Geoff Molson, scion of Molson Coors reflects on what makes his hometown, Montreal, great

The owner and CEO of the Montreal Canadiens and scion of Molson Coors on what makes his hometown great

YYou almost get a taste of Europe when you come to Montreal: everyone speaks two languages and the architecture’s a little different. You just sense you’re in a vibrant city with a lot of history and culture.

I love that you can look out from pretty much anywhere on the mountain and see the brewery on the river. I'm proud to know that it’s been part of the city and part of our family for more than 230 years, but I also feel a responsibility, as a member of the seventh generation, to continue it.

I have three boys and a girl. At this stage, they all want to play hockey, but they’re starting to develop an interest in business and realize that making it in the NHL is a lot harder than they might have thought! It’s not my style to put pressure on them to have an interest in the brewery, but I hope at least one of the four will try to keep it going.

Hockey is sort of in our family genes. My grandfather and his brother purchased the Montreal Canadiens in 1957, and it’s pretty much been in the family and in the brewery since then. Growing up, we lived a block away from the Montreal Forum, where the Canadiens used to play, and if I got my homework done, I was able to go to the games. That’s how it all started for me, and now I’m living the dream of being in the ownership.

There’s nothing like going to a hockey game in Montreal. There’s so much passion and energy and love for the Canadiens in this city; you can feel it when they step on the ice, and when they score a goal or win a game, it changes the mood of the city. It’s incredible.