Cold Squad (1998)
A Canadian cold case procedural following Vancouver's dedicated homicide unit across seven seasons of unsolved murders and relentless detective work.
Cold Squad - Series Information
- Original Title: Cold Squad
- First Air Year: 1998
- Last Air Year: 2005
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-14
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (60 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 7
- Number of Episodes: 98
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: January 23, 1998 (United States - TV-14), January 23, 1998 (Canada - 14+)
- Networks: CTV
- Production Companies: Alliance Atlantis
- Production Countries: Canada, United States of America
Cold Squad - Plot
Cold Squad is a Canadian police procedural television series first broadcast in 1998 that followed the investigations of a part of the Vancouver Police Department Homicide Division tasked with solving cold cases, the titular Cold Squad, as led by Sergeant Ali McCormick. The cast of Cold Squad was diverse and changing, McCormick being the only character to appear in all 7 seasons. Some notable series regulars include Detective Tony Logozzo in seasons 1-2, Sgt. Frank Coscarella in seasons 3-4, Sgt. Len Harper in seasons 5-7, Insp. Vince Schneider season 1, Insp. Simon Ross season 2, Insp. Andrew Pawlachuk seasons 3-7, Det. Mickey Kollander seasons 3-6, Det. Nicco Sevallis seasons 3-6, Christine Wren seasons 4-7, as well as Det. Samantha Walters and Const. Ray Chase in season 7. Between the second and third seasons, almost the entire on-screen cast other than Julie Stewart were replaced. This along with the new sets, a significant revamp of the credits and theme music, and even having McCormick's hair change from auburn to dirty-blonde all contributed to a considerable reworking of the series.
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Cold Squad - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Garry Chalk
- Julie Stewart
- Matthew Bennett
- Tahmoh Penikett
- Jerry Wasserman
- Joely Collins
- Richard Ian Cox
- Jay Brazeau
- Stephen McHattie
- Peter Wingfield
Writers
- James Taylor Phillips
- Matt MacLeod
- Dennis Foon
- Hart Hanson
- Nobu Adilman
- Peter Mitchell
Cold Squad - FAQs
What is Cold Squad about?
Cold Squad centers on a specialized unit within Vancouver's Police Department Homicide Division dedicated to reopening unsolved murder cases. Led by the tenacious Sergeant Ali McCormick, the team methodically revisits old evidence and witnesses, bringing fresh eyes to crimes that time nearly buried for good.
Why did Cold Squad change so dramatically between seasons two and three?
Between seasons two and three, producers undertook a sweeping overhaul: nearly the entire cast was replaced, new sets were built, the opening credits and theme music were revamped, and even Sergeant McCormick's hair color shifted from auburn to dirty-blonde. Julie Stewart remained the sole constant through this bold reinvention.
Where can you stream Cold Squad?
Cold Squad is currently available to watch for free with ads on The Roku Channel and Pluto TV. Both platforms offer ad-supported streaming at no cost, making it easy to revisit this long-running Canadian procedural without a subscription.
Who is the only character to appear in all seven seasons?
Sergeant Ali McCormick, played by Julie Stewart, is the only character to appear across all seven seasons of Cold Squad. While the supporting cast rotated significantly — especially after the major overhaul between seasons two and three — McCormick remained the steady anchor of the entire series.
Who are the main actors in Cold Squad?
The series features Julie Stewart as the lead, alongside Garry Chalk, Stephen McHattie, Peter Wingfield, Tahmoh Penikett, Matthew Bennett, Joely Collins, Jerry Wasserman, Richard Ian Cox, and Jay Brazeau. Given the show's rotating cast structure, many actors appeared across specific seasons rather than the full run.
How many seasons and episodes does Cold Squad have?
Cold Squad ran for seven seasons and 98 episodes from 1998 to 2005. Season lengths varied considerably, from 11 episodes in the first season to a peak of 20 in season four, before settling back to 13 episodes for each of the final three seasons.
What are some shows similar to Cold Squad?
Fans of Cold Squad tend to enjoy other cold-case and detective dramas like Unforgotten, Waking the Dead, and Cardinal — all of which share that methodical, evidence-driven tone. For more Canadian procedurals, Motive and Rookie Blue offer a similar blend of character depth and investigative storytelling.
Was Cold Squad well received by critics and audiences?
Cold Squad earned a loyal following during its seven-year run on CTV, praised for its realistic portrayal of cold case investigations and its Vancouver setting. The show's willingness to reinvent itself between seasons — particularly the bold overhaul after season two — kept it fresh and demonstrated genuine creative ambition for a long-running procedural.
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