Remembering and honouring Brewster Kneen

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of Brewster Kneen’s passing on December 1st at the age of 92.

Brewster, together with his beloved wife Cathleen (1943 - 2016), was a cherished friend and steadfast ally of Inter Pares for decades. Their relationship with us, rooted in deep solidarity and shared commitment to justice, began in the late 1970s and has left an enduring legacy of thoughtfulness, principled action and a deep belief in the power of community.

Brewster often referred to himself as a public intellectual. His writing, public speaking and organizing were foundational in shedding light on the increasing power and influence of corporations over our food. His 1989 book, From Land to Mouth: Understanding the Food System, is a personal and analytical look at the food system that helped to raise awareness of the forces behind the disappearance of the family farm and showcase the power of cooperatives. His book, Invisible Giant: Cargill and Its Transnational Strategies, first published in 1995, digs even further into corporate power.

He was one of the first people in Canada to raise alarm over genetic engineering and the privatization of life—and he brought others along with him. In 1999, he published Farmageddon: Food and the Culture of Biotechnology, laying out his arguments on the subject. Later, Brewster helped establish the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) and founded the Canadian Forum on Privatization and the Public Domain.

Influenced by Indigenous friends and thinkers he met while he and Cathleen were living in B.C., Brewster delved into human rights and Indigenous struggles. In his 2009 book, The Tyranny of Rights, he questions the concept and language of rights and discusses how framing struggles in terms of rights could impose individualistic, legalistic and even colonial approaches on peoples with different worldviews. Underpinning these arguments was his belief in the importance of valuing our shared responsibility toward each other. 

Beyond the publications, Brewster and Cathleen were constants at Inter Pares. They were key collaborators in organizing public events in Ottawa to raise awareness on climate, technology and food justice issues. They were always available for a quiet conversation over a beer, and as elders, they invested their time in new generations of activists. Brewster was as proud of his role as a mentor to young writers and activists as he was of his own contributions.

Brewster and Cathleen’s legacy lives on in the organizations that continue to fight for what they believed  in. It also lives on in their children, Jamie and Rebecca, who in their own ways are fierce defenders of local ecology and the public good.

Rest in peace and justice, dear friend.

The Kneen family has created a memorial website for all who cherished Brewster and Cathleen Kneen. Visit kneen.ca to read about their lives and legacies and share your own tributes.