The Tsattine (Beaver) people have lived on the land in the Dunvegan area for thousands of years. The North West Company (NWC) arrived in 1805 and established a fur trading post on the banks of the Peace River and named it Fort Dunvegan. The post was operated by the NWC for 16 years before it was taken over by the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) in 1821. For many years Fort Dunvegan was considered the most important post in the Peace River region due to its significance in the fur trade, its role as a communication link to more westerly posts, and its early missionary work. St. Charles Roman Catholic mission opened in 1867 followed by St. Saviour’s Anglican mission in 1880. Due to hostilities with local Indigenous groups, the post was abandoned in 1825 only to reopen three years later. It operated continuously until its permanent closure in 1918.
18-? – View showing the fence around the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Fort Dunvegan on the banks of the Peace River.
19-? – View of exterior of buildings located in the Hudson’s Bay Company’s post.19-? – View of the Hudson’s Bay Company buildings.1913 – Davidson’s 1912 Cadillac at Dunvegan after driving over the Edson Trail.1920 – Panoramic view of Dunvegan on the Peace River.1920 – St. Charles Church at the Roman Catholic Mission at Dunvegan, with the ferry tower in the background.1920 – Anglican Manse at the Maples at Dunvegan, built in 1909, was used by George Garnet and his men to stay in when they built the first grade on Dunvegan Hill.1920 – Outbuildings at Hudson’s Bay Co. Post.1950 – The Christiansons visit an historic building at Dunvegan.1951 – Unveiling ceremony of the Fort Dunvegan Cairn.1951 – Unveiling ceremony of the Fort Dunvegan Cairn. L – R: sitting – Captain A. L. Brick (son of Reverend Brick); Miss Verena Garrioch (daughter of Rev. Garrioch); Rev. N. Calland standing – Dr. M. H. Long (Alberta Representative for National Historic Sites); E. J. Martin (sec. M. D. of Fairview); Clifford P. Wilson; Alex McCorrister.1961 – Fred Brewster reading the daily accounts journal used at Fort Dunvegan a Hudson’s Bay Company post on the Peace River. These journals were found by Fred Brewster on Oct 26, 1929.n.d. – Dunvegan Rectory in a state of deterioration, before it was restored as a historic site.n.d. St. Charles Catholic Mission at Dunvegan was built in 1867.
n.d. Panoramic view of Dunvegan, Alberta with hills in background.
The photos above were collected from the Provincial Archives of Alberta and Archives Canada. If you’re interested, additional information can be found for each photograph on their websites. Stay tuned for additional posts featuring historical photos from across Alberta and Western Canada. We’d love to know what you think in the comment section below.
Tyler is originally from Saskatchewan, and yes he cheers for the Roughriders, but don’t hold that against him as Calgary has been his home for the past eight years. He is a teacher working at a wilderness-
based treatment program for youth working to overcome addiction. Tyler is also a volunteer with the GOT Parks initiative, which aims at reconnecting Canada’s youth with our national, provincial, and territorial parks. During his time away from work, Tyler enjoys outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, and snowboarding, team sports, travelling, photography, spending time with good friends, and being at home with his wife and German Shepherd, Rome.
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