REGINA — Saskatchewan Polytechnic will soon be partnering with a Regina-based craft distillery to expand it's hospitality and tourism courses with more unique hands-on training for students.
YQR Distillery’s incoming restaurant, to be located on the Regina Exhibition Association Limited campus, will be the new company’s first big move after taking over the previously titled Sperling Silver Distillery.
The commercial space on the REAL campus will serve as both a commercial manufacturer and distributor of craft beer and liquor, as well as an educational hub for Polytech students in the School of Hospitality and Tourism.
The distillery has dedicated space within it's Fermentation Lab as a training kitchen welcoming students Tourism to learn more about the industry.
The Fermentation Lab will also feature a brewing and distilling research facility where students will be able to explore and learn about how agricultural products can be used to create both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, like kombucha.
“Students will learn sustainable cooking techniques such as using spent grains and live fermentation for baking, as well as examine methods of creating viable products using by-products from the fermentation process and offering unique tasting experiences,” said YQR’s CEO Adam Sperling, in an announcement on the distiller’s website.
YQR Distillery will also be providing hospitality suites, a tasting room, a tap house and a wine bar, as part of its commercial operations at REAL.
“We pride ourselves on having a campus unlike any other in our country,” said Tim Reid, president and CEO of REAL. “Having YQR Distillery on site and this new educational opportunity for students in the Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Hospitality and Tourism is a great way to support the future leaders of our industry.”
The YQR Distillery location is set to open this spring, and will take on the responsibility of securing any liquor licences required to support it's manufacturing and production of alcohol.
Sask Polytech will handle the delivery of programming for students.
The new program opportunities are part of Polytech’s ongoing goals to stay connected with industry and labour market needs, by tailoring course programming, said president and CEO Dr. Larry Rosia.
The new partnership will expand course offerings within the Hotel and Restaurant Management program into Regina, creating opportunities in southern Saskatchewan.
“This collaboration will explore new training possibilities,” said Rosia. “We look forward to investigating and researching new learning options for the hospitality industry in cooperation with YQR Distillery in the coming year.”
