HOPPING TO CHILLIWACK
New brewery in the works
Vancouver’s loss could be the Fraser Valley’s gain as Molson Coors Canada announced Thursday it will build a state-of-the-art brewery in Chilliwack to replace its landmark facility at the foot of Burrard Bridge.
Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz was considering a celebratory drink after landing one of the largest private-sector projects in her city’s history, beating out several Fraser Valley communities.
“In November, when we found out about the sale (of the Vancouver brewery), we immediately went to Molson with a proposal,” she said by phone from a vacation in Whistler.
Gaetz credited the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation for convincing Molson to choose Chilliwack for its new brewery, making the “best-kept secret in town” a reality.
The brewery, which aims to break ground in early 2017 and be completed by the end of 2018 or early 2019, will generate about 1,000 construction jobs in addition to brewery jobs and other economic spinoffs.
It will also bring the community “full circle,” the mayor said. In the 1940s, Chilliwack was the largest hop-growing region in the British Commonwealth until lower U.S. production costs drove operations south. Hop farming is experiencing a resurgence in B.C., driven largely by the craft beer industry.
In searching for a location for the brewery, Molson hoped to keep a “footprint” in B.C., although it wasn’ t certain what that would look like, vice-president of corporate affairs Gavin Thompson said.
The company considered several options before selecting Chilliwack. Factors included the city’s abundant and high-quality water, and its proximity to the Trans-Canada Highway, western Canadian markets and the U.S. border.
A 14.5-hectare site along the Trans-Canada Highway was rezoned for food processing in July, fuelling rumours about the upcoming brewery announcement. A City of Chilliwack staff report hinted that a company wanted to construct a 21,300-square-metre food and beverage processing facility, with a potential for future expansion to 45,000 square metres.
Molson is one of Canada’s oldest companies, predating Confederation. It has operated in B.C. for 60 years. Its three-hectare Vancouver property — one of the last industrial sites in False Creek — was sold to real estate developer Concord Pacific for $185 million this spring. The company plans to transform the old brewery into a mixed-use high-tech hub. Molson will continue to lease the facility until moving production to the new, more efficient Chilliwack brewery.
Thompson said the company is still in the early stages of designing its new facility and determining what beer will be brewed there. Production of the Canadian and Coors brands will be shifted from Vancouver, but the company will consider the rest of its portfolio to determine what will work best.
Thompson did not rule out using Fraser Valley hops in some brews.
“We pride ourselves on being a part of the communities where we work,” he said. “We love to support local suppliers. At this point, everything is on the table and anything is possible.”
Premier Christy Clark was pleased with the announcement.
“British Columbia has a long and proud tradition of brewing excellence, and as North America’s oldest brewer, Molson Coors has always been a big part of that,” she said in a news release. “The new brewery in Chilliwack means more jobs in the Fraser Valley, and another vote of confidence in Canada’s leading economy.”
We pride ourselves on being a part of the communities where we work … We love to support local suppliers.