Open Letter to Jacob Tierney
Creator, Writer, Director, and Executive Producer of Heated Rivalry

Dear Jacob,

Congratulations on the incredible success and well-earned attention surrounding “Heated Rivalry”. As a viewer, a fan, and an advocate for authentic LGBTQ+ storytelling, it’s inspiring to see a Canadian series not only bring queer romance to the forefront but also mirror the hopeful change taking place within the world of hockey, a sport that has too often been slow to embrace 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion.

Your adaptation of Rachel Reid’s beloved novel has carried forward the heart and honesty of her original story while expanding it into a visual narrative that feels both ground-breaking and deeply human. The grace with which you and your creative team have translated her work onto the screen feels like part of a broader cultural shift, one that softens old stigmas and opens the arena to stories of love, rivalry, and belonging in all their forms.

With this momentum, I invite you to consider another dimension of representation that could deepen the show’s impact even further: music.

While Canadian music is indeed represented within the series first season, there exists a remarkable, yet often overlooked, community of queer independent musicians across Canada whose work resonates with the same energy, emotion, and authenticity that Heated Rivalry embodies. From singer songwriters in Halifax to electronic innovators in Montreal, to folk storytellers in the Prairies, and dynamic pop voices in Toronto and Vancouver, these artists are creating soundscapes rich in vulnerability, power, and pride.

By collaborating with queer Canadian musicians for the show’s soundtrack in Season 2 and beyond, “Heated Rivalry” could do more than just tell queer stories, it could sound them. The opportunity to introduce global audiences to these voices is immense, and a series with as much reach and heart as yours is positioned perfectly to extend that platform. Representation thrives not just on screen, but through every element of production, and music offers one of the most intimate bridges between story and audience.

Platforms like The Q Creative Network, which are dedicated to supporting and elevating Canadian queer artists across creative industries, are eager to help connect your team with musicians whose work aligns with the tone and emotional fabric of Heated Rivalry. By working together with these networks, the show can continue to be not only a source of pride for queer viewers but also a beacon for creative inclusivity in Canadian media.

Thank you for the care, artistry, and vision you’ve already given this series. I hope you’ll consider how your ongoing work can continue to reflect and amplify the creative voices of the community it so beautifully celebrates.

Warm regards,

Kenney Fitzpatrick
Advocate and Educator
Founder, The Q Creative Network