Character's Bio: Great Aunt Eliza

Eliza Ward is Janet King and Abigail Ward’s aunt. Eliza visited King farm several times throughout the series and would prove to be very eccentric and extremely overbearing. In later seasons, Eliza moves to King farm and becomes a more permanent member of the family. Eventually, her wit and wisdom become an integral part of their lives.

Actor's Bio: Kay Tremblay

A life in the arts provided Kay Tremblay with ample research for the creation of the indomitable Aunt Eliza Ward on Road to Avonlea. In fact, she won a Gemini award for her performance of Eliza in 1997. Ms. Tremblay’s first professional appearance was with the George Balanchine Ballet at Theatre Royal in London. She then played the major variety theatres throughout Britain and toured the capitals of Europe. Ms. Tremblay married a Canadian and settled in Montreal where she resumed work in the theatre in 1954. During her years there, Ms Tremblay appeared in thirty leading roles on Shoestring Theatre, Tele-Play and Tele-Theatre for CBC Television and in numerous radio dramas produced by Rupert Caplan and Earl Pennington. Her extensive list of film and television credits include: Renegades, Shadowdancing, Diamonds, Night Heat, Hot Shots, Street Legal, and Kevin Sullivan’s Wind at My Back. Sadly, the talented actress passed away in 2005.

Character's Bio: Lady Blackwell

Lady Blackwell is the rich and powerful aunt of Jonathan Blackwell – a young man who visits Avonlea claiming to be an antiques dealer.

Actor's Bio: Diana Rigg

A graduate of Britain’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Diana Rigg has performed in both London and on Broadway in such roles as Lady Macbeth and Adriana in The Comedy of Errors. Diana has been nominated for five Emmy awards – two of which were for her portrayal of Emma Peel in the popular series, The Avengers. Other nominated performances include Victoria & Albert, Rebecca (for which she won an Emmy) and In This House of Brede. Ms. Rigg's film credits include The Hospital, The Great Muppet Caper and the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, in which she played the only woman to marry James Bond. Her most recent film was The Painted Veil, starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts.

Character's Bio: Simon Tremayne

Simon Tremayne is the manager of the White Sands Hotel. He hires Felix as his personal assistant and, through a series of happy mistakes, is eventually reunited with his half-brother, the Duke of Arranagh, who visits the hotel. Later, though neither Hetty nor Simon would have predicted it, the two of them eventually strike up a friendship that ultimately leads to discussions of marriage. However, the couple soon realize that they make better friends than fiancées.

Actor's Bio: Ian D. Clark

Ian D. Clark brings his extensive experience on the stage and screen to his portrayal of Simon Tremayne, the fastidious inn keeper of the White Sands Hotel. No stranger to television audiences, Mr. Clark has starred in numerous episodic series and several television movies, including Paradise Falls and Little Men, as well as guest starring roles in The Associates, Doc, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Twice in a Lifetime and Wind at my Back. A star on many of Canada's leading stages, Mr. Clark has performed all across the country, including three seasons at the Shaw Festival, various productions for Stage West, both in Calgary and Edmonton, and the lead role in The Foreigner at the Royal Alexander Theatre in Toronto.

Character's Bio: Evelyn

Evelyn Grier is the wife of Alec King’s boyhood friend, Emmett Grier. Together, they return to Avonlea with their baby daughter. However, shortly after their arrival, Emmett is killed in a boat explosion while fishing with Alec. Alec must deal with his guilt over the death of his friend and his feelings of responsibility for Evelyn’s wellbeing. But his good intentions towards the widow are misinterpreted by the whole town and the rumour mill is set in motion.

Actor's Bio: Meg Tilly

Meg Tilly is perhaps best known for her portrayal of the title role in the award-winning feature film Agnes of God, for which she received an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actress. Tilly’s film credits include a remake of the classic Body Snatchers, Leaving Normal, The Two Jakes, Valmont, The Girl in a Swing, Masquerade, Off Beat and The Big Chill. Although most of Tilly’s work can be seen on the big screen, she has appeared in a variety of television shows, including the TV movie In the Best Interest of the Child, Winnetka Road and Caprica.

Character's Bio: Marshal Zak Morgan

Ex-U.S. Marshal Zak Morgan is the object of Sara’s affection when he visits Avonlea as part of a travelling Wild West show. Sara is drawn to the romantic idea of him, and plans to leave Avonlea and join Zac on the road. However, Sara learns her first lesson in love when she finds that he and his troupe have left town without her.

Actor's Bio: Treat Williams

Treat Williams has appeared in numerous feature films, including Hollywood Ending, The Deep End of the Ocean, Deep Rising, Prince of the City, Once Upon a Time in America, The Eagle Has Landed, Hair, The Ritz, Smooth Talk and the TV movie, A Streetcar Named Desire. The Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor has played doctors, cops, killers and, in Road to Avonlea, a cowboy. “It’s my first ‘western’, really”, said Williams. “It’s the first time I got to ride a horse.” The talented actor has also starred in a number of popular television series such as Everwood, Brothers & Sisters and Heartland. In 2010, he played James Franco’s father in the film 127 Hours.

Character's Bio: Izzy Pettibone

Izzy is the tomboy daughter of Clive Pettibone – an ex-military man who teaches school in Avonlea. The youngest in a family of all men, Izzy is just like one of the boys and becomes good friends with Felix King. However, as the two mature and Izzy grows into a young woman, their relationship changes into one of potential romance.

Actor's Bio: Heather Brown

Heather Brown began her career at the age of five in a school production of Annie. Her first professional appearance on stage was as Young Cosette and Young Eponine in the Canadian premiere of Les Miserables at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Other theatre credits include The House of Martin Guerre and That Scatterbrain Booky. Ms. Brown's television credits include principal roles in Blue Murder, Twice in a Lifetime, Goosebumps, Riverdale and Jonovision.

Character's Bio: Jonathan Blackwell

Jonathan Blackwell is a young man who visits Avonlea claiming to be an antiques dealer under the name Gerald Young. He befriends the King children and inspires them to become treasure seekers as well. When his aunt, Lady Blackwell, comes to Avonlea in pursuit of her missing nephew, his discovery could mean the end of his days as a treasure hunter and he seeks the help of Sara in order to escape.

Actor's Bio: Robby Benson

Robby Benson’s career started at age five when he began performing in summerstock productions with his mother. By age 10, he had appeared in commercials, recorded voice-overs, jingles and had looped children’s voices for foreign films. A film actor since 14, Robby got his break in the 1973 production of Jeremy and has since starred in such films as Dragonheart: A New Beginning, The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus, Modern Love and White Hot. He has appeared in such television series as Friends, American Dreams, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Ellen and The Legend of Prince Valiant. He received a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination for his role in the TV movie Two of a Kind. He is also famously known as the voice of “The Beast” in the first animated film ever to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award - Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

Character's Bio: Arthur Pettibone

Arthur Pettibone is the eldest son of Avonlea schoolteacher, Clive Pettibone. He first befriends the King family during a vacation home from veterinary school in Toronto when he helps save the life of Digger, the King’s beloved dog. Arthur then becomes involved in the personal lives of the family when both he and Gus Pike compete for Felicity’s affections.

Actor's Bio: Zachery Ansley

Zachary Ansley has been acting professionally since he was eleven years old and was honored with a Genie nomination while still a teenager. Ansley was also the winner of the first ever YTV Acting Award (1989). His many acting credits include Dead In A Heartbeat, The Spring, Cowboys Don't Cry, Princes in Exile, The Diary of Evelyn Lau, The X-Files, The Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone and the Sullivan film, An Avonlea Christmas.

Elva Mai Hoover: Mrs. Lawson

Maja Ardal: Mrs. Potts

Heather Brown: Izzy Pettibone

Barbara Hamilton: Mrs. Bugle

Ian D. Clark: Simon Tremayne

Roger Dunn: Bert Potts

John Friesen: Archie Gillis

David Fox: Clive Pettibone

Joel Blake: Andrew King

Kyle Labine: Davey Keith

Linsday Murrell: Dora Keith

Character's Bio: Sara Stanley

Eleven-year-old Sara Stanley is used to a luxurious lifestyle in her hometown of Montreal. Her mother, Ruth King, died of TB when Sara was only a baby. When Sara’s father runs into trouble, Sara is sent to live with her mother’s family - siblings Hetty, Alec, Roger and Olivia. When she arrives, Sara’s nanny is sent back to Montreal, and Sara must adjust to a simpler lifestyle in Avonlea while living at Rose Cottage with Hetty and Olivia. Throughout seasons 3, 4, and 5, Sara takes it upon herself to act as the Avonlea matchmaker. By season 6, her Aunt Hetty and her nanny, Louisa, begin planning her future without her. Sara, however, has other plans. She dreams of becoming a writer and attending a very prestigious school in Paris – alone. Hetty and Louisa agree to let her go, and Sara leaves Avonlea only to return in the final season for her cousin Felicity’s wedding to Gus Pike.

Actor's Bio: Sarah Polley

Sara Polley became a veteran of film and television while still in her teens, and grew up on Road to Avonlea - as did her character, Sara Stanley. Like her character, Sara is an intelligent, fiercely independent woman, and brought many talents and natural charm to the show. Sarah made her screen debut at age four, playing a street waif in the feature One Magic Christmas, starting Jan Rubes. She won North American critical acclaim at the age of nine for her performance in the PBS family series Ramona, and went on to win international recognition for her lead role in Terry Gilliam’s big screen fantasy adventure, The Adventures of Baron Manchausen. Polley’s portrayal of the only surviving child in a school bus crash in Atom Egoyan’s celebrated feature The Sweet Hereafter earned her a Genie nomination as best actress. Other credits include principal roles in feature films The Last Night, The Weight of Water, Exotica, Green Monkey, The Big Town and Pretty Kill. Most recently, Sara has demonstrated her abilities behind the camera as writer and director of the Canadian based feature Away From Her, which earned many nominations and won various awards. Her most recent film was the sci-fi thriller, Splice, starring Adrien Brody.

Character's Bio: Hetty King

The eldest of five siblings, Hetty is the head of the King family and respected schoolteacher of Avonlea. She is a humourless middle-aged woman, who finds change difficult to handle. Hetty lives at Rose Cottage with her sister, Olivia, and her niece, Sara. In later seasons, Hetty King gives up being a schoolteacher in order to pursue her dream of being a writer. Once Sara leaves for Paris, leaving Rose Cottage very much empty, Hetty decides to have Mrs. Lynde move in with her, along with the adopted twins Davey and Dora Keith.

Actor's Bio: Jackie Burroughs

An actress of incomparable breadth and talent, Jackie Burroughs earned a well-deserved reputation as one of Canada’s premiere actresses both on stage and screen. She had won just about every conceivable show business award in Canada. Her performance as the well-intentioned, headstrong and domineering Hetty King has garnered her three Gemini Awards for Best Actress in 1990, 1992 and 1994. Jackie Burroughs had a reputation for being an encouraging and enthusiastic supporter of Canada’s young actors and playwrights. She was known to turn down leading roles at some of Canada’s most prestigious theatres to work for nothing on small ‘fringe’ productions introducing a new playwright’s work. Her participation in many so-called alternative productions has been responsible for drawing public attention to many an independent work. Indeed, like her character Hetty, Jackie Burroughs placed a premium on her independence, both creative and personal. Her body of work is extensive, but she is best known in recent years for the critically acclaimed A Winter Tan, which she both co-directed and co-wrote as well as starred in. Filmed on location in Mexico, A Winter Tan garnered her a 1988 Best Actress Genie Award, and gave her a new love. During the hiatus periods of Road to Avonlea, Ms. Burroughs spent her summers in Mexico, overseeing the construction of her home.

Sadly, the beloved actress died of cancer on September 22, 2010, at the age of 71.

Character's Bio: Olivia Dale

Olivia is the youngest of the King siblings, and Sara’s most affectionate aunt. Olivia eventually begins working as a reporter for the local newspaper. It is here that she meets the man who will eventually become her husband, Jasper Dale - a photographer for the newspaper. Once she and Jasper are married, Olivia leaves Rose Cottage and has a son named Montgomery. Olivia and Jasper later adopt a baby girl named Alicia.

Actor's Bio: Mag Ruffman

Mag Ruffman brings an enthusiastic innocence to her work on Road to Avonlea, lending vitality to the determined career woman, Olivia Dale. Her natural charms and professionalism help her give a loving push to her shy, inventor husband Jasper. In addition to be being an accomplished actress, musician, dancer and singer, Ms. Ruffman possesses the unique gift of being able to relate to children on their own level. She was sought out constantly by the entire junior Avonlea cast for advice on everything from how to tune a flute to how to smuggle newts into the girls’ trailer. Ms Ruffman’s television credits include Anything I Can Do, A Repair to Remember, Debbie Travis and Mag Ruffman Live. She also appeared in Kevin Sullivan’s Emmy Award-winning film Looking For Miracles, and played the part of Alice Lawson in the Anne of Green Gables series.

Character's Bio: Alec King

Alec King was the first born son of the King family. He owns and operates King farm, which is next door to Rose Cottage, where his sisters, Hetty and Olivia, live. He has four children (Felicity, Felix, Cecily and Daniel) and is married to Janet King.

Actor's Bio: Cedric Smith

Cedric Smith never thought he would have children – until he was cast as Alec King, the calm and insightful father of four. His portrayal of the easy-going PEI farmer earned him a 1993 Best Actor Gemini Award, and prepared him for his role as father in his private life. Cedric began his career as a folk-singer in Stratford and has been involved with film and television productions since his first role as Dr. Zvarich in the 1977 film adaptation of Who Has Seen the Wind? Since then his credits number more than one hundred various roles, including Kevin Sullivan’s Butterbox Babies and Sleeping Dogs Lie. He has also provided his voice for a number of documentaries and characters in animated features, such as "Tupper" in Sullivan’s film Anne: Journey to Green Gables.

Character's Bio: Janet King

Janet King is married to Alec and has four children. She is a very loving wife, but is also very independent-minded. In addition to her role as mother, Janet becomes a leader of the women’s suffrage movement in Avonlea. She has a sister named Abigail (played by Rosemary Dunsmore).

Actor's Bio: Lally Cadeau

Since winning the ACTRA Award for best newcomer in 1981, Lally Cadeau has received over a dozen nominations and awards for her work in television, film, radio, and stage, including the 1995 Gemini for Best Actress in a leading role for her work as Aunt Janet on Road to Avonlea. Other awards have included a Bijou and an ACTRA for her work in the critically acclaimed You’ve Come a Long Way, Katie. Ms. Cadeau also starred in the CBC series Hangin’ In for six years before performing on Road to Avonlea. Other television credits include guest-starring roles in Street Legal, Kane and Abel, Adderly, Twilight Zone and King of Kensington.

Character's Bio: Felix King

Felix is the eldest son of Alec and Janet. He is very mischievous and will often get into trouble. He eventually befriends Isolde Pettibone (Izzy) who is the daughter of Mr. Pettibone, the widowed schoolteacher who takes over the Avonlea schoolhouse when Hetty retires. In later seasons, a romance begins to develop between Felix and his good friend, Izzy.

Actor's Bio: Zachary Bennett

Like Gema Zamprogna, who plays his sister, Felicity, on Road to Avonlea, Zachary Bennett also comes from an acting family. His father teaches drama, his mother is his coach, and his elder brother Gareth, and sisters Marion and Sophie, all work in the field.

Zachary’s role as the irrepressible Felix King matured over the course of the show. The Felix of Season 1 - indefatigable tease, lover of adventure stories and shirker of chores - matured into a responsible young man who knows his own mind and always has an eye for a quick dollar.

Zach is already a veteran actor on an international scale. Aside from his work in Canada, Zach has worked in the United States, Europe, New Zealand, the former Czechoslovakia and Mexico with some of the best known names in the entertainment industry, including Leonard Nimoy, Sam Waterson, Diane Keaton, Liam Neeson and Jan Rubes.

Film credits include The Good Mother with Diane Keaton, Back to Hannibal with Megan Follows, The Muppets Christmas Special, the lead in the four-hour mini-series By Way of the Stars and Sullivan Entertainment’s Looking for Miracles, for which he received an Emmy nomination. Television credits include Shattered City, Blind Faith, Lantern Hill and Twice in a Lifetime. His recent credits include appearances on a number of television series.

Character's Bio: Felicity King

Felicity is Alec and Janet’s eldest daughter. She often takes on adult responsibility and feels superior to her four siblings and her cousin Sara.

Actor's Bio: Gema Zamprogna

A talented actress, a scholarship winning student and an accomplished dancer, Gema Zamprogna, like her character Felicity King, is one of those enviable young adults who can turn their hand at almost anything with brilliant results. Gema is a native of Hamilton, Ontario and comes from a stage family. Her parents operate a dance school, and her father Lou is a professional Director/Choreographer and director of a performing arts program at Hamilton’s Theatre Aquaris. Dominic and Amanda, Gema’s twin siblings, are also accomplished stage and screen actors. Gema’s portrayal of the opinionated and frequently bossy Felicity King has brought her 1991 and 1994 Gemini nominations for Best Supporting Actress. Gema’s other film credits include a co-starring role on Sullivan’s four-hour mini-series, By Way of the Stars, the leading role in the TV film The Challengers, as well as principal roles in Defense of a Married Man, Amerika, Friday the 13th, War of the Worlds and Forever Knight. Her stage credits include The Queen in Winnie the Pooh, Little Marie Antionette in the opera Andrea Chenier as well as productions of Into the Woods, Chess and West Side Story.

Character's Bio: Cecily King

Cecily is the younger and quieter daughter of Alec and Janet King. She is more interested in farm work than her brother. As a result, Alec considers leaving King Farm to her after his death, knowing he will be leaving it in good hands.

Actor's Bio: Harmony Cramp

Harmony Cramp’s first major role in a television series was on Road to Avonlea. Prior to that, she appeared in the feature film The January Man, in which she was saved from a burning building by Kevin Kline; and in an episode of the CTV series The Campbells. Eventually, Harmony would leave Road to Avonlea and be replaced by actress Molly Atkinson, who would complete the series as Cecily King and later appear in An Avonlea Christmas.

Character's Bio: Daniel King

Daniel King is the youngest son of Janet and Alec King, born at the end of the second season during Avonlea's famous hockey match between the Misfits and the Avonlea Avengers. Since he is a few years younger than his siblings Felicity, Felix and Cecily, Daniel is considered the baby of the family.

Actor's Bio: Ryan Cooley

Young Ryan Cooley plays Daniel King in the film An Avonlea Christmas (or Happy Christmas, Miss King). His film and television credits include After and Day in the Country. On stage, he was the lead in Jacob Two-Two.

Character's Bio: Great Aunt Eliza

Eliza Ward is Janet King (married to Alec) and Abigail’s aunt. Eliza visited King farm several times throughout the series and would prove to be very eccentric and extremely overbearing. In later seasons, Eliza moves to King farm and becomes a more permanent member of the family. Eventually her wit and wisdom become an important part in the lives of the King family – one they cannot live without.

Actor's Bio: Kay Tremblay

A life in the arts provided Kay Tremblay with ample research for the creation of the indomitable Aunt Eliza Ward on ROAD TO AVONLEA. Ms. Tremblay’s first professional appearance was with the George Balanchine Ballet at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. She subsequently played the major variety theatres throughout Britain and toured the capitals of Europe.

Ms. Tremblay married a Canadian and settled in Montreal where she resumed work in the theatre in 1954. During her years in Montreal, Ms Tremblay appeared in thirty leading roles on Shoestring Theatre, Tele-Play and Tele-Theatre for CBC Television and in numerous radio dramas produced by Rupert Caplan and Earl Pennington.

Her extensive list of film and television credits include: Renegades, Shadowdancing, Diamonds, Night Heat, Hot Shots and Street Legal.

Character's Bio: Jasper Dale

Jasper Dale is perhaps the most eccentric resident of Avonlea. His shy awkwardness and fantastic inventions often make him the subject of ridicule by the other townspeople. But after Sara Stanley befriends the stumbling genius, and he gains the affections of Olivia King, Jasper becomes more sure of himself.

Actor's Bio: R.H. Thomson

R.H. Thomson is one of Canada’s busiest and most accomplished stage and film actors. He has won every major Canadian award – a 1989 Gemini Award for his portrayal of Dr. Frederick Banting in the CBC mini-series Glory Enough for All, a Genie Award for If You Could See What I Hear and a Dora Mavor Moore Award for his stage work in the Toronto Free Theatre production of Hand to Hand. Thomson’s incredible dramatic range is heightened by an extraordinary command of physical characterization, a skill he utilizes to great affect in portraying the awkward inventor Jasper Dale. His more recent credits include roles in Chloe and The Englishman’s Boy – for which he received a Gemini Award nomination in 2008.

Character's Bio: Gus Pike

Gus is a young vagabond and sailor who eventually earns the respect of the residents of Avonlea. At one point, Gus leaves town to search for his mother, who he thought had died years earlier. After news of a hurricane, the people of Avonlea assumed Gus lost at sea. However, Felicity and Hetty eventually find a blind Gus along the eastern shore of the United States and he returns to Canada where he has surgery to restore his eyesight and marries Felicity.

Actor's Bio: Michael Mahonen

A graduate of George Brown Theatre School in Toronto, Michael Mahonen was born in the small Ontario town of Kirkland Lake. Mahonen was introduced in the second season of Road to Avonlea as a migrant worker employed at the Cannery. His television debut in this series attracted the attention of critics, marking him as a young talent to watch. Later that year, he drew rave reviews for his performance as Lee Colgan in the critically-acclaimed mini-series Conspiracy of Silence (CBC/CBS) – a performance which garnered him a Gemini Award. He was also the writer, director and co-producer of the award-winning film, Sandstorm.

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.

Mr. Sullivan recently produced the TV-movie “Sleeping Dogs Lie”, starring Joel Keller and Wendy Crewson. He is also in production on the fifth season of his critically-acclaimed television series, “Wind At My Back”.

Sullivan Entertainment is currently in pre-production on a new feature film based on Timothy Findlay’s “The Piano Man’s Daughter”, which Mr. Sullivan adapted and will direct. He is also the Executive Producer of “P.R.”, a new half hour series, starring comedienne Diane Flacks. Other projects in the works include two new children’s series: “Space Trap” and “Super Hero”. Mr. Sullivan has also written an adaptation of another Timothy Findlay novel, “Famous Last Words”, set for production in 2000.

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.

Raymond Storey: Writer

Raymond Storey has written for a number of Sullivan’s titles including Butterbox Babies, and Sleeping Dogs Lie. In addition, Raymonds recent credit is the writer of episodes for the Canadian TV drama The Guard.

Heather Conkie: Writer

Heather Conkie’s credits include Canadian television show Heartland, and the Emmy Award Winning made-for-TV movie Beethoven Lives Upstairs. She has also been credited as a producer, actress, and composer.

John Welsman: Composer

John Welsman has won four Gemini Awards in recognition of his compositions for Road to Avonlea and has been nominated an additional six times for his work on the programs Borrowed Hearts, Marie Curie: More Than Meets the Eye, Stolen Miracle and Kevin Sullivan’s By Way of the Stars. Some of Welsman’s countless other credits include War of the Worlds, Lantern Hill and more recently, My Friend Rabbit, Nurse Fighter Boy and The Mighty Jungle.

Allan King: Direction

Allan King began his career by making documentaries for the CBC. There are a long list of credits to his name which include Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, and Dying at Grace – just three of the many titles over the course of his career which spanned six decades. The Canadian director died on June 15th, 2009 leaving behind his wife and four children.

Nancey Pankiw: Art Director

Road to Avonlea is not the only Sullivan Entertainment production to which Nancey Pankiw has brought her expertise in art direction. The award-winning production designer also worked on Lantern Hill, Wind at my Back, Butterbox Babies and By Way of the Stars. Some of Nancey’s other credits include the feature films The Fly, Dick, Chicago, Urban Legends: Final Cut, Cold Creek Manor, and the series Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy and Salem Witch Trials - for which she won a Directors Guild of Canada award for production design.

Don Gillis: Composer

Don 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.

Madeleine Stewart: Costume Designer

Madeleine’s authentic costume designs for the cast of Road to Avonlea have not gone unnoticed. In 1995, her work on the episode “Strictly Melodrama” earned her an Emmy award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series. She was also nominated the following year for the episode “What a Tangled Web We Weave” and received two Gemini Award nominations for her designs in 1995 and 1996. Since then, Madeleine has worked as a costume designer for Earth: Final Conflict, The Murdoch Mysteries, Painted Angels and Custody.

When Jasper Dale’s eccentric relatives arrive in Avonlea for a family reunion, a very pregnant Olivia must house them with the King’s. The ensuing problems lead to a feud between the Dales and the Kings, with Olivia caught in the middle. At the prospect of Jasper’s cousin, Selina, staying on to help Olivia with the baby, Hetty bristles, “Over my dead body”, and resigns from teaching in order to care for the baby herself. When Olivia goes into premature labor, it is Jasper and Hetty who must deliver the baby together, and save both infant and mother.

Hetty is driving Olivia crazy with her rigid approach to child rearing, while Alec and the school board have their own problems trying to find a new teacher for Avonlea. On a bet with Olivia, Hetty writes a pulp novel that Olivia submits to the Charlottetown newspaper under a pseudonym – H.E. Leroi. Hetty is furious until she receives a cheque from the publishers and a request for more adventures. On her way back from meeting with the publishers in Charlottetown, Hetty’s buggy hits a ditch and she seeks refuge in an abandoned farmhouse outside Avonlea. While there, she is scared by what she thinks is a prowler, and she breaks a pot over his head and flees into the night. Meanwhile, the school board has hired Clive Pettibone, an ex-military man, to teach school. When Hetty sees him, she recognizes him as the man she decked the night before; Pettibone was inspecting his new home. Clive has two young children, Morgan (12) and Izzy (10), a tomboy, and a 20-year-old son away at university. Hetty and Clive discover they have writing in common as Pettibone writes boys adventures stories under the name C.L. Small.

Felix wants a hunting rifle for his birthday – Alec says no, Felix isn’t old enough. When he receives a telescope instead, Felix is disappointed, and when his friends suggest going hunting, he takes his father’s rifle without permission. While fooling around in the woods, Felix fire the rifle and accidentally shoots his own dog, Digger. Alec is furious at Felix and concerned about Digger. With no time to take Digger into town to see the vet, they instead take the dog to Arthur Pettibone - Clive’s eldest son who is in town visiting his family from veterinary college in Toronto. It is Arthur who saves Digger, but Felix must pay for what he’s done.
Special Guest Star: Zachery Ansley

Alec’s boyhood friend, Emmett Grier, returns to Avonlea with his young wife, Evelyn, and baby daughter, Carrie. However, soon after his arrival, while he and Alec are out fishing, Emmett is killed in a boat explosion. Alec must deal with his feelings of guilt over surviving the accident and his responsibility towards Evelyn. But Alec’s concern for Evelyn’s well-being is misinterpreted by the community and rumors begin to fly about his relationship with the young widow.
Special Guest Star: Meg Tilly

When ex-US Marshal Zak Morgan comes to Avonlea with a travelling Wild West show, Sara develops a serious crush on him and the romantic picture he creates. Sara tries to sort out her new feelings about Zak and seeks out Felicity for advice on how to attract his attention. Sara decides to leave Avonlea and join Zac on the road, only to find him gone when she arrive at the grounds. The troupe has moved on and Sara has learned her first lesson in love.
Special Guest Star: Treat Williams

Avonlea gets a volunteer fire department, led by Clive Pettibone, the new school teacher. Under Clive’s leadership, the men approach their training with great enthusiasm, but know nothing about firefighting. They get called out on all manner of emergencies: unblocking chimneys, etc…everything but firefighting. Finally, a real fire breaks out and rages out of control. Faced with a real emergency, the fire brigade stops their petty arguing and works together to overcome disaster. Meanwhile, the relationship between Alec King and Clive Pettibone is very strained and has become disruptive in running the fire department. Alec finds Clive at Rose Cottage early one morning, and becomes suspicious of Clive’s presence at Hetty’s and wants to know exactly what is going on between them. Hetty tells him it is none of his business. In the end, Alec is stunned to learn Hetty and Clive’s secrets: that Hetty is in fact H.E. Leori and that Clive is C.L. Small – writers of the popular “pulp novels” everyone is reading. They have been exchanging thoughts and ideas about each others’ writing ad stories.

Janet and Alec decide to spend a quiet, romantic evening of dinner and dancing at the White Sands Hotel, leaving Felicity in charge of the household. Felicity, however, has plans of her own for a romantic evening - and they don’t include her siblings. She’s been looking for a chance to spend some time with Gus Pike and it seems that opportunity has come. Felicity manages to get rid of Felix – who announces he’ll be at the Pettibones for the evening; meanwhile, the Pettibone kids tell Clive they’ll be at Felix’s; and Cecily and Daniel are pawned off on Sara, who is alone while Aunty Hetty has dinner with Clive Pettibone.
An unsuspecting Gus arrives for dinner and soon realizes that he and Felicity are alone. The two young people are nervous with each other and their attempts at small talk are strained. Felicity clumsily slips and pours coffee on Gus’s shirt. She tells him to take it off and she’ll wash the stain out right away. He agrees. Meanwhile, at the White Sands, Alec and Janet are surprised to see Clive and Hetty. Alec wonders who is taking care of Felix, Izzy and Morgan, and Clive asks the same thing. All hell breaks loose as a father’s rage is unleashed.

Felix applies for a job at the White Sands Hotel as Mr. Tremayne’s personal assistant to help in the preparations for the Founder’s Day Ball. At the hotel, Felix discovers that Mr. Tremayne has a dinner service with a royal crest on it – the same royal crest as the Duke of Arranagh, who is now visiting the Island. Hetty suspects the service is stolen and accuses Tremayne of theft. Felix, trying to help Tremayne, steals the dinner service and tries to surreptitiously return it to the Duke, but is caught. The end result has Tremayne reunited with his half-brother, the Duke, and Felix is the hero.

In order to keep the White Sands Hotel afloat, Simon Tremayne reluctantly agrees to hold a Valentine’s Day Dance and to accept Hetty King’s offer of financial investment in the hotel. Mr. Tremayne’s reservations prove well-founded as Hetty proceeds to set up her writing desk smack dab in the middle of the hotel lobby. She just can’t stop herself from running the hotel like a schoolroom - correcting guests’ table manners as well as grammar. Meanwhile, Gus’s plans to escort Felicity King to the dance are complicated by the arrival of Chef Pierre’s deceptively demure niece, Suzette Moreau, who sets her sights on Gus and proceeds to chase him. At the same time, Arthur Pettibone proves himself Gus’s rival in love as he is determine to have Felicity accompany him to the dance.

Felicity King enjoys the romantic attentions of Gus Pike and Arthur Pettibone. After all, what other girl in Avonlea can claim two beaux? But life takes a serious twist when Arthur kisses Felicity and Gus finds out. Soon after, Arthur comes courting and Gus proposes marriage. Stunned by this turn of events, Felicity is forced to face her true feelings for both boys and make some tough decisions that no sixteen-year-old should have to make. Which one does she love? Which one will she marry? Isn’t she too young for this? Confused and frightened, she turns to Sara, Hetty and her mother for advice on this ‘matter of the heart’…but in the end, only she can decide her fate and her future.

The children befriend a handsome young antiques dealer name Gerald Young, who inspires Felix to search for valuable “old junk”, hoping to make a fortune. Felix finds a pile of expensive clothes and a monogrammed handkerchief with “J.B.” on it.Could this belong to the missing heir of the Blackwell fortune, Jonathan Blackwell? Lady Blackwell arrives in Avonlea to identify the clothes as her missing nephew’s – and worries that he is dead. Sara soon figures out that Gerald is, in fact, Jonathan Blackwell. It seems that Jonathan/Gerald’s obsession for antiques often leads him to roam the countryside looking for treasures. If his aunt found out his secret identity, she’d put an end to it. Jonathan/Gerald asks for help, and Sara and the others agree to extricate him from his latest escape by concocting yet another ruse to confuse his aunt.

Special Guest Stars: Robby Benson, Diana Rigg

Hetty and Jasper team up to make a “home movie” in the hopes of saving Avonlea from the entrepreneurial claws of American millionaire H.B. Dunn. Dunn arrives in Avonlea prepared to buy out everyone in order to build his new company town, which he plans to call Dunnsville, PEI. Not everyone is opposed to Mr. Dunne’s ideas and his offers of purchase set the whole town in an uproar – placing neighbors and friends as adversaries. Even the King family can’t agree on what to do. Hetty, however, is adamant that no one is going to change the Avonlea she loves so much – she is determined to find a way to stop Dunn. At a town meeting, Hetty manages to show the movie Jasper has shot – a kind of “day in the life of Avonlea “ and hopes it will persuade people to stand firm and reject Mr. Dunn’s offer of progress.

Although she swears she wrote of her plans, Janet's cantankerous and demanding Aunt Eliza has come to Avonlea for an unexpected visit - the duration of which is unknown. It is not good timing as it's lambing season, meaning there is much work to do on the farm, and it's also influenza season in Avonlea. But from Aunt Eliza's comment, "time is all we have", Janet believes that she has come to Avonlea to die. Despite Aunt Eliza's unreasonable demands, Janet is at her beck and call. But underneath the surface, Janet is seething, as she has always felt that Aunt Eliza does not like her. Felix, however, is not as openly hospitable toward his great aunt because, next to Janet, he is taking the brunt of her demands. In addition to all the work around the farm, the children have a major science project due in a week. But things quicly change at the King farm when a bout of influenza goes through the house. This leaves the children to do the bulk of the lambing work, which is not going well due to a cold snap going through Prince Edward Island. Alec worries they may lose the bulk of the newborn. Everyone has to band together to work through the current problems at the farm.