Terri Neville and John Alston, centre, join Murdoch Mysteries stars Yannick Bisson, left, and Thomas Craig on the set during the filming of the series. The couple had the unique opportunity to tour the studio, thanks to a generous silent auction donation by Craig to the sold-out Beach Metro News fundraiser, An Evening with Inspector Brackenreid. The event was held at the Balmy Beach Club on Nov. 25. Photo by Susan Legge.

By SUSAN LEGGE

Last month, the Balmy Beach Club played host to a truly unforgettable night of fundraising for Beach Metro Community News welcoming actors Thomas Craig, known for his portrayal of Inspector Brackenreid on Murdoch Mysteries, and fellow series actors, Peter Keleghan, Lachlan Murdoch and Merle Newell.

The evening which was emceed by CBC journalist Mark Kelley, and aptly titled An Evening with Inspector Brackenreid, not only sold out in less than a week but also marked a significant milestone for us — it was our first major event in a very long time.

Thanks to the help of our staff, our volunteer board of directors, plus the amazing team at the Balmy Beach Club who graciously hosted the evening for us, we raised more than $8,000.

The highlight of the evening was, of course, getting to watch the holiday episode of Murdoch Mysteries and the Q&A with the actors on Murdoch Mysteries.

After the show, Craig charmed the crowd with behind-the-scenes stories and his wit, and there were plenty of questions for the actors plus a round of trivia questions, along with a silent auction.

Thanks to everyone who joined us, and to our silent auction sponsors, Re/Max Hallmark on Queen Street East; Marcia and Tim Doyle; Mourguet in The Beach, and Thomas Craig, whose auction item was a VIP Set Tour for Two that he led himself.

The winners of the silent auction VIP tour of the Murdoch Mysteries set were super-fan Terri Neville, who has followed the show from the start, and John Alston, who was thrilled to be able to solve his annual dilemma of what to give Terri for Christmas and who enjoyed the tour, too.

As someone who had the privilege of joining them last week on the set, I saw first-hand just how much care and thought goes into this much-loved show which is based in Toronto in the early 1900s — and I was reminded how much local stories, whether on TV or in the pages of Beach Metro, resonate with people.

This fundraising evening was about more than enjoying a fantastic night out (though it was that, too!). It was part of a broader strategy for Beach Metro: to extend our brand, to connect with you—our readers—in person, and to create unique opportunities that remind us all why local journalism matters. Events like these are also crucial for our financial health.

Like so many independent news outlets, we face the challenge of declining advertising revenue. To ensure we can continue to report on what matters most to our community, we need to explore new ways of supporting our work. The funds raised from this event will go directly into keeping Beach Metro strong and sustainable.

As we look back on 2024, I’m happy to say that thanks to our advertisers and supporters, we’re back in the black. This year has brought challenges, opportunities, and milestones, including the launch of our new website and the bittersweet departure of reporter Amarachi Amadike, who is moving west for new opportunities.

Your support has been invaluable throughout 2024 and since our first issue was published on March 1, 1972.

Whether you’ve read an article, advertised, attended an event, shared your story, or are one of our dedicated carriers and captains who ensure the newspaper reaches its readers, you’ve helped make everything we do possible.

Thank you for believing in local news and for being such an integral part of Beach Metro. Here’s to more shared experiences, great journalism, and community connections in 2025. Have a wonderful holiday season!