SkyMed is a Canadian medical drama television series, which premiered on July 10, 2022, on CBC Television.[1] The series centres on the nurses and pilots working for an air ambulance service in remote northern Manitoba.[2] The series has been renewed for a second season,[3] which premiered in October 2023.[4] In March 2024, the series was renewed for a third season.[5]
Cast and characters
Main
Natasha Calis as Nurse Hayley Roberts, a delivery nurse leaving a secret behind in Toronto[6]
Morgan Holmstrom as Crystal Highway, a Cree/Métis[7] "mama bear" caretaker[6] with a tough-as-nails attitude who is the soul of SkyMed.
Praneet Akilla as Jay "Chopper" Chopra, a pilot and engineer who aspires to be an astronaut and faces challenges in his personal relationships.
Aason ‘Ace’ Nadjiwon as Captain Austen Bodie (seasons 1-2, recurring 3-present), a hotshot pilot romantically involved with Hayley[6]
Mercedes Morris as Lexi Martine, an up-and-coming pilot who is often forced to choose between her convictions and her ambitions.
Thomas Elms as Captain Milosz Nowak, a pilot and bartender whose tough-love attitude wins him many colleagues but few friends.
Kheon Clarke as Tristan Green, an empathic, well-liked flight nurse.
Braeden Clarke as Jeremy Wood (seasons 1-2, guest 3-present), Crystal's ex, North House's resident fixer and smuggler.
Emilia McCarthy as Madison Van Camp (seasons 1-2, recurring 3-present), a local waitress and bartender involved with Bodie.
Aaron Ashmore as Captain William "Wheezer" Heaseman (recurring 1-2, regular 3-present). An experienced pilot, who prefers cargo flights over medivac fights. He is the den dad of the pilots and nurses, dispensing advice and grilled meat in equal measure. He also gets involved with flight nurse Hayley.
Rebecca Kwan as Emma Lin (season 1), an upbeat and professional ground nurse at North House First Nation, Crystal and Jeremy's home community.
Patrick Kwok-Choon as Dr. Trevor Sung (season 1), an ER physician at the local hospital who is interested in Crystal both personally and professionally.
Jeff Teravainen as Chief Pilot Pierce (season 1), SkyMed's commanding officer.
Sydney Kunhe as Stef (season 2-present), a paramedic and Lexi's girlfriend
Recurring
Ryan Ali as Reese
Matthew Kevin Anderson as Brad Maloney, a loading hand and pilot hopeful with questionable morals.
Ryan DeLong as Steve
Gino Anania as Devon, Emma's often too-serious fiancée.
Sharon Bajer as Denise, Bodie's mom
Laura Olafson as Darla
Karl Thordarson as Frank
Anthony Grant as TJ
Production and development
The show was developed by Julie Puckrin, who drew inspiration from her nurse sister and pilot brother-in-law who worked aboard air ambulances. To help with the stories the writing staff included both Indigenous and queer writers.[8]
The initial season was shot from late August 2021 until mid-January 2022 in Winnipeg and northern Manitoba.[8] A lot of the effects on the show were done on a practical basis rather than using green-screen technology.[6]
Nurse-out-of-water Hayley Roberts joins the fast-paced team of nurses and pilots at SkyMed, living and working together to fly air ambulances and save lives in rugged Northern Manitoba.
2
2
"Line Indoc"
Steven A. Adelson
Julie Puckrin
July 17, 2022 (2022-07-17)
N/A
When a guilt-ridden Lexi finally goes flight line, she locks horns with training Captain Bodie, while Crystal tries to get to the bottom of what Jeremy's been smuggling and how it's connected to Wheezer's crash.
The investigation into Wheezer's crash puts Lexi in the hot seat, but when a wildfire threatens Crystal's community, will she cross the line to save a patient's life?
Survival Training for the SkyMed crew takes a dangerous boil over. Meanwhile, Crystal struggles with an unexpected hit-and-run patient with high stakes consequences.
Hayley seeks distraction from her own health concerns by throwing Emma a bachelorette party, but when a patient takes an unexpected turn, Hayley will be forced to face her fears.
Nowark stretches himself too thin with drastic consequences. Meanwhile, Bodie struggles with an unexpected truth about his mother, while Crystal wrestles with a shocking threat to her community.
8
8
"Frozen"
Shamim Sarif
Story by : Meegwun Fairbrother & Jennica Harper Teleplay by : Jennica Harper
August 28, 2022 (2022-08-28)
N/A
A blizzard traps each of the team members with the person they least want to be stuck with in dire circumstances. As the temperature drops, emotions start to boil over.
9
9
"Leave It All on the Ice"
Sorcha Vasey
Jessica Meya & Julie Puckrin
September 4, 2022 (2022-09-04)
N/A
Hayley struggles to make a life-altering decision, while Bodie reels from his son's premature birth. Crystal must deal with the consequences of Jeremy's actions once and for all.
SkyMed expands its medevac service into new territory, throwing everyone into disarray as familiar faces return and intriguing new flight crew arrive.
11
2
"Spun Out"
James Genn
Jessica Meya
October 8, 2023 (2023-10-08)
As the SkyMed crew wait for their fallen team member to wake up, Crystal starts to find her feet as a medical student, and a secret from the past threatens Novak and Tristan's relationship.
As Chopper returns to flying medevacs, the truth about what happened in Selection Camp finally comes out. Lexi's dream promotion takes an unnerving turn.
A fun night on the town creates unexpected consequences and a dangerous call with a paralyzed patient pushes Stef to finally reveal the secret that brought her to Thompson.
A sick patient hits close to home, leaving Crystal reeling. Hayley struggles to face the consequences of her actions when Wheezer discovers her secret.
17
8
"Before Sunrise, After Sunset"
Ron Murphy
Katrina Saville
November 19, 2023 (2023-11-19)
As the SkyMed team members face an inquiry into a patient fatality. Hayley struggles to piece together blurry memories of what caused her relapse and whether she caused the fatality.
As the pressure surrounding the SkyMed expansion comes to a head, a shocking emergency leaves one of the flight crew fighting for their life.
On-demand
The first season was released on-demand in the United States and the UK by Paramount+ on July 10, 2022[12] and in New Zealand by TVNZ+ on August 5, 2022.[13] The second season followed on January 11, 2024.