From biology to beer!
For Faculty of Science alumnae Ellen Bounsall, the journey from biology major to master brewer and vice-president, production, at Montreal’s McAuslan Brewing was certainly on a road less travelled.
Her love of plants led her to uOttawa’s biology program in the early 1970s. As with many students who start in biology, Ellen’s thoughts wandered towards medicine, so when she completed her degree at the University of Ottawa, she applied to McGill University in a medicine-related program. But Ellen soon realized medicine was not for her. At the time, Dawson College was looking for an academic advisor to science students, and Ellen thought that would suit her well. She ended up working at Dawson for 14 years in a variety of administrative positions.
It was there she met her future husband, Peter McAuslan, and he shared his dream with her of opening a brewery. "That did not appeal to me at all," relates Ms. Bounsall. "Mostly because at the time, I didn’t even like beer." But shortly after her husband opened the brewery, it became clear he was going to need help, so Ellen decided to jump in feet first.
"The learning curve was steep and it all took place on the job," states Bounsall. As one of only two female master brewers in Quebec, she recalls it was tough getting respect in this male-dominated field. The thing is, the beer she was brewing was winning national and international awards.
Ellen’s advice to students is to take advantage of everything the university experience has to offer, because you never know where you might end up. She also applauds those students who have chosen to study at the University of Ottawa for its bilingual nature. "I can’t begin to tell you how advantageous it was and continues to be for me because I studied in a bilingual environment. It was an experience that shaped me and expanded my opportunities in the working world."
By François Rochon
Published: July 2009