Dr. Gabriel Quinn is a brilliant scientist of First Nations descent who goes missing from the Toronto headquarters of the biotech giant Domidion. He arrives in the decimated town of Samaritan Bay harboring immense guilt over his past professional work. Battling suicidal ideation, Gabriel struggles to connect with others due to early trauma and his belief that all relationships are ultimately impermanent.

Dorian Asher is the wealthy and powerful CEO of the biotech company Domidion. He lives an isolated life of extreme luxury, prioritizing corporate profits and public relations spin over human lives or environmental safety. Despite his vast resources and talent for dodging consequences, Dorian faces mounting anxiety over his declining health.

Nicholas Crisp is an enigmatic resident of Samaritan Bay who acts as an anchoring figure for the town's surviving population. He speaks in a distinct, sailor-like dialect filled with mythological references and seems to possess deep knowledge about the past and future. Crisp operates with unwavering optimism, gently encouraging the fractured community to rebuild.

Mara Reid is a talented artist who returns to the Smoke River Reserve area after spending fifteen years in Toronto's art scene. Having missed the ecological disaster that destroyed her community, she lives on the outskirts of Samaritan Bay, struggling with survivor's guilt. Despite her profound losses, she maintains a strong connection to the land and tries to document the memories of the deceased through her artwork.

Sonny is a young resident of Samaritan Bay who lives at the Ocean Star motel and perceives the world with childlike innocence due to an intellectual delay. He spends his days combing the beach for discarded items, longing for the return of the town's wildlife and community. Sonny holds onto strict rules taught by his absent father while remaining steadfastly hopeful that the town will heal.

Lilly Quinn is a young woman who grew up on the Smoke River Reserve. She shared early ambitions with her friend Mara to leave the reserve and pursue her dreams, but her life took a different path. Her absence leaves a profound impact on those who survive the tragic destruction of the community.

Little Quinn is Gabriel's younger sister. She remained in Lethbridge with her mother when Gabriel and their father relocated to Minneapolis, causing a painful rift in the family. Her estrangement weighs heavily on Gabriel as he reflects on his past choices.

Rose Quinn is Gabriel's mother, a First Nations woman who raised her family in Lethbridge. She endures severe emotional strain when her husband and son leave for Minneapolis, leading to a permanent estrangement from Gabriel.

Joe Quinn is Gabriel's father, who uproots part of his family to move to Minneapolis for a job opportunity with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. His subsequent death in the line of duty deeply fractures the remaining family members.

Winter is Dorian Asher's emotionless and highly efficient assistant at Domidion. She manages the logistics of the company's public relations disasters and tracks the movements of problematic employees, maintaining a cool detachment from the lethal consequences of the company's actions.

Soldier is Nicholas Crisp's loyal dog. He freely roams the beaches and ruins of Samaritan Bay, often acting as a bridge between the isolated characters by leading them to one another or seeking their company.

Dr. Thicke is a researcher at Domidion who previously worked under Gabriel in Biological Oversight. He provides Dorian with crucial information regarding Gabriel's intense interest in canceled, high-risk bacterial projects.

Victoria Lustig is a public relations agent for Domidion. She orchestrates campaigns to suppress negative information about the company's ecological disasters, casually spinning tragedies to protect the corporate image.

Manisha Khan is a tenacious reporter for the CBC who investigates Domidion's ecological accidents. She aggressively questions the company's sanitized narratives and attempts to uncover the truth behind their secretive operations.

Dr. Toshi is Dorian Asher's physician. He consistently attempts to reach Dorian to discuss serious health concerns, representing the unavoidable reality of mortality that Dorian tries to ignore.

Olivia is Dorian Asher's wife. She lives a largely separate life from her husband, communicating infrequently as their marriage continues to cool into distant detachment.

Mei-ling Chin is a young woman who survives a shipwreck off the coast of Samaritan Bay. Initially mistaken by Gabriel for a mythological figure, she and her family take refuge in the abandoned houses on the reserve, signaling the slow return of life to the area.

Elvin Grunes is a late elder of the Smoke River Reserve. He is remembered as a hero who managed to save many of his neighbors by driving them to the hospital during the disaster that struck the community.

Thelma Walker is a late elder of the Smoke River Reserve. Her memory is preserved through Mara's dedicated portraiture, ensuring she is not forgotten by the surviving community.

Kip is Dorian Asher's personal driver. He provides occasional philosophical observations about wealth and mortality, serving as a sounding board for his isolated employer.

Big Red is a sea turtle who once lived in a tank in Domidion's lobby before disappearing. She makes an instinctual pilgrimage to the shores of Samaritan Bay, becoming a powerful symbol of nature's resilience and rebirth.