also served as the filming location for the hit horror TV series, From.
Halifax's impressive surroundings and calm atmosphere made the location suitable for the show's small town setting. Laurie Provincial Park and Oakfield Provincial Park, known for their sprawling forests and placid lakes, served as the filming sites for some of the outdoor scenes. The Oakland Field Park was also featured in From.
Shubie Park, located in Dartmouth, is a popular filming location in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The Fairbanks Centre and Great Trail can often be seen in Sullivan's Crossing. The woodland paths, picnic clearings, and tranquil canal locks of this park are used for the shooting of the fictional Timberlake’s trails and community spots.
Aerial shots of Nova Scotia’s iconic coastal locations – Lawrencetown Beach and Peggy’s Cove add to the breathtaking scenes in Sullivan's Crossing. Fisherman’s Cove, a small 200-year-old fishing village, has also served as the backdrop for some scenes.
Sullivan's Crossing is available to stream on Netflix.
TOPICS: Sullivan's Crossing