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Vice President,
Government Relations
Western Canada
Evan Southern leads government affairs for Western Canada. Evan joined Beer Canada in 2023, bringing over 15 years of senior government experience, including serving the province as Chief of Staff to the Attorney General and Director of Issues Management to the Premier of British Columbia. Evan lives in Victoria with his wife, Jessica, and son Nash.
With sky-high inflation pushing prices higher for food, gas, housing, and other necessities at the fastest pace in decades, the last thing Canadian families need is another federal beer tax increase. Canadians already pay amongst the highest beer taxes in the world. We believe our governments should do their best to keep life affordable, not make it more expensive.
In Canada, taxes represent nearly 50% of the average retail price of beer. Federal taxes on beer have been increased every year since 2017 without a vote or debate in Parliament due to Ottawa’s automatic inflation-indexed alcohol tax hikes. Even at the height of the pandemic, when restaurants and bars were forced to close and many Canadians were out-of-work, these stealth tax hikes went ahead.
88% of the beer consumed here is made here.
Beer is truly a local business with small, medium, and larger brewers making positive contributions to Canada’s reputation, economy, communities, and social well-being. Your favorite pint is made by talented brewers from barley grown locally by dedicated farmers. It’s delivered by rail or truck to your local alcohol retailer or pub and served to you cold by a beer expert. And yet, tax is the single largest component of the price you pay for Canadian beer. Almost half the retail price of beer in Canada — 47 per cent — is government tax, a commodity tax rate five times higher than in the U.S. and significantly higher than in most EU countries.
It’s time for MPs from all parties to stand up and voice their support for hard-working Canadian beer consumers, the 21,000 Canadians directly employed by brewers and the thousands of workers and businesses connected to brewing by voting to defer the annual inflation-indexed beer tax increase before the next one comes into effect on April 1, 2024.
Board member
Anders Rud Jørgensen has over 20 years of experience in the international beer industry with Carlsberg. Before coming to Canada he held several commercial positions, most recently VP for Asia, Oceania & South East Europe from 2012-21. Prior to this role, he worked across Western Europe and Middle East, both out of the Carlsberg Central Office in Denmark and in local markets Belgium and Germany. Anders has a strong track-record establishing and building new businesses, driving growth in mature markets, and leading diverse and multicultural teams.
In January 2022, Anders relocated to become the Managing Director of Carlsberg Canada, acquiring Waterloo Brewing in March 2023 and integrating the two businesses. He is currently on the Board of The Beer Store.
Anders has a Master of Business Administration & Marketing from Copenhagen Business School and studied International Business at Harvard University. He also served with the Danish Armed Forces.
Economist & Director of Scientific Affairs
Saili Chisanga is Beer Canada’s Economist and Director of Scientific Affairs, leading the strategic direction of building the economic, health, science, and social fact base to demonstrate the contribution and impact of beer and brewing in Canada.
Saili has over a decade of expertise in business intelligence, commercial strategy, and business economics. Prior to joining Beer Canada, Saili helped shape business and product strategies in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Retail, Beverage and Manufacturing sectors.
He is passionate about the value of integrating macro and social economic insights with industry data analysis to understand the long-term impact of business decisions. He is adept at synthesizing complex data and identifying opportunities using a strategic, market-driven, and quantitative approach.
Saili is based in Mississauga, where he lives with his wife and their three children. Outside of work, Saili loves fitness training, astronomy, soccer, and gardening. He also enjoys trying a variety of beers and seltzers.
Board member
John Sleeman is Founder and Chair of Sleeman Breweries Ltd. At 23 he launched his first business, a British-style pub and after three years he sold this profitable establishment and founded The Imported Beer Company, which successfully grew into a national company. In 1985, he restarted his family’s heritage in the Canadian beer industry with original patent, bottles, labels and recipes. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including Outstanding Business Achievement in 1991, Top 100 Entrepreneurs in 1995 and 1996, one of the “50 Best” Managed Private Companies in 1995, and in 2001 One of the Top 200 Fastest Growing Companies in Canada. In 1997, Mr. Sleeman was awarded the “Mayors Award” for his recognition of community contributions and in 1999 he received the American Marketing Association award. He received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Guelph in 2008.
Mr. Sleeman is either a current or past member of the following Boards and Organizations: Beer Canada, The Beer Store, British Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Young Presidents Organization, ABMRF/The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Chairman of Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Program in Canada.
Board member
Andrew Oland is President & CEO of Moosehead Breweries Limited. He is the sixth generation member of his family to lead the Oland brewing business started by his great-great-great grandmother Susannah Oland in 1867.
Mr. Oland received his business degree in 1989 from Old Dominion University in Norfolk Virginia, and his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1997.
He joined Moosehead in 1992 as a foreman in the Company’s bottleshop and has held a number of increasingly senior positions with the company including Sales Manager for Nova Scotia, Sales Director for New Brunswick, Alpine Lager Marketing Director, and President of Moosehead Quebec. He was appointed President on April 1, 2008.
As President & CEO of Moosehead, Mr. Oland has direct responsibility for the performance of the company and its subsidiary operations.
Mr. Oland currently serves as a board member with the Conference Board of Canada, Beer Canada, and Enterprise Saint John. Mr. Oland also serves as a Board Advisor for EPC Industries Limited. He has a wide-range of concerns and interests outside of the brewing industry. Mr. Oland is a passionate believer that immigration is essential to the long-term prosperity of New Brunswick and volunteers his time mentoring new Canadians.
Mr. Oland and his wife Leslie reside in Rothesay, New Brunswick. They have three adult children.
Board member
Marcelo, known to most as Mika Michaelis, is President of Labatt Breweries of Canada, the Canadian division of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Mika has built an intimate knowledge of the beverage alcohol industry through nearly 20 years of experience with AB InBev and Anheuser Busch across US, Brazil and Canada. He applies his breadth of experience to continuously deliver market share growth and innovative strategies.
Prior to leading the Canadian business, Mika held a series of commercial leadership roles, including Vice President of Revenue Management & Sales Intelligence, Regional VP of the West Region, and most recently overseeing all aspects of the craft business in the U.S. Under Mika’s leadership, Anheuser Busch’s Brewers Collective delivered consistent volume, market share and engagement growth, and successfully integrated Craft Brew Alliance (CBA) into the AB portfolio.
Mika holds a Degree in Mechanical Engineering and has two MBAs in both Marketing and Business.
Board member
George H. Croft has more than 30 years of experience in the Canadian beer industry. Becoming President and CEO of Waterloo Brewing Company in May 2008, George has restructured the business and taken the company from a financial loss to sustainable profitability. George joined Waterloo Brewing from Lakeport Brewing Income Fund, where he was responsible for all of the Fund’s operational and commercial matters as President and Chief Operating Officer. He began his career with Labatt Breweries of Canada, where he held various senior management assignments, including President of Oland Specialty Beer Company and President at Labatt Breweries of Ontario.
George is a graduate of the University of Alberta and is a Chartered Director and a Certified Management Accountant. George has served on the Executive Committee of Labatt USA Board, The Beer Store Board of Directors and Executive Member of Lakeport LLP Board. He is currently on the Board of the Beer Store and is a member of the Waterloo Brewing Board of Directors.
George was also an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 finalist as well as Canada’s Passion Capitalists 2012 finalist.
Senior Manager, Operations
& Member Services
In her role, Tanya Bernier manages activities of the staff, suppliers, IT, HR and accounting at Beer Canada. Tanya also leads on Beer Canada’s data services. Outside of work, Tanya and her husband keep busy with their 3 children and pets.
President
CJ Hélie was appointed President of Beer Canada in June 2021. CJ has over 25 years of experience in the Canadian beverage alcohol industry with intimate knowledge of the sector at the provincial/territorial, national and international levels. CJ is a seasoned government relations specialist with a strong track record in effective strategic and business planning, domestic and international trade and corporate communications. CJ has forged valued working relationships with liquor regulators, legislators and policy makers as well as with related industries to build long-term partnerships and to find collaborative solutions to emerging issues.
Senior Research Advisor
An industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience, Ed Gregory is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the beer category’s complex regulatory environment, domestically and internationally. He also manages Beer Canada’s research and provides input on communications and partner relationships. Ed is happy to sip on a range of beer styles and is an avid astrophotographer.
Director, Strategies
and Policies, Québec
Proud Montréaler, Marie-Antoinette Diop joined the Beer Canada team as Director, Strategies and Policies, Québec. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Montréal, Marie-Antoinette has completed a posting as a trade commissioner with the General Delegation of Québec to Mexico. Outside work she enjoys spinning classes, hiking and is an avid reader.
Vice President,
Strategic Communications
Montreal-native Karine Cousineau oversees all aspects of Beer Canada’s strategic communications.
Karine has over two decades of expertise in communications, government relations, and strategic planning within both the public and private sector. Prior to joining Beer Canada, Karine spent nearly four years heading government relations, communications and sustainability for a licensed cannabis producer with operations in Quebec and Ontario and five years piloting corporate and internal communications in Canada for the largest diversified construction materials company in North America. As a consultant, she represented clients in a wide range of industries including Defence, Transportation, Sports, and Health Care. On the Hill, she served in different offices including the office of Federal Minister of Transport and Quebec lieutenant, Finance Minister, and the Prime Minister’s office.
Executive Assistant
Lella Cirone joined Beer Canada in 2021 as Executive Assistant. Skilled with over 25 years of experience in the beer industry, most recently as part of Canada’s National Brewers, she works closely with the President and team. Living in Toronto, Lella loves the outdoors, gardening and cooking.
Vice President, Québec
Philippe Roy, joined the Beer Canada team as Vice-President, Québec, in November 2021. Philippe has 30 years of experience in politics and public affairs and is a lawyer, a communications professional and a well-known political figure in the business community.
Vice President,
Federal Affairs
Luke Chapman leads Beer Canada’s federal government affairs. Born in Picton, Ontario, Luke joined Beer Canada in 2013. He played for the Carleton Ravens basketball team for 4 years and is happy to talk about beer, sports, and health. He is also a graduate of the Canadian Society of Association Executive’s CAE Program.
Follow him on Twitter: @LukeChapman31
Director, Communications
& Engagement
Ottawa born and raised, Brittany Burden (Moorcroft) leads Beer Canada’s communications and executes creative and digital strategy to meet the Association’s objectives. Going on 14 years at the Association, Brittany is a fan of Hefeweizens and radlers. She is a Prud’homme Beer Sommelier.
Vice President, Ontario
& Atlantic Canada
Emma Breen oversees government affairs for Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Emma joins Beer Canada after 7 years of navigating regulatory and policy issues with Canada’s National Brewers; prior to this role, Emma was senior political advisor to two Ontario Finance Ministers and an Ontario Premier. Emma is based in Toronto, where she Iives with her husband and four children.
Beer Canada Chair
Frederic Landtmeters, President & CEO of Molson Coors Canada at Molson Coors Beverage Company, joins Canada’s oldest brewer from his previous role as Managing Director of Molson Coors UK & Ireland, which he held from January 2015.
Frederic has an international consumer packaged goods career spanning 18 years, including 16 years in the drinks business, and is a proven commercial leader with an exceptional track record in building great beer brands. He first became involved in the beer industry when he joined AB InBev in June 2006 as Global Brand Director for Beck’s. He then took over as Marketing Director for Benelux & France in 2008, before his appointment to the role of Chief Marketing Officer, StarBev in 2010, with responsibility for Central Europe and the re-launch of Staropramen as an international brand.
In 2012, Molson Coors’ acquired StarBev and the formation of Molson Coors Europe saw Frederic step in to the expanded role of Chief Commercial Officer, Molson Coors Europe, with accountability for Marketing, Sales, Pricing & Revenue Management and Innovation. Under his leadership, Molson Coors Europe saw brand health growth in all markets and had strong results from the implementation of a rich innovation pipeline. Frederic then transitioned to his role as Managing Director of Molson Coors UK, where he continued to drive innovation and brand performance.
With the Molson family’s rich Canadian history and a world-class brewing heritage, Frederic is excited and honoured to be a part of Molson Coors Beverage Company. Frederic is married to Veronique, and they have two sons; he is a keen follower of sport as well as an avid cyclist. Frederic became Beer Canada’s Chair in October 2021.
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