New Documentary to Tell Story of Cobourg-Born Second World War Trailblazer Fern Blodgett Sunde

Pete Fisher
29 minutes ago
• Categories: Local

(Graham Beer films with Fern Blodgett Sunde’s family in Farsund, Norway. From left: daughter Solveig Ann Eiken, producer Graham Beer, daughter Fern Sunde Sletten and granddaughter Ragnhild Eiken

A remarkable story of courage, determination and love that began in Cobourg during the Second World War is being brought to the big screen through a new documentary titled Sparks at Sea.

Graham Beer Media announced on Thursday, November 5, 2026, that production is underway on the documentary, which will tell the extraordinary story of Fern Blodgett Sunde, Canada’s first woman to serve as a wireless radio operator aboard a ship at sea.

Growing up in Cobourg, Blodgett Sunde dreamed of becoming a sailor. When the Battle of the Atlantic began, she was determined to contribute to the war effort and became the first Canadian woman to earn a Second-Class Wireless Operator’s certificate.

But despite having the necessary qualifications, Canadian and British ships prohibited women from serving at sea.

Rather than abandon her dream, Blodgett Sunde found an opportunity aboard a Norwegian merchant vessel. A ship operating out of Montreal was urgently looking for a radio operator, and unlike Canadian and British ships, Norwegian vessels had no restrictions preventing women from serving.

She joined the crew of the M/S Mosdale, where she would go on to complete 78 Atlantic crossings, transmitting and receiving vital Morse code messages while German U-boats posed a constant threat.

It was also aboard the ship that she found unexpected love, marrying its captain, Gerner Sunde.

Her achievements helped break barriers for women and inspired a sisterhood of female radio operators to join the war effort.

Sparks at Sea will not only document her wartime experiences but also explore the lasting connections her story has created between Canada and Norway.

Decades after the war, two communities on opposite sides of the Atlantic have come together to preserve her legacy. Twin statues of Blodgett Sunde, sculpted by Tyler Fauvelle, now stand in Cobourg, her hometown, and Farsund, Norway, where Gerner Sunde was from and where the couple eventually settled after the war.

The documentary is being produced and directed by Canadian filmmaker Graham Beer, who began documenting Blodgett Sunde’s story in 2020. Since then, he has filmed interviews and commemorations in both Canada and Norway.

“Fern Blodgett Sunde is a Canadian hero whose story speaks powerfully to our time,” said Beer, President and Executive Producer of Graham Beer Media.

“In moments of global uncertainty, Fern reminds us that our allies make us stronger.”

With the support of Fern’s family, statue committees in Cobourg and Farsund, and storytellers in both countries, the production will bring her remarkable journey to audiences around the world.

Her daughter, Fern Sunde Sletten, said her mother’s accomplishments were the result of courage, patience and endurance.

“It’s really admirable what my mother could achieve by virtue of courage, patience and endurance,” she said.

“Her unwavering belief in peace and democracy guided her throughout life. I hope my mother’s story will inspire future generations to carry those values forward.”

Beer said the documentary is intended to be more than a historical account, describing it as an opportunity to bring generations together through a story that connects two nations.

“Sparks at Sea will be more than a film. It will be a shared experience that encourages all generations to follow their calling, no matter the odds,” he said.

Production is underway and will continue throughout 2027, with filming taking place across North America and Europe.

The project will be made possible through sponsors and donors, with a fundraising campaign expected to launch soon to help bring Fern Blodgett Sunde’s story to audiences around the world.

Those interested in following the documentary’s progress can find Sparks at Sea on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube at @sparksatseadoc, or visit grahambeermedia.com/sparksatsea.

For Cobourg, the documentary offers another opportunity to share the story of a hometown woman whose determination took her across the dangerous waters of the Atlantic and helped change the course of history for women serving at sea.