The Grand River
The historic Ottawa River was often called le Grand River — the “Big River” — by the first voyageurs who travelled up and down its length. And it was a…
Read moreOld Fort Simpson
The work of building the new Fort Simpson continued, with clerk James Birnie keeping the post journal and taking overall charge of building the new post on the northwest coast,…
Read moreAnderson on Montreal Island
The year is 1855, and James Anderson and his party of men, which includes James Green Stewart, have paddled down the Back, or Great Fish River. On August 1 they…
Read moreOttawa River
The rapids-filled Ottawa River led the North West Company voyageurs, and the later HBC Lachine Brigades, northward from the Lake of the Two Mountains to the mouth of the Mattawa…
Read moreThomas Lowe at Fort Vancouver
On June 15, 1843, Thomas Lowe arrived at Fort Vancouver, about ninety miles upriver from the mouth of the Columbia, after having served both at the northwest coast post of…
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