The fur trade played a formative role in the development of this country. For almost 250 years furs were big business across the vast, forested wilderness of what is now modern day Canada. The trade was intensely competitive and was mostly sustained by trapping beavers to satisfy Europe’s high demand for felt. Although the fur trade was at it’s peak from the early 17th to the mid-19th centuries, the tradition has continued to modern day albeit not to the same extent. Furs provided a modest income to the trappers, but also a source of meat and warm clothing.
The photos above were collected from the Glenbow Archives and the Provincial Archives of Alberta. If you’re interested, additional information can be found for each photograph on the Glenbow website by searching the identification number that is printed on the photo. There is also the option to purchase a high resolution copy. If you search the object number that can be found in the photo captions, you will find additional information about the photographs on the Provincial Archives website. Stay tuned for additional posts featuring historical photos from across Alberta. 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.
One of the things I like to do while spending time outside is searching for clues that make the past come alive. Decommissioned fire lookouts, decrepit old cabins, barns that are about to topple over, ghost […]
This week our chosen Charitable Choice is the Four Feet Companion Foundation (FFCF)! We spoke to a representative to learn more about how they’re helping our furry friends! Describe your charity/non-profit in a few sentences […]
The Hudson’s Bay Company and the North West Company, competing fur-trade entities, both established trading posts in 1799 near the confluence of the North Saskatchewan and Clearwater Rivers, in what became known as Rocky Mountain […]