Canadians find Commonwealth Games home at Gold Coast bar

Canada usually lives large when it comes to its home-away-from-home at the Olympic Games.

In 2012, Canada House — part of the Canadian High Commission in London — was designated Canada Olympic House, a place where Olympians could meet with family and friends in iconic Trafalgar Square.

Two years later, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Sochi’s Canada House where Quebec’s Roch Voisine was playing. The Arkells rocked Canada House in Pyeongchang.

Dealing with a far more modest entertainment budget at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Canadian team officials found an existing bar with plenty of Canadian content. House of Brews Taphouse & Dining in Surfers Paradise has been designated as Canada House during these games.

Opened in 2015, it promises rock, brews and barbecue. There are 32 craft beers on tap, with a good chance a Canuck will deliver your cold one of choice to you. Venue manager Jess Legault reckons 15 of the 40 staff are Canadian, with the number growing during the Canadian winter.

The 28-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., came to Australia to escape a Canadian winter. The plan was to spend three months on the Gold Coast, three in Sydney and three in Melbourne. Three years later she is still on the Gold Coast at the House of Brews.

The bar-restaurant is owned by Australian brothers Sacha, Damien and Ben Kanaghines, who have all spent time in North America with Sacha taking a particular liking to Whistler, B.C.

A cherry-maple beer, developed by a local brewer especially for the Games, is slated to be delivered Wednesday.