The Canadian Homebrewers Association was established in 2018 as a non-profit organization to further the hobby of homebrewing in Canada through education and legislation. Feel free to reach out to us via email. If you have a more general question, send us an email here.
Our current Board of Directors
Kathy Yan Li
Director
Belleville, ON
Term ends 2023
*extended by a year
Kathy first started homebrewing in 2010 when she co-founded the UBC Brewing Club with some friends and had to figure out how to make beer to teach others! She is a National rank BJCP beer with mead and cider endorsements, and has judged 40 competitions in six provinces and seven US states so far. She co-founded the CHA in 2018, and enjoys sharing Canadian homebrewing news and stories.
Aaron Brown
Director
Saskatoon, SK
Term ends 2023
Aaron’s been homebrewing since 2014 making beer, wine, cider, and mead with a focus on local and home-grown ingredients. He’s an active member of the Saskatchewan homebrewing scene, with a passion for experimentation and education. When he’s not brewing, he’s a full-time geologist who loves concert photography, BBQ, and hunting.
British Columbia Regional Representative
Vacant
Alberta Regional Representative
Vacant
Kyle Dyck
Saskatchewan and Manitoba Regional Representative
Steinbach, MB
Term ends 2025
Kyle has been homebrewing since 2010, an auto body tech by trade he currently resides in Steinbach, Manitoba. Perpetually curious, Kyle seldom brews the same thing twice, preferring to treat each batch as an opportunity to try something new. When he’s not brewing you can find Kyle raising his 4 kids, beekeeping, board-gaming, snowboarding or playing hockey.
Jim Cavill
Ontario Regional Representative
Oxford Mills, ON
Term ends 2025
Jim has been an avid homebrewer from the moment he got his first brewing kit as a Christmas gift. What started as a hobby quickly became an obsession during the pandemic and he has been looking for ways to contribute to the homebrewing community ever since. Jim lives in Oxford Mills, Ontario with his wife, son, and two dogs.
Cedric Malitte
Quebec Regional Representative
St-Jean-De-Brebeuf, QC
Term ends 2023
Cedric is born and raised in France. He became interested in beer while studying at mechanical engineering school, and sharing a flat with a pub owner in the late 90’s. He learned beer styles and history and visited many breweries by this time, but he only started homebrewing in 2003 with concentrates he bought on a trip to Canada. That sparked the passion. He rapidly moved to all grain, building his first pico-brewery from kegs and cooler. He moved to Canada in 2007 and still brews his favourites old European styles: cask ale, saison and lambic, but also new styles like hazy hopped ones! He’s also fond of lost historical beers and from tries to reproduce some from time to time with varying success!
Derek Dygos
Atlantic Regional Representative
Saint John, NB
Term ends 2025
Derek has been homebrewing in Saint John, New Brunswick for 15 years now. He started brewing extract kits in university to save money, eventually making the transition to all-grain when he could afford it. He is the founder and beer tour guide at Golden Dog Beer Tours and co-owner of the Community Brew Shop. He is currently working towards his Cicerone Certification.
He is currently brewing on a 15 gallon 3-pot propane fired setup in the great outdoors, even in the cold Maritime winter. Lately he has been brewing mead and traditional Eastern European styles such as Gratzer, Farmhouse styles and Baltic Porters. He loves to make all styles of beer and usually have an IPA on tap with a variety of new hops alongside a historical beer of some sort. He also farms a small hop yard that grows Cascade, Chinook and Centennial hops hidden deep in the New Brunswick wilderness. He has experimented with wild yeast harvesting and foraging different beer ingredients with moderate success at home.
He is looking forward to spreading the hobby of home brewing further in the east and uniting home brewers from the region!
Shawn Paul Brennan
Territories Regional Representative
Yellowknife, NWT
Term ends 2023
*extended by a year
Shawn is a born and raised Northerner from Yellowknife, NWT. He started homebrewing in 2014 with very basic extract kits, then moving to brew in a bag, and on to a 3 vessel electric brewery setup. He also brew ciders, meads, and a variety of different kinds of wines. He is very proud to be representing the Territories and look forward to hearing any questions, comments, or concerns that you might have.