The Fur Trade at Fort Victoria

    Independent fur traders started their business at Victoria and in 1864 the Hudson's Bay Company decided to build a post there. They offered John McDougall the opportunity to work as the clerk in the post, but he declined. George Flett became the first clerk, and the fort built soon included seven buildings, all enclosed in a palisade.

    The Hudson's Bay Post operated from 1864 - 1883 when it was closed and the post put under the care of Mr. James Pruden, who promised to sell any furs he acquired to the Hudson's Bay Company at "market value".  However Mr. Pruden didn't last there very long and was basically run out of town for trying to graze his diseased cattle in the area. By 1885 when the North West Rebellion took place the Hudson's Bay Post was in need of repairs.

    In 1887 the Hudson's Bay Post at Victoria was re-opened as an outpost of Lac la Biche. Trade over the next while was not all that successful and the post closed again in 1898.

       More information about the Hudson's Bay Company Post:

Chapters from Les Hurt's book:

Charts and Maps

Other descriptions and information:

Information about Independent Fur Traders:

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