Queen City Distillers Adds Two Senior Leaders as Talent Relocates to Regina to Build a Seven-Experience Destination
Trevor Brodie, Senior Director of Hospitality (on left) and Ritu Shah-Burnham, Director of Food and Beverage (on right).
With four leaders now moved to Saskatchewan, the project signals confidence in Regina’s future and momentum toward a December 2026 opening.
Regina, SK — Queen City Distillers is pleased to announce the appointments of Trevor Brodie as Senior Director of Hospitality and Ritu Shah‑Burnham as Director of Food & Beverage, two senior leaders who have chosen to relocate to Regina to help shape Saskatchewan’s most ambitious hospitality and entertainment project. Their arrival continues the momentum that began with Master Brewer & Operations Manager, Robert Walsh, who relocated from Calgary, and Master Distiller, Kiran Shrestha, who relocated from Montreal — marking four leaders now moving to Regina specifically for this project.
As Queen City Distillers builds toward its December 2026 opening, the destination is drawing national talent who see the vision taking shape: a single venue designed to house seven distinct experiences — a craft distillery and brewery, a restaurant, a premium wine and spirits bar, a sports bar, a speakeasy, a two‑storey live music venue, and a 7,200 sq. ft. drive‑through retail liquor store. What sets this project apart is not only its scale, but its creative ambition: each space will have its own personality, energy, standards, and program — yet all will operate together as one cohesive experience.
Brodie, who has relocated from Toronto, brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in some of Canada’s highest‑performing hospitality environments. Most recently serving as Senior Director of Hospitality at Amsterdam Brewing Co., he led operations for five venues welcoming more than 600,000 guests annually. He will oversee operational integration across all venues, ensuring a seamless guest journey, building high‑performing teams, and shaping the service and operational standards that will define the destination.
“This project is visionary — not just for Regina, but for Canada,” says Brodie. “Being part of building something this ambitious is an extraordinary opportunity, and I’m excited to help bring it to life.”
Shah‑Burnham will lead the full culinary and beverage vision across the destination. Relocating from Arizona, she brings more than 15 years of experience across fine dining, luxury hotels, and multi‑unit leadership. Known for building elevated beverage programs and shaping award‑winning dining experiences, she will oversee menu strategy, wine and spirits programming, service design, and the development of culinary and beverage standards across all venues.
“This project is unlike anything I’ve seen in my career,” says Shah-Burnham. “To build multiple distinct food and beverage experiences within one destination — with the freedom to innovate — is incredibly exciting.”
“This is a signal about Regina. When leaders from across North America choose to move here, it says the opportunity we’re building is real, ambitious, and worth betting a career on.” said Queen City Distillers Owner, Shaun Semple. “Queen City Distillers isn’t just opening venues; we’re creating a connected destination where craft, cuisine, and culture live together under one roof. The fact that four senior leaders have already relocated tells us the momentum is bigger than a single hire—it’s a belief in what this project can mean for our city and our province.”
With leadership assembling, the project enters its next phase: translating vision into guest‑ready experiences, setting standards that feel premium yet personal, and building a culture where craftsmanship is visible in every pour, plate, and performance. The story now is momentum—of people, of belief, and of a destination taking shape in the heart of the Queen City.
Queen City Distillers will continue hiring throughout 2026 as it moves closer to opening, with more than 150 new jobs expected to be created across culinary, beverage, hospitality, entertainment, and operations.
For more information on Queen City Distillers, contact Ly Pham at lpham@QCDistillers.com.