LANGLEY, B.C. — Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) has launched a new scholarship in partnership with the John Mitchell Foundation, which will benefit brewing students at KPU.
The John Mitchell Legacy Endowed Scholarship honours craft-beer innovator John Mitchell, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 89. He founded Horsehoe Bay Brewing in 1982 and went on to open Canada’s oldest brewpub, Spinnakers, in Victoria in 1984. Mitchell also helped establish Howe Sound Brewing in Squamish, B.C. in the mid-1990s.
Spinnakers is donating $10,000 towards the scholarship. Central City Brewers donated the sale of Mitchell’s celebration-of-life beer and other breweries will be donating as well. The endowment will result in a $1,000 annual scholarship, which will be available to students at KPU’s Brew Lab.
Brewmaster John Ohler says while many brewers are self-taught or taught on the job, Mitchell believed a formal education in brewing was the key to better beer and success.
“John influenced generations of new brewers and craft-beer entrepreneurs,” says Ohler. “He loved meeting the students at KPU. He was thrilled that part of his legacy would be connected to KPU and to teaching the next generation of craft-beer professionals.”
“Some of our students were fortunate to meet John on a few of his visits to the KPU Brew Lab and I know it meant a lot to them to chat with him and share their mutual enthusiasm for craft beer and brewing,” says Alek Egi, chair, KPU Brewing and Brewery Operations diploma. “We are honoured to be a part of John Mitchell’s legacy and incredibly grateful to Paul Hadfield and Spinnakers Brewpub for their generous donation to the John Mitchell Foundation scholarship to help support KPU Brewing Diploma students.”
