‘Dive into the past’: Heartland star in Murdoch Mysteries Calgary Stampede episode

A special Calgary Stampede episode of 'Murdoch Mysteries' will include a guest appearance from the star of 'Heartland.'

A Calgary Stampede-themed episode of Murdoch Mysteries will include a guest appearance from the lead of Alberta-shot series Heartland, and the stars are making history in more than one way.

Amber Marshall plays Annie Oakley in the episode which was shot in Turner Valley in July 2025.

“This is an absolute dream come true,” said Marshall.

“My mother-in-law has two dogs named Annie and Oakley,” she said. “When you love and respect the western lifestyle and then to be able to go and play such a bad ass chick… is pretty cool,”

In the episode, Toronto’s Detective Murdoch and Chief Constable Brackenreid take a vacation to attend the original Stampede, in 1912, then get roped into solving a murder with the help of Oakley.

“I’ve been going to the Calgary Stampede for almost two decades now, and to be able to take part in not only the history of that, but representing it.. this is so cool for me,” said Marshall who has been filming Heartland in and around High River since 2007.

After nearly two decades as the lead of a contemporary western drama, Marshall gets the chance to channel western history.

“I was practicing jumping on my horse in a dress. This is something that in 19 years of being on Heartland I’ve never had to think about before, so it’s been really fun and it’s a whole different way of looking at a character and being able to play that persona and really dive into the past,” said Marshall.

Wild west shows

There are no records of Oakley ever attending Calgary Stampede, but including the world-renown sharpshooter helps tell the story about the rise of wild west shows.

Oakley starred in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show from 1885 to 1901.

“We do take a bit of license here and there,” said Yannick Bisson, who plays Detective William Murdoch.

“We are absolutely blessed to be able to be one of the shows that can actually tell part of that story that highlights some of the figures at the time.”

Some other historical figures portrayed in the episode actually did attend that first Stampede including the founder, Guy Weadick, and rodeo champ Tom Three Persons.

The cross-over episode highlights some TV history too.

Both Murdoch and Heartland are in their 19^th seasons and are Canada’s longest running hour-long scripted shows.

Both Bisson and Marshall said they never expected it when they took the roles.

“Yeah, we’ll do a couple of years, this period show set in Toronto and the current climate… it will never last. Here we are 19 seasons later!” said Bisson.

“This is going be a fun year or two and then with Heartland with Murdoch it just kept going and going in each year,” said Marshall.

“It’s an incredible thing.”

‘A big family’

It’s a big deal for everyone involved, and it takes a lot of people.

The three-day Turner Valley shoot for the Stampede episode alone included 80 local IATSE union workers, as well as dozens more background actors and wranglers, along with some crew members from Toronto.

“I think it’s a testament to the people and the atmosphere of both these sets because I do notice a similarity between the way it’s just a big family and everybody feels so comfortable around each other and it’s just a pleasure to be a part of it,” said Marshall.

Bisson said Alberta is a beautiful and welcoming place to work.

“People have always been so warm here. I just love it,” he said.

The Calgary Stampede episode, called “Devil in the Saddle”, airs January 5 on CBC.