Canada Water Boardwalk Launch

Brief

British Land commissioned Vivid Squad to document the public opening of the Canada Water Boardwalk — a bold, 170-metre pedestrian structure spanning Canada Dock, designed by Asif Khan as part of the Canada Water Masterplan. The event took place on Saturday 2nd November 2024 and drew a cross-section of local residents, invited guests, and media.

The brief covered both landscape and portrait deliverables: a main event highlight film for British Land's website and LinkedIn, plus portrait-format social reels for @canadawaterldn and @CWMasterplan on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Photography coverage was required across all key moments throughout the afternoon — from the initial gathering at Deal Porter Square through to the evening entertainment.

Key moments to capture included: the ribbon cutting ceremony, the boardwalk procession led by the Brixton Chamber Orchestra, a photocall with the Mayor and local dignitaries, performances from London Bubble Drama, five LED Drummers, and the surprise winter lights switch-on. The brief also called for coverage of the F&B vendors — Strongman's Tipple, artisan popcorn, and candy floss — plus the lantern-making and bee-making workshops running throughout the afternoon.

Drone shots were required to communicate the scale of the boardwalk structure and its relationship to Canada Dock — providing aerial context that ground-level photography alone cannot achieve. Look and feel directive from British Land: premium, lively, bright, and emotive — in line with the Canada Water brand.

What We Delivered

• Drone photography
• Event highlight film (landscape)
• Portrait social reels
• Full event photography

About the Project

The Canada Water Boardwalk is a landmark moment for one of London's most ambitious urban regeneration projects. Stretching 170 metres across Canada Dock, the structure — immediately recognisable by its vivid red finish — gives pedestrians a new route and vantage point along the waterfront, and signals the ambition of British Land's wider £7bn Canada Water Masterplan.

The opening event was centred around community celebration: a procession led by the Brixton Chamber Orchestra across the new boardwalk, a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Mayor, evening performances from LED Drummers and the Umbrella Project, and a surprise winter lights switch-on as the day drew to a close. The event brought together residents, invited guests, local businesses, and performers — exactly the kind of occasion that demands comprehensive, multi-format coverage.

Content from the shoot was deployed across British Land's social channels (@canadawaterldn on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter; @CWMasterplan across the same platforms) as well as British Land's LinkedIn — requiring both portrait and landscape formats from the same event day. The aerial drone footage was particularly important, providing the bird's-eye perspective needed to show the full length of the boardwalk and its dramatic position spanning the dock.