Alberta: How the West was Young - Fur Traders, Missionaries and Explorers

Strolling through a Hudson's Bay Company store today, it is difficult to locate any vestiges of the legacy of the Fur Trade that shaped the nation and established the world's oldest retail corporation. The Fur Trade came to Canada as the result of simple supply and demand economics. The demand in Europe during the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries for fur was largely due to a fashion trend. The most sought after of pelts was the beaver, for the fine layer of its fur could be used to make the most stylish hats and adornments at that time. As the quest for such rich pelts intensified, the European fur-traders became better organized and found themselves having to move farther and farther inland from Hudson Bay to acquire this lucrative commodity. The province was shaped by the actions of the fur traders, explorers and missionaries who came to this part of the West. Contents: Historical Overview The Fur Trade Fur Trade and Mission Sites Fur Traders, Missionaries and Explorers - Biographies Fu