Where It All Began
Family lessons, the beginning years of acting, and not losing yourself in a job
Welcome in! My name is Cyan and every now and then, I sit down with Graham for a conversation that traces where he’s been and where he’s headed. We dive into stories from the past, ideas he’s exploring now, and whatever else comes up along the way.
In this edition, we talk about the early days of his acting career and the influence his parents had on the path he’s taken and the biggest lessons they’ve taught him. Through our conversation, you’ll find thought-provoking questions, honest reflections, and moments that might spark something in your own life: whether that’s a memory, a shift in perspective, or simply a pause to reflect. And if you’re a paid subscriber, you can watch the full recorded interview at the end.
However you arrived here, I’m glad you did. Let’s get into it!
Life Lately
In the last newsletter, Graham and his partner, Paola, were wrapping up the final stretch of their East Coast road trip through Australia. When asked about the contrast between life on the move and being rooted in one place, Graham shared that he finds value in both rhythms:
“The travel keeps me light in all my toes and at home keeps gives me that consistency and expansion. So I like a bit of both.”
Graham and Paola have since returned to Sydney where he has focused his attention to new projects, new podcasts, developing systems and routines for consistency with both Time Has Come and Divine Timing.
In a couple of weeks, Graham will be heading back to Canada for about a month before returning to Australia. While there, he’s linking up with long-time friend and collaborator Kerry James to co-create a new feature film.
“We have planned a rendezvous. We're going to meet up and write this new script that we're working on for a film. So I'm very excited about that and working with him again and probably some other old friends as well on a new feature film.”
He’s also looking forward to time with family — including celebrating his mom’s birthday — and possibly heading out on a road trip through the Okanagan and Alberta with his parents.
“It's a beautiful blessing to be able to spend time with your parents. So I try my very best to spend as much time with them as I can when I'm around and in their vicinity.”
Rooted in Family
Since Graham will soon be seeing his parents, I asked him to reflect on the most meaningful lessons that his Mom and Dad have taught him. While there have been many over the years, one that stands out from his mom is the importance of awareness and attentiveness to others,
“Don't get lost in your own thoughts, in your own head and be self-absorbed. Be aware, learn, listen. Have your attention in the room and in the space to grow and to see what's going on with other people and to learn so that you can contribute something of value as opposed to just nattering off about whatever you want.”
He also spoke about his mom’s deep spirituality and how her unwavering faith has shaped his own curiosity about life’s bigger questions. While they have slightly different perspectives, their conversations remain a part of their connection,
“She's been the pivotal anchor point for me in diving deeper into spirituality. Who is God? What is God? What is this life about? Who am I? How is this all connected? Those questions all started with my mom. So that's a beautiful gift that she's given me is because of how important her faith is in her life.”
Is there a lesson a parent or close relative taught you that’s stuck with you over the years? Something you still carry or come back to? If you feel comfortable sharing, we’d love to hear it — just click the button below.
Graham also shared an appreciation for his dad’s parenting style which was subtle yet intentional. Rather than pointing out what Graham was doing wrong, his dad often chose to guide through gentle perspective shifts that left room for self-reflection.
“I had just done a couple of commercials and made some money. I was young and spending a lot of it on shoes or toys. One day, Dad came into my room with a piece of paper covered in images of $50 bills. He said, ‘Just so you know, this is about how much you spent this week on those things.’ Then he added, ‘That’s about as much as so-and-so earns in a week.’
He didn’t say I shouldn’t spend it, and he didn’t shame me, he just gave me context. And I was like, okay, That’s good to know. I was receptive to it.”
Graham also credits his Dad for instilling a deep love of nature. From Cub Scouts camping trips to simple moments outdoors, his dad had a way of making the natural world feel alive and full of magic. You can listen to Graham’s reflection on those childhood memories and the wonder his dad helped cultivate in the clip below.
The Early Days of Acting
I was curious whether acting was something Graham’s parents had encouraged, or if it was a path he found on his own. He shared that he and his five siblings initially took part in photoshoots for flyer advertisements, and thanks to a mix of timing and opportunity, he ended up auditioning for his first commercial, and landed the role!
From an early age, Graham was captivated by the world of film, a fascination he reflects on more in the video below.
Between Character and Self
In 2007, Graham was cast as Ty Borden on Heartland, a long-running CBC series centered on life at a horse ranch. At the time, he was in college studying film and television when the opportunity to act in the show came along. Over the next 14 seasons, Graham would go on to play one of the show’s lead roles.
Despite the country, horse-centric setting of Heartland, Graham admits he was unfamiliar with that world at first:
“I’d never ridden a horse before. So I was ignorant in many ways, where I didn't think people actually still rode horses for fun and did that kind of stuff. When I learned about that, I was like, whoa, this is a massive culture and a big part of life for a lot of people. I'm just going to keep my mouth shut about this because I feel embarrassed that I didn't know that. So there was an adjustment on that part. And in terms of playing the character, he was similar to some degree to aspects of myself.”
In the video below, Graham reflects more deeply on the parallels between himself and Ty, and how like with many long-term roles it can be easy to lose parts of yourself in the work. He speaks to the strength it takes to stay grounded, not hide behind a role, and remain present in your own life even while immersed in someone else’s story.
Thank you for joining us for another edition of the newsletter, or if this is your first time, welcome! It’s always a pleasure to help capture and share Graham’s thoughts, stories, and reflections in this space. I would also love to hear from you, what themes or questions would you like us to explore in future editions? Let us know below!
Latest Podcast with Udo Erasmus
Merchandise
In case you missed it, Graham has also just launched a few new items through Time Has Come, including a cap, t-shirt, and water bottle! You can take a look at the full lineup here.
If you are a Sovereign Creator Member you also have access to special edition merchandise. Check the Time Has Come Chat for links to order yours today.
A Closing Message From Graham
As always, paid subscribers can watch the full interview between Graham and I below.
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