Sad news out of Hope Valley, y’all. The When Calls the Heart squad is pouring one out (probably a hot cocoa, because Hallmark) for one of their behind-the-scenes MVPs: Nathaniel “Nate” Pelletier, the man who kept the show’s wagons rollin’, quite literally.
Nate wasn’t just your average transport guy. He was the Wizard of Wagons, the Chauffeur of Charm, the Sultan of Stagecoach Steering. The man could parallel park a 1910s horse-drawn buggy like it was a Tesla. He even made surprise cameos on the show as a taxi driver, which honestly makes him the closest thing Hope Valley has to Uber.
Sadly, Nate passed away on April 11 at the age of 52, and the WCTH fam is deep in their feelings—yes, even deeper than a dramatic mid-season plot twist.
A service was held for Nate on May 2, and after that, tributes started pouring in from the cast and crew faster than Elizabeth Thatcher can write in her diary.
Martin Cummins, a.k.a. Henry “Brooding Businessman with a Heart of Gold” Gowen, wrote a touching tribute that had us all ugly crying in bonnets. He reminisced about bike rides, shady hangouts in the woods (not suspicious, just rustic), and deep convos in the infamous “blue room.” Which sounds like a spa but is probably just a trailer with really good vibes.
Here’s a slice of what he said (get tissues ready):
“I have spent more hours at work sitting in the blue room, in silence or in conversation with Gord and Nate than I have standing on tape with the camera rolling… Nate and I were Gord’s boys running around the town, hanging out in the woods and talking s–t.”
BRB, sobbing and also laughing at the idea of Hallmark dudes “talking s–t” behind a wagon.
He wrapped it up with:
“The Valley will not be the same without Nathaniel Pelletier. He was a gentle soul and it was my honor to call him friend.”
Cue the emotional violin music.
Even Pascale Hutton (you know her, you love her) chimed in with a heartfelt 💔 emoji, which is basically the digital version of holding someone’s hand while wearing a prairie dress.
Bottom line: Nate was the kind of guy who made magic happen—quietly, kindly, and occasionally in a taxi cab on camera. The Hearties will never forget him.
Ride on, Nate. Heaven just got a new wagon driver. 💛