Lori Loughlin’s Canada trip fuels hope for ‘When Calls the Heart’ fans

With news that a federal judge has given Lori Loughlin permission to travel to Canada to work on an unnamed “filming production project,” fans are hoping she’ll be making a surprise appearance on Hallmark Channel’s “When Calls the Heart.”

The expedited permission to travel came from a federal judge in Boston, where the disgraced TV actress was sentenced to two months in prison after pleading guilty for her role in the college admissions bribery scandal. Loughlin also is on two years’ supervised release, which means she needs to get permission from a probation officer or a judge anytime she travels outside Southern California, whether for work or vacation.

The judge’s order allows her to travel to an unspecified location in Canada for a week sometime later this month or in early October, the Boston Herald reported.

According to Parade magazine, production for 12 episodes of Season 9 of “When Calls the Heart” began in late July. The show usually films near Vancouver, British Columbia. If the show follows its typical schedule, Season 9 is likely to premiere in early 2022, Parade said.

Lori Loughlin on when calls the heart #30daysidolchallage #day13 #ThrowbackSunday pic.twitter.com/NW6OZE5cNw

— Kare Thompson (@kellyripacool23) February 28, 2021

Fans of “When Calls the Heart,” known as “Hearties,” have hoped that producers find a way for Loughlin and her character, Abigail Stanton, to return ever since she was written out of the show in March 2019, following her arrest in the college admissions scandal. With news of Loughlin’s trip to Canada, one of the show’s fans tweeted:

Here’s hoping she surprises us in Season 9!! @erinkrakow #Hearties #WCTH https://t.co/SdUlnuP5tJ

— Carolyn (@HeartiesFanWCTH) September 14, 2021

“When Calls the Heart,” one of Hallmark’s flagship dramas, is set in the fictional town of Hope Valley in the Canadian West around 1910. During its sixth season, the writers had Abigail leave town to take care of her ailing mother somewhere back east. Abigail was the widow of a coal miner, ran the town’s cafe and became its mayor in Season 5, but after Abigail left town, the show never made it clear whether she — and Loughlin — was gone for good.

At the time of Loughlin’s arrest, Hallmark Channel announced it  had dropped her from other projects, including its “Garage Sale Mysteries” series, which she executive produced, as well as any future holiday movies. Loughlin also was cut from  the”Fuller House” Netflix reboot of “Full House.”

“When Calls the Heart” creator Brian Bird has teased the possibility of Loughlin’s return. In an interview, he said, “Some of the fans have asked what will happen to Abigail’s character, and shared their opinion that Hope Valley should be an example of forgiveness and grace. As Lori’s friend, I could not agree more.”

In October, Bird liked a tweet from a Georgia-based Catholic priest, who appears to be a fan of Loughlin and of “When Calls the Heart.” The priest, Randy Mattox, expressed eagerness for a certain kind of Christmas redemption story for Loughlin.

“I am praying daily for Lori Loughlin,” Mattox, wrote. “She has been so kind to me, and I will love her always! Hoping Christmas may bring an announcement of her return to Hope Valley!”

Bird tweeted, “Amen, brother. From your lips to God’s ears.” Other fans agreed:

I would love it if Abigail and Cody come back to Hope Valley! Most of all, I hope LL experiences hope and renewal in her life and that she rises again. pic.twitter.com/Y0iZPFCZns

— Anna B (@annabme4) October 31, 2020

Parade magazine reported that Hearties also have been poring over “each and every one” of co-star Erin Krakow’s Instagram posts, looking for clues about Loughlin’s possible return. Krakow plays Elizabeth Thatcher, Abigail’s good friend, on the show.

A photo that Krakow posted in August from a Season 9 episode seemed to offer the most hope, Parade and Yahoo reported. Krakow posted a photo of Abigail’s Cafe, with a painting by Abigail’s late husband front and center. The caption was intentionally left vague, but fans said they hoped it meant Abigail would be back.

“Pleeeeease let Abigail be back making pies in Hope Valley in season 9!!! one fan wrote. Another wrote: “Please let Abigail return she is an amazing actress and she made a mistake and has paid for it and will for the rest of her life. Please let her return PLEASE.”

However, some fans said they would love to see the character of Abigail return but with a different actress — “not a criminal,” as one wrote.

Loughlin and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, were arrested and charged with paying $500,000 in bribes to get their daughters fraudulently admitted to the University of Southern California on the pretense of being crew team recruits.

They declared their innocence and fought the charges for more than a year, but finally agreed to plead guilty in May 2020. Loughlin was sentenced to two months in federal prison; Giannulli to five months. Loughln served her time at the Dublin Federal Correctional Institute and was released after Christmas. Giannulli returned home before Easter after serving his time at the federal prison in Lompoc.

Loughlin’s Canada trip wouldn’t be the first time she’s been given permission to leave the country. In June, she and Giannulli took a luxury vacation to Mexico, which to many showed that she and her husband are having a relatively easy time returning to their opulent lives after their prison stints.