Nancy More鈥檚 expertise as a brewmaster has taken her around the globe but it鈥檚 her impact on students in 91原创 that is her proudest achievement.
More, an instructor who create the Kwantlen Polytechnic University鈥檚 Brewing and Brewery Operations program curriculum will have a provincial award named after her that will help women and under-represented students in the program at KPU.
鈥淲hen people ask me what my biggest career achievement has been, I expect they鈥檙e usually waiting for an answer like building this brewery or leading that project or creating this technology or that, but really what I鈥檓 most proud of is the young people whose lives I鈥檝e been privileged to impact and help them take their next steps in their brewing career,鈥� More said.
She is a legend in the brewing industry. More became the first female head brewmaster in North America at the Oland Brewery in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1985. After working for Labatt for more than 27 years she worked for several breweries in Europe and the United Kingdom. After returning to Canada she helped set up the curriculum at Kwantlen Polytechnic University鈥檚 Brewing and Brewery Operations Program, where she currently teaches part-time. In 2019 she was presented with the Legend Award at the BC Beer Awards (BCBA).
鈥� READ MORE: Students receive first diversity in brewing award at KPU
The new award is presented by the BC Hospitality Foundation and the BC Craft Brewers Guild.
Dana Harris, executive director of the BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF), says the charity has given out more than $1.25 million to over 425 hospitality workers in a financial crisis due to a medical condition to themselves or a family member, along with scholarship recipients. The BCHF is the only charity of its kind in Canada, and this is their first brewery scholarship award.
鈥淎s an instructor at KPU I get the pleasure of working with Nancy More who is someone I have an immense amount of respect for,鈥� says Ken Beattie, executive director of the BC Craft Brewers Guild and part of the advisory panel of the BC Hospitality Foundation.
Beattie explains that when they were looking for a name for this new award he found out that More was being recognized for the BCBA Legend Award, and an idea crept into his mind. They decided to name it the Nancy More Award.
鈥淚t aligns with Nancy鈥檚 principles and it鈥檚 our honour to launch it this year with our first recipient,鈥� adds Beattie.
Brewing legend Nancy More has a brewing award named after her thanks to the and . And 2nd-year student Emily Comeau is the first student to receive the award. Learn more
鈥� KPU News (@KPUmedia)
Emily Comeau is a 2nd-year student in KPU鈥檚 Brewing and Brewery Operations diploma program and the first recipient of the $1000 award.
鈥淚 would like to thank the Guild and the BC Hospitality Foundation. It鈥檚 really exciting and an honour to receive this award in Nancy More鈥檚 name; she鈥檚 a trailblazer, a brewing icon and an amazing person,鈥� says Comeau.
鈥淚 was drawn to this program because it combines science and creativity. As a plus, the program is a lot of fun. When I started, I didn鈥檛 know anything about brewing or how I鈥檇 be accepted by the guys in the program or if I鈥檇 be treated fairly as a woman. But everyone is welcome here and there鈥檚 a lot of support for each other as brewers, no matter what your gender is.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to go forward in the industry,鈥� Comeau continues. 鈥淚鈥檓 currently working at Mariner Brewing and they have been welcoming with open arms and I鈥檝e learned so much from them. I鈥檓 excited to see more representation in the industry in general, and I look forward to being an ambassador and encouraging more women to get into brewing.鈥�
More adds that Comeau has demonstrated a passion for beer and that鈥檚 what they want to see in the industry.
鈥淭he brewing industry still isn鈥檛 the welcoming place to everyone as we鈥檇 like it to be,鈥� says More, 鈥渁nd I still hear young people talk about the same things that I experienced as a young woman right out of university going to work in this industry and different breweries. So, scholarships like these are going to help us change that world.鈥�
鈥淲e really appreciate the tremendous support from the industry, especially during this time. This award is significant because it really champions and promotes gender equity and underrepresented members of the brewing community,鈥� says Dr. Elizabeth Worobec, dean, Faculty of Science and Horticulture at KPU. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also honoured to have Nancy as part of our brewing team and however we can honour her we will, and to be able to pass this on to our students through a scholarship makes it even more meaningful.鈥�
KPU has seen more than 200,000 students since it started in 1981. Based at five campuses across Richmond, Surrey and 91原创, KPU offers a comprehensive range of programs in business, arts, design, health, science and horticulture, trades and technology, and academic and career advancement. Around 20,000 students annually pursue their education at KPU which offers bachelor鈥檚 degrees, diplomas, certificates, apprenticeships and graduate diplomas. Learn more at kpu.ca.
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