Christmas is coming a little early for Heartland, which this week began production on a two-hour MOW in Calgary.

Known, for now, as A Heartland Christmas, the special has series director Dean Bennett working from a script by writer/exec producer Heather Conkie. The story sees the family’s holiday interrupted after an avalanche traps a herd of horses in the wilderness. It stars regular cast members Amber Marshall, Michelle Morgan, Shaun Johnston, Graham Wardle and Chris Potter, with guest stars Nicholas Campbell (The Englishman’s Boy) and Hélène Joy (Durham County).

Toronto’s Dynamo Films and Calgary’s Seven24 Films produce in association with the CBC. Exec producing with Conkie are Jordy Randall, Tom Cox and Michael Weinberg. It’s produced by Tina Grewal.

‘Over the course of 45 episodes Heartland has entertained millions of Canadian families. It is fitting that there be a feature-length television movie to be shown when families traditionally get together — over the December holiday season,’ said Randall in a statement.

Heartland, currently in its third season, has been averaging over one million viewers per episode in its Sunday 7 p.m. timeslot. Both the series and the movie are distributed by ContentFilm.