BCLG Executive
The Beach Canal Lighthouse Group is a not-for-profit organization affiliated to the Ontario Historical Society. The organization is governed by an Executive Committee whose members are elected by the membership to two-year terms.
In 2010 the directors are:
Barbara Murray, Chair
Barbara Murray is a Technical Specialist in the Capital Project Management Office of the Ministry of Health.
George Thomson, Vice-Chair
George is the great-great grandson of the Beach Canal lighthouse
keeper of the 1850’s. George grew up in the Aldershot
area and then went off to school in California for a degree
in Mechanical Engineering. After a brief period working
for a Boston firm he returned to Canada to take over the
family business. Thomson-Gordon Group is now located in
Burlington with a second plant in Russia. George has sailed
as a Captain on a deep sea salvage tug for 14 years sharing
his ancestor’s love of the sea. Also a pilot since
the age of 17, George owns two vintage aircraft and is Vice
Chair of the Canadian Warplane heritage Museum. His daughter
Anna is the fourth generation owner of the business.
Anthony Butler, Past Chair
Tony Butler grew up in Hamilton
and was the principal of his own architectural firm there
from 1960 until retiring from active practice in 2003. In
addition to many municipal, educational and health-care
projects, his architectural work included restoration of
significant heritage buildings. Soon after starting
his practice, Tony joined the Hamilton-Nigara Branch of
the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. He also served
on the Hamilton Historical Board and was a founding member
of the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee
(LACAC), becoming its second chair in 1979. During those
years, Tony’s interest in built heritage began to
focus on the rich resource of early industrial buildings
still surviving in Hamilton. Supported by the Workers Arts
and Heritage Centre, he chaired the steering committee which
developed two self-guided Made-in-Hamilton Industrial Trails,
launched in 2000. Tony was the first chair of the Beach
Canal Lighthouse Group.
Bruce Hoyle, Treasurer
Bruce attended McMaster University and graduated with a
Bachelor of Commerce Degree. Subsequently he worked in the
Credit / Legal department at Simpson-Sears and became a
Director of the Canadian Credit Institute. Continued to
work in Commercial Finance for 20 + years, first with Chase
Manhattan Bank, CIT, Deutsche Bank, and now, since 2001,
with GE Capital in Burlington.
Lois Reid, Merchandizing and Marketing Sub-committee
Lois is a graduate of Delta S.S. with a Commerce and Business
Diploma. She has worked in education as a Secretary and
as a teacher of Business subjects in Hamilton. Subsequently
she and a partner operated a successful leisure wear and
sporting goods store in Brantford. After selling the business
to the partner she went on to work for Ferrero Chocolates,
Hershey Chocolates and finally Carlton Cards always in the
area of merchandising and sales. A member of the BCLG for
the past four years.
Shawn Selway, Communications and I.T. Sub-committee
Shawn lives in Hamilton where he went to McMaster (English
and Religious Studies) and served his industrial mechanic
apprenticeship at Stelco. He continues to work as a millwright
on call to a firm specializing in rotary equipment. In 2003
he started Pragmata Historic Machinery Conservation Services
to offer millwrighting services informed by preservation
principles to the heritage community. He has been secretary
of the North End Neighbourhood Association and has been
a member of BCLG for three years.
Rosalind Brennenman
Rosalind Brenneman and her husband are lighthouse history buffs with a special interest in the Beach Canal light station. Rosalind is also a member of the Hamilton Police Victim Services and serves as the Winterfest Coordinator for the Friends of Gage Park.
Gloria Pffeferele
Gloria Pfefferle became interested in lighthouses when working part time painting miniature lighthouses. She joined the BCLG four years ago after reading a newspaper article about the planned restoration of the Lighthouse on the beach. She works at Vernon Publishing in Burlington producing business directories and street guides.