Labatt immigrated to Canada in the 1830s and initially established himself as a farmer near London, Upper Canada. In 1847, he invested in a brewery with a partner, Samuel Eccles, launching "Labatt and Eccles".

John Kinder Labatt, farmer, brewer (b at Mountmellick, Ire 1803; d at London, Canada W 26 Oct 1866). Descended from French Huguenot exiles who had become Anglican, he emigrated from Ireland to England and thence to Upper Canada in 1833 with his wife.

In recent years, some historians have begun to challenge this dismissive account. Janet Ajzenstat, Paul Romney, John Ralston Saul, and I, among others, have all taken new looks at the Canadian founding and come away more impressed.

In 1846–47, possibly because of temporary difficulties with his English investments which were being handled by his father-in-law, Labatt visited Great Britain and considered remaining there, but the high cost of living sent him back to Canada.