Meet benefits provider Port Rexton Brewing Co.

Sonja Mills (MBA’07, LLB’07), who was recently named an “Atlantic Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year” by EY, is co-owner of Port Rexton Brewing, a craft brewery in Newfoundland.

Mills leaning on the bar, smiling at the brewing company.

Posted: December 3, 2024

Photos by: Alex Stead Photography

A graduate of Dalhousie's combined law and MBA program, Sonja Mills (MBA’07, LLB’07) opened in 2016 in Newfoundland.

Mills was named an Atlantic Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year by EY in fall 2024. She is offering members of the Dal Alumni Benefits program 25% off all merchandise when visiting the business in person.

Where did the idea for Port Rexton Brewing Co. come from?

My business partner, Alicia MacDonald, and I were living in Halifax in the early 2010s and really loving the emerging craft beer scene. Although we were both doing well in our respective professions (myself practicing law and Alicia working towards becoming a nurse practitioner), we both had a deep desire to own our own business. Eventually we began exploring Newfoundland’s Bonavista peninsula as I grew up nearby and it is one of the province’s top tourist destination regions. At that point, everything began to quickly fall into place—we found a property in Port Rexton, secured funding, purchased equipment and Port Rexton Brewing Co. was born!

Mills and MacDonald seated in the brewery with beer tanks in the background smiling at each other.

Mills and business partner, Alicia MacDonald.

How did Dal prepare you for becoming a business owner?

I had taken the joint LLB/MBA program knowing that I enjoyed both law and business and could see endless possibilities for my future. Several key courses from my MBA program, such as managerial accounting, finance, marketing and strategy, were all extremely useful. I also find myself regularly incorporating my legal and ethics training from everyday thought processes to judgment calls, critical thinking, and of course those times where legal document drafting, review and decision-making come up in our business.

What is your favourite part of owning/operating Port Rexton Brewing Co.?

You are your own boss. You truly have to draw on your own training and experience, and trust your intuition to figure out how to create and operate your business to success, which I find an extremely fulfilling process. Along with the long hours and late nights when needed, I truly enjoy the flexibility of not being confined to set hours or days of the week to complete my work. I also absolutely love seeing customers truly happy, enjoying themselves and discovering our business.

What is a typical day at work like?

I either start my day at our production facility where I’m chatting with our team on the floor, in a meeting or, most often, on my computer. Some days I work from home or I may also be on the road for a project or doing our monthly deliveries to the west coast of Newfoundland.

What is your favourite memory of Dal?

I am so grateful for the friends, colleagues, camaraderie, intramural sports teams, and field trips out of the country. I felt that I was part of a community.

What advice would you give to recent grads embarking on their career journey?

Listen to your heart and try to do what makes you happy and fulfilled. It took me years of trying different things and moving about.

What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?

I love to travel and explore, do all things outdoorsy such as hike, ski, mountain bike, rock climb, etc., read, make cocktails, discover new-to-me music and contribute to building our community.