With over 85 years combined experience, the directors of the Great Canadian Beer Festival will retire before the 2019 season.
This just announced, the organizers of the Great Canadian Beer Festival are retiring their posts. With a combined minimum of 85 years of experience, directors John Rowling, Phil Atkinson, Claudia McNeil. Petra Trafford, and Gerry Hieter; are calling it quits after the 2018 season. The news obviously is semisweet for those who've attended the nearly three-decade-old festival. But rest assured, the group of directors will not only fill their posts in the immediate future but will finally have time to share a glass at next year's Great Canadian Beer Festival.
More in the press release
Hello to all our brewing friends and the craft beer community!
First off, we would like to thank all of the brewers who were able to participate in the 2018 edition of the GCBF. You helped us make our 26th annual event a total success with your presence and the wonderful beers you brought to our show.
We are just in the process of finishing up our duties for the 2018 GCBF here in Esquimalt and there have been some significant decisions made by the Board of Directors concerning the future of our beloved beer festival. Yes, the time for change has come and the main reason for this is the somewhat advanced age of our directors and the challenges that this brings to all of us. There are 5 directors; myself, John Rowling, Phil Atkinson, Claudia McNeil and Petra Trafford. We have all been involved between 15 to 26 years and the stresses and strains of organizing this annual event have finally caught up with us. To that end, the board has decided that we are all going out together and that our final month of incorporation will be January or February of 2019 or sooner if possible. Yes, we are retiring!
Therefore, we are pleased to announce that we are passing the Great Canadian Beer Festival over to the Victoria Beer Week Society. Over the past 5 years, Glen Stusek, Ryan Malcolm, Joe Wiebe, Chris Nohr and the many alumni of the Victoria Beer Week Society have demonstrated a commitment to craft beer and a quality in their events that we believe will reflect the values of the Great Canadian Beer Festival. Under their stewardship, we look forward to enjoying future GCBFs and having a beer with you all on the field!
Cheers to 26 Years!
Ger
Gerry Hieter
Great Canadian Beer Festival
www.GCBF.com
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The GCBF is a not-for-profit society created for the purpose of introducing consumers to new brews and raising awareness of craft brewing in the local community and beyond. In its 26th year, the GCBF is the longest running beer festival in Canada. Founding organizers and directors are industry veteran Gerry Hieter and original CAMRA Victoria president John Rowling. CAMRA BC past president and What’s Brewing founding editor Phil Atkinson joined GCBF in year two. Festival administrator is Claudia McNeil. Petra Trafford is the financial director.
Take a trip down memory lane with What's Brewing BC's story - 25 Untold Stories of Beer Fest or BC Ale Trail's The Hiet is On: Gerry Hieter &the Great Canadian Beer Festival.
