The people behind the breweries
People
Founders, brewers and owners. A brewery is a business, but somebody started it, somebody brewed the first batch, and somebody was there when it closed.
A name is not the same as an identity
1,975 names appear on brewery records; 174 of them have an identity of their own. The difference matters: most nested names carry a role and nothing that says which person of that name it was, and three entries reading “J. Smith” are not evidence of one J. Smith. Giving them ids would invent people the sources do not establish, so the archive holds them where they were found and promotes one only when the evidence supports it.
Established identities
Aaron MacInnis
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Kamloops
Current Guild listing and brewer interview.
Adam Carson
Owner
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Current owner identified by Tourism Winnipeg.
Adam Keil
Opening owner / Head Brewer
British Columbia — Hope
Opening owner; current Guild Head Brewer.
Adin Bennett
Partner / co-founder
British Columbia — Smithers
Current partner documented 2025.
Al Renner
Owner / Head Brewer
British Columbia — Kamloops
Documented 2020 role; historical after 2025 ownership change.
Alexander Ferguson
Co-founder
Manitoba — Brandon
Co-organizer of the 1902 Brandon Brewing and Bottling Company.
Alexandra Ross
Co-owner / Curator
Manitoba — Steinbach
Co-owner and curator behind brewery/gallery concept.
Amanda Bergen
Owner / operator
British Columbia — Maple Ridge
Current local owner and co-founder of Switchback chapter.
Amber Sarraillon
Co-owner / operator
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Current first-party co-owner/operator.
Amy Beard
Co-founder / former owner
British Columbia — Fort St. John
Co-founded brewery with Stephen; sold in 2026.
Amy Eby
General Manager documented 2024
British Columbia — Lillooet
2024 regional food/beer feature identifies Amy Eby as general manager; current 2026 status not independently reverified.
Andrew Bullied
Founder
Alberta
Official Annex page identifies co-founder.
Andrew Sookram
Founder
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Founder/homebrewer behind current family brewery.
Andy Tobler
Inventory control specialist; founder's son
British Columbia — Vernon
Sleeman 40-year history documents Andy Tobler's current brewery role.
Barnaby McRae
Co-founder
British Columbia — Chilliwack
Science teacher/homebrewer in founding group.
Bart Larson
Co-founder / owner / operations manager / head brewer
British Columbia — Revelstoke
Current first-party contact identifies all current roles; brewery history documents PhD/nuclear-physics background.
Bill Haddow
Co-founder
British Columbia — White Rock
High-school teacher and brewery co-founder.
Blaine Estby
Partner / co-founder
British Columbia — Smithers
Current partner documented 2025.
Bob Naismith
Historical owner/operator
British Columbia — Prince George
PWB history says Naismith and partner Nelson headed 1978 takeover.
Brandon Baerwald
Co-owner / brewer / president
British Columbia — Prince George
Current co-owner/brewer; municipal filing identifies president.
Brandon Highton
Co-founder / co-owner
British Columbia — Kitimat
Local co-owner and founder documented by Narwhal and BC Ale Trail.
Brian MacIsaac
Founder / brewer
British Columbia — Sorrento
Co-founded Crannóg with Rebecca Kneen in 2000; historical Sorrento brewer/co-owner.
Bryan Craig
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Kamloops
Current Guild listing.
Buko von Krosigk
Founder
British Columbia — Vernon
Corporate brewery history identifies von Krosigk as co-founder in 1985.
Cam McKeigan
Partner / Head Brewer / co-founder
British Columbia — Smithers
Current partner and Head Brewer; prior Wheelhouse brewing experience.
Cameron French
Owner/operator
Alberta
Official Alley Kat page identifies current owner/operator.
Chad Bergen
Owner / brewer
British Columbia — Maple Ridge
Current local owner; two decades of homebrewing and ultrarunning/outdoor identity.
Charles Doering
Charles Holten
Founder / partner
British Columbia — Revelstoke
Museum identifies Holten and Thomas Downs as founders on Charles Avenue.
Charlie Groat
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Smithers
Current Guild listing.
Chris Warwaruk
Co-founder / owner
Manitoba — Neepawa
Co-founder/owner and farmer-brewer entrepreneur.
Chris Young
Head Brewer
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Current head brewer.
Craig Outhet
Co-founder / co-owner / brewer
British Columbia — Prince Rupert
Founding brewer/owner and technical voice in station-move reporting.
Craig Wood
Co-founder / owner
British Columbia — Creston
Official tourism profile identifies owner/founder.
Dana Orndorff
Co-founder / opening co-owner
British Columbia — Revelstoke
2019 opening sources identify Dana and Fred as owners.
Daniel 'Dan' Braaten
Owner / operator
British Columbia — 100 Mile House
Current owner/operator; BC Ale Trail identifies head brewer as Dan.
Danielle Keil
Opening owner
British Columbia — Hope
Opening owner documented by local tourism.
Darren Hollett
Founder / current principal
British Columbia — Squamish
First-party founder/current brewery principal; exact equity held.
Darren Wanless
Co-owner / founder
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Co-owner/founder of contract beer brand.
Darryl Tucker
Owner / Brewmaster / Head Brewer
British Columbia — Terrace
Current Guild owner/operator and Head Brewer.
Darryn Shewchuk
Director of Sales & Marketing
British Columbia — Revelstoke
Current first-party staff listing.
Dave Gokiert
Co-owner / Brewmaster
British Columbia — Kelowna
Current first-party identifies Dave as co-owner/brewmaster with 26+ years brewing experience.
Dave Morrish
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Langley
Current Guild Head Brewer.
Dave Rudge
Founder / brewer
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Founder documented in Half Pints education/history materials; current equity HELD.
David Aiken
Founder / owner / Head Brewer / comedy juggler
British Columbia — Shirley
Current owner/brewer; commercial brewery opened 2025 after long homebrew/performer career.
David Harris
Owner / founder
British Columbia — Smithers
Current owner identified by Chamber/regional business profile.
David Reedman
Founder / owner / head brewer / president
British Columbia — Williams Lake
2020 founder with formal Brewlab training; owner/head brewer and president documented.
Dieter Fiest
Modern brewery revival founder / rescuer
British Columbia — Nelson
BC Ale Trail says Fiest saved the historic brewery building from demolition and brought brewing back in 1991.
Doug Saville
Two Rivers startup leader / brewing-industry figure
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Later interview credits Saville with starting Two Rivers; exact legal ownership HELD.
Ed McNally
Founder
Alberta
Official Big Rock history identifies founder and 1985 launch.
Edward M. Maley
Co-founder
Manitoba — Brandon
Co-organizer of the 1902 Brandon Brewing and Bottling Company.
Erica O’Gorman
Founder
Alberta
Official Annex page identifies co-founder.
Erin Baerwald
Co-owner / co-founder
British Columbia — Prince George
Co-owner/co-founder documented.
Erin Dale
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Quesnel
Current Guild listing.
Ernest Richter
Owner / brewmaster
British Columbia — Merritt
German brewmaster from Alaska who operated brewery 1925–1928.
Evan Cronshaw
Launch brewmaster / historical role
British Columbia — Golden
Tourism Golden launch release identifies Cronshaw as brewmaster in 2016; not treated as current brewer.
Fred Cloutier
Brewmaster
Alberta
Official Banff Ave page identifies brewmaster and brewing-science background.
Fred Orndorff
Co-founder / brewer / current Head Brewer
British Columbia — Revelstoke
Opening media identifies co-owner/brewer; current Guild identifies Head Brewer.
Gaston Artillo
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Vernon
Current BC Craft Brewers Guild listing identifies Gaston Artillo as Head Brewer.
Goldwin Chan
Director of Brewing and Operations / Head Brewer
British Columbia — Port Coquitlam
Current first-party team lead and Guild Head Brewer; ownership not inferred.
Gwyn Nicholas
Owner / business operator
British Columbia — Ootsa Lake
Co-owner/business-side operator of brewery and ranch tourism business.
Hedin Nelson-Chorney
Owner / Sales Lead
British Columbia — Trail
Current industry profile identifies owner/sales lead.
Henry F. Maley
Co-founder / shareholder
Manitoba — Brandon
Helped organize Brandon Brewing and Bottling Company in 1902 with Edward Maley and Alexander Ferguson.
Henry Reifel
The legal mechanism of the 1918 reorganization is not established. Recorded as a control/reorganization relationship rather than an ownership transfer.
Henry Traeger
Continuity of employment across the 1900 merger is indicated but the dates are not established.
Hugh Henderson
Co-founder
British Columbia — Rossland
Museum identifies co-founder.
Isaac Alvin Robinson
Founder / initial owner
Manitoba — Brandon
Purchased idle former Crown plant, renamed it Empire and modernized brewing equipment.
Jakob Tobler
Founder
British Columbia — Vernon
Corporate brewery history identifies Tobler as co-founder in 1985.
James deFehr
Co-founder / brewer
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Founding brewing partner.
James Witzke
Co-founder / co-owner
British Columbia — Prince Rupert
Founding partner documented in BC Ale Trail and regional reporting.
Jared Babich
Co-founder
British Columbia — Invermere
2012 founding team.
Jared Summers
Executive Chef / managing partner
British Columbia — Kamloops
Current community feature.
Jared Tarswell
Co-founder / geologist
British Columbia — Kamloops
Guild and BC Ale Trail founder evidence.
Jeff Demaniuk
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Fernie
Current Guild listing.
Jeff Hurkett
Founder
British Columbia — Langley
One of three longtime-friend founders.
John 'Johnny' Trinke
Founder / President
Manitoba — Winkler
Founder/president from six-generation Trinke farm family; exact equity HELD.
John “Spud” Murphy
Founder / brewer
British Columbia — Rossland
Opened Rossland's first brewery in May 1895; prior Banff brewing experience.
John Collins
Founder
British Columbia — Langley
One of three longtime-friend founders.
John Williams
Named in the merger record. The precise nature of his interest in Red Cross Brewery — owner, operator or both — is not established here.
Jordan Macnevin
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Fort St. John
Current Guild listing.
Joseph Kappler
Deliberately unresolved. Kappler is NOT recorded as a confirmed founder or operator of Vancouver Brewery; the archive holds Charles Doering for that. This record exists so the open question has an identity to attach to, not to assert the involvement.
Josh Berscheid
Brewmaster
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Current first-party brewmaster.
Josh Michnik
Owner
British Columbia — Vancouver
Guild identifies current owner.
Juan Sanchez
Founder
Founder of the Asociación de Cerveceros Artesanales de Panamá and still involved in Panamanian brewing as of September 2026. Confirmed directly that ACAP has ceased to exist. A standing source contact for Panama; the contact route itself is held in outreach/, not here.
Justine Pelletier
General Manager — historical/startup era
British Columbia — Quesnel
Early GM and one of first employees; historical role preserved separately from current management.
Kate Walker
Co-owner documented 2016
British Columbia — Nelson
Acquired brewery with Matt Walker in May 2016; daughter of 1991 investor Dave Elliott.
Kathy Bradford
Founder / historical owner
British Columbia — Salmon Arm
Founder/historical owner; retired and sold business in 2025.
Kathy Kwon
Co-founder
British Columbia — Chilliwack
Community/startup-business member of founding group.
Kelly Hall
Co-founder / opening co-owner
British Columbia — Merritt
Husband-wife founding team documented at opening.
Kenny Dodd
Founder / owner documented
British Columbia — Kimberley
Launch owner in 2016.
Kent Donaldson
Co-founder / owner documented 2024
British Columbia — Golden
Launch source identifies part-owner; 2024 Basin story identifies founder/owner context.
Kent Orton
Co-founder / co-owner
British Columbia — Prince Rupert
Founding partner; explicitly identified as co-owner in 2022 reporting.
Kevin Emms
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Surrey
Current Guild listing; ownership not inferred.
Kevin Selch
Founder
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Founder who returned to Winnipeg to open brewery in Exchange District.
Konrad Wawrecka
Brewmaster
British Columbia — Atlin
Named as brewmaster in Yukon Archives caption for 1906 brewery-plant photograph.
Kris Johnson
Founder
British Columbia — Langley
One of three longtime-friend founders.
Ksenya
General Manager
British Columbia — Quesnel
Quesnel Tourism says joined 2021, became co-GM in 2024 and is now full-time GM; surname not provided in retrieved evidence.
Kyle Hall
Co-founder / brewer / Head Brewer
British Columbia — Merritt
Opening co-owner evidence; current Guild Head Brewer.
Lara Beardsell
Operations / next-generation management
British Columbia — Kamloops
Beardsell interview identifies day-to-day operations role.
Laryssa — surname unresolved
Owner-operator
Manitoba — Brandon
Husband-and-wife owner-operator; surname HELD.
Lawrence Warwaruk
Co-founder / owner
Manitoba — Neepawa
Co-founder/owner and farmer-brewer entrepreneur.
Leanne Tegart
Co-founder
British Columbia — Invermere
2012 founding team.
Linda Parker
Owner / business operator
British Columbia — Terrace
Current Guild owner/operator; MBA/business principal.
Lisa Wood
Co-founder / owner
British Columbia — Creston
Official tourism profile and 2026 regional-government letter confirm ownership.
Louis Blue
Founder / owner
British Columbia — Rossland
Rossland Museum identifies founder/owner.
Mandy Nicholas
Label designer / family contributor
British Columbia — Ootsa Lake
Daughter Mandy created brewery label designs according to sustainability profile.
Marcos Bardelli
Master Brewer
Manitoba — Dauphin
Brazilian brewer; Canadian Brewers Choice 2023 Brewer of the Year.
Maria Reimer
Co-founder
British Columbia — Chilliwack
Design/team-building member of founding group.
Mark Nagao
Co-founder / owner documented 2024
British Columbia — Golden
Tourism Golden identifies business partner; 2024 Basin story identifies co-founder.
Markus Tobler
Delivery / logistics; founder's son
British Columbia — Vernon
Sleeman 40-year history documents Markus Tobler's current brewery role.
Mary Lusty
Co-owner / Brewer
British Columbia — Trail
Current BC Ale Trail identifies brewer; established ownership is documented in regional coverage already preserved.
Matt Rowley
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Invermere
Current Guild listing.
Matt Walker
Co-owner documented 2016
British Columbia — Nelson
Acquired brewery with Kate Walker in May 2016; exact 2026 ownership HELD.
Meaghan Summers
Operating Manager / managing partner
British Columbia — Kamloops
Current community feature.
Megan Durno
Sales Manager — historical/current status not reverified
British Columbia — Fort St. John
Documented brewery sales manager in 2020 industry interview.
Mich Hince
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Chilliwack
Current Guild listing.
Michael Lewis
Co-founder / owner / general manager / brewer
British Columbia — Valemount
Co-founded brewery with Rundi; owner/general manager and brewery spokesperson through closure.
Michael Patrick Kirkland
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Vancouver
Current Guild Head Brewer.
Michael Stewart
Head Brewer
British Columbia — White Rock
Current Guild Head Brewer.
Michelle Babich
Co-founder
British Columbia — Invermere
2012 founding team.
Mike Konkin
Co-founder / CEO / Accountant
British Columbia — Trail
Historical brewery co-founder/CEO/accountant.
Mike Reimer
Co-founder
British Columbia — Chilliwack
Mechanical engineer and homebrewer in founding group.
Morgan Wielgosz
Co-owner / Brewmaster
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Current first-party co-owner/operator and Brewmaster.
Nathan Nicholas
Owner / brewer
British Columbia — Ootsa Lake
Owner/brewer; grew up on ranch, trained/worked as chef and later forestry before returning to start brewery.
Neale Ward
Owner / operator / director
British Columbia — 100 Mile House
Current owner/operator; 2025 municipal filing identifies Owner/Director.
Neil Herbst
Founder / prior owner
Alberta
Official Alley Kat history identifies original founder and 2020 transfer.
Nick Markowsky
Co-founder / co-owner
British Columbia — Kitimat
Local co-owner and founder documented by Narwhal and BC Ale Trail.
Nick Murphy
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Kamloops
Current Guild/community sources.
Nick Serbedzija
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Kamloops
Current Guild listing.
Nicole Barry
President / Founder
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Municipal record and Exchange District source identify founder/president.
Noah Boyden
Owner / operator
British Columbia — Merritt
Boyden family operated brewery circa 1920 to Noah's death in Mar. 1925.
Octavio Ray Pauley
Head Brewer
British Columbia — North Vancouver
Current Guild listing; ownership not inferred.
Otto Marstrand
Pardeep “PJ” Jaswal
Owner
British Columbia — Vernon
Current local reporting identifies Jaswal as Silverstar owner after the Marten sale.
Paul Clerkin
Co-founder / owner
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Irish-born co-founder/owner; major public voice of brewery.
Paul McMullan
Co-founder / President / COO
Manitoba — Winnipeg
One of three founding homebrewers.
Pearl Marten
Founder / historical owner
British Columbia — Vernon
Founding/historical owner documented in 2014 development coverage and 2023 sale coverage.
Peter Adams
Co-founder
British Columbia — White Rock
High-school teacher and brewery co-founder.
Petri Raito
Co-founder / co-owner / COO-CEO
British Columbia — Rossland
Current owner in 2026 interview and first-party site.
Raimund Kalinoswki
Original brewmaster
British Columbia — Vernon
Sleeman and Museum & Archives of Vernon identify Kalinoswki as the original brewmaster.
Ray Naito
Founder / owner / head brewer
British Columbia — Cranbrook
First-party founder story and brewery operation.
Richard Phillips
Co-founder / geologist
British Columbia — Kamloops
Guild and BC Ale Trail founder evidence.
Rundi Anderson
Co-founder / owner / operator
British Columbia — Valemount
Co-owner/operator through closure; integral to brewery origin and community story.
Russ Ovans
Founder
British Columbia — Quesnel
Founded company in 2013; current ownership not assumed.
Russell — first name unresolved
Historical ownership-interest holder
British Columbia — Atlin
1902 court report proves an interest in brewery; exact identity/equity HELD.
Ryan Arnaud
Co-founder / co-owner / Head Brewer-CEO
British Columbia — Rossland
Current owner/head brewer.
Sacha Bordas
Owner / brewer / Head Brewer
British Columbia — Lillooet
Current Guild owner/brewer; KPU brewing graduate; carpenter who converted feed store.
Samantha Etherington
Co-owner
British Columbia — Revelstoke
Aug. 2026 WeBC profile identifies Samantha as co-owner and documents her prior geology career.
Samantha Etherington's spouse
Co-owner — name unresolved
British Columbia — Revelstoke
WeBC states Samantha launched Revystoked with her husband; name and exact equity not established in retrieved evidence.
Sara Hanrahan
Restaurant Manager / managing partner
British Columbia — Kamloops
Current community feature.
Scott Keddy
Founder / Head Brewer
British Columbia — White Rock
Founding family member and current Guild Head Brewer.
Shawn Tegart
Co-founder
British Columbia — Invermere
2012 founding team.
Sheri Konkin
Co-founder / Brewmaster
British Columbia — Trail
Historical brewery co-founder/brewmaster.
Sidney — surname unresolved
Owner-operator
Manitoba — Brandon
Husband-and-wife owner-operator; surname HELD.
Stefan Marten
Founder / historical owner
British Columbia — Vernon
Founding/historical owner documented in 2014 development coverage and 2023 sale coverage.
Stefan Thordarson
Brewer / early homebrewing collaborator
British Columbia — Kamloops
Aaron MacInnis interview documents brewing connection.
Stefan Tobler
Brewer / brewmaster; founder's son
British Columbia — Vernon
Museum/corporate histories document Stefan Tobler's brewing role at Okanagan Spring.
Stephen Beard
Co-founder / former owner / brewer
British Columbia — Fort St. John
Founder and firefighter; sold brewery in 2026.
Steve Forsyth
Founder
British Columbia — Vancouver
Founder; Railway Club family background and Hatzic Lake hop-farming history.
Stu Bradford
Founder / historical owner
British Columbia — Salmon Arm
Founder/historical owner; retired and sold business in 2025.
Stuart Ballard
Founder / current principal
British Columbia — Squamish
First-party founder/current brewery principal; exact equity held.
Ted Birch
Co-owner
Manitoba — Brandon
Documented co-owner and public spokesperson.
Tessa Beardsell
Taproom / next-generation management
British Columbia — Kamloops
Beardsell interview identifies taproom role.
Thomas Downs
Founder / partner
British Columbia — Revelstoke
Museum identifies Downs as Holten's partner in establishing Enterprise Brewery.
Thomas Righton
Partner
British Columbia — Revelstoke
Museum identifies Allen/Righton A&R partnership in 1890.
Tracey Larson
Co-founder / owner / business manager
British Columbia — Revelstoke
Current first-party contact and history.
Troy Rudolph
Brewmaster — startup era
British Columbia — Quesnel
One of first three employees and startup brewmaster.
Tyler Windsor
Head Brewer
British Columbia — Kamloops
Current Guild listing.
Tyrone Reitman
Co-founder / owner / brewer
British Columbia — Kimberley
Founding owner and brewer; Freehand lineage.
W. H. Biner
Owner / brewer
British Columbia — Merritt
Kootenay brewer who briefly owned brewery in 1928.
William Allen
Co-founder
British Columbia — Rossland
Museum identifies co-founder.
William Schwartz
Brewmaster / later shareholder
Manitoba — Brandon
Brewmaster when production began; later identified as a shareholder.
Zach Mirosevic
Owner/brewer documented 2021
British Columbia — Fort St. John
Came north after Red Collar Brewing and helped establish Mighty Peace; current exact ownership held.
Zoe Wanless
Co-owner / founder
Manitoba — Winnipeg
Co-owner/founder of contract beer brand.