Berwick and the Beach Canal
Film Review
This short documentary advocates the efforts of the Burlington
Lighthouse Canal Group (BLCG) to restore and preserve the Burlington
Canal Lighthouse in Hamilton, Ontario. The lighthouse still stands at
the entrance of the Hamilton Harbour, where it was built in the 1800’s,
to provide guidance and light to ships in darkness and unsettled weather
conditions. In the film, the rich history of the Burlington Canal
Lighthouse is explored in order to promote its historical and
educational significance to the surrounding community.
Captain George Thomson, the lighthouse keeper for nearly 30 years,
kept a diary in which he recorded weather observations so meticulously
that they are regarded as the official historical weather records for
that period. Captain Thomson’s great-great grandson, George A. (Sandy)
Thomson, narrates the film as a modern-day link to the lighthouse,
emphasizing the historical and educational importance of preserving this
significant monument.
Location
Recorded in Canada, this film highlights the area surrounding the
lighthouse, including the lift bridge that was constructed adjacent to
it. It also includes shots from Berwick Upon Tweed, England, which is
the town that Captain Thomson came from before moving to North America
to become the lighthouse keeper at the Burlington Canal Lighthouse.
Production
This documentary runs at 9 minutes in full HD. The film made its
debut at the Burlington Central Library on March 8, 2015, and is now available here via YouTube.