Fort Victoria (Alberta)
Encyclopedia
Fort Victoria, near present-day Smoky Lake, Alberta
, was established by the Hudson's Bay Company
in 1864
on the North Saskatchewan River
as a trading post
with the local Cree
First Nations. Today, it is a historical museum known as Victoria Settlement.
was given the job of opening a Hudson's Bay Company trading post in Fort Victoria.
Flett and John Norris led the first brigade of Red River ox-carts from Winnipeg to Edmonton, taking three and a half months on the journey.
As clerk in charge of the post, Flett was responsible for arranging for construction of the buildings and for opening up trade with the local Indians.
Flett was successful in quickly obtaining a supply of good-quality furs, which Flett and his assistants took by horse and dog train to Fort Edmonton
.
The oldest building in Alberta still on its original foundations is the clerk's quarters at Fort Victoria, which dates from 1865
.
Later the site of the Fort became a hub for the early settlement of East-Central Alberta
. It came to be called the Victoria Settlement and later, Pakan. It also became home for the McDougall Presbyterian
missionary family. Still later, the settlement served as a base for Methodist
missionaries to the Ukrainian Canadians.
The post was also a vital stop on the trail from Winnipeg to Edmonton
. The section of the trail currently within the eastern part of the city of Edmonton is a now a paved road called Victoria Trail in honour of the fort.
The Fort lies with the Kalyna Country
ecomuseum. It has been designated a national historic site of Canada and a provincial historic site of Alberta. The museum that is there today is operated by the provincial government.
, CHIN
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
.
Smoky Lake, Alberta
Smoky Lake is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located northeast of Edmonton at the junction of Highway 28 and Highway 855. It lies between the North Saskatchewan River, Smoky Creek and White Earth Creek. Long Lake Provincial Park is located north of the town.- Demographics :In 2006,...
, was established by the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
in 1864
1864 in Canada
See also:1863 in Canada,other events of 1864,1865 in Canada.----Events from the year 1864 in Canada.-Events:*June 29 - A train of newly arrived immigrants fails to stop at the open swing span near Beloeil, Canada East...
on the North Saskatchewan River
North Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows east from the Canadian Rockies to central Saskatchewan. It is one of two major rivers that join to make up the Saskatchewan River....
as a trading post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
with the local Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
First Nations. Today, it is a historical museum known as Victoria Settlement.
History
In 1864 George FlettGeorge Flett
George Flett was a Presbyterian missionary in what is now Manitoba, Canada. Flett was of Orkney and Cree descent. As a young man he farmed on the White Horse Plains, led a gold exploration party to Edmonton and then became the first post master for the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Victoria, Alberta...
was given the job of opening a Hudson's Bay Company trading post in Fort Victoria.
Flett and John Norris led the first brigade of Red River ox-carts from Winnipeg to Edmonton, taking three and a half months on the journey.
As clerk in charge of the post, Flett was responsible for arranging for construction of the buildings and for opening up trade with the local Indians.
Flett was successful in quickly obtaining a supply of good-quality furs, which Flett and his assistants took by horse and dog train to Fort Edmonton
Fort Edmonton
Fort Edmonton was the name of a series of trading posts of the Hudson's Bay Company from 1795 to 1891, all of which were located in central Alberta, Canada...
.
The oldest building in Alberta still on its original foundations is the clerk's quarters at Fort Victoria, which dates from 1865
1865 in Canada
See also:1864 in Canada,other events of 1865,1866 in Canada.----Events from the year 1865 in Canada.-Events:*February 3 - Legislature approves message to Crown for union of British North America provinces....
.
Later the site of the Fort became a hub for the early settlement of East-Central Alberta
Central Alberta
Central Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta.Central Alberta is the most densely populated rural area in the province...
. It came to be called the Victoria Settlement and later, Pakan. It also became home for the McDougall Presbyterian
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
missionary family. Still later, the settlement served as a base for Methodist
Methodist Church of Canada
The Methodist Church of Canada was a united church formed in 1884 and comprising most former Methodist denominations in Canada including some that had been active along Canada's eastern coast and north of the St...
missionaries to the Ukrainian Canadians.
The post was also a vital stop on the trail from Winnipeg to Edmonton
Carlton Trail
The Carlton Trail was the primary land transportation route connecting the various parts of the Canadian Northwest for most of the 19th Century. It stretched from the Red River Colony up to what is today Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan via Fort Ellice...
. The section of the trail currently within the eastern part of the city of Edmonton is a now a paved road called Victoria Trail in honour of the fort.
The Fort lies with the Kalyna Country
Kalyna Country
The Kalyna Country ecomuseum is a heritage and eco-tourism district in East Central Alberta, Canada, named after the highbush cranberry plant, pronounced in the Ukrainian language....
ecomuseum. It has been designated a national historic site of Canada and a provincial historic site of Alberta. The museum that is there today is operated by the provincial government.
Affiliations
The Museum is affiliated with: CMACanadian Museums Association
The Canadian Museums Association is a national organization for the promotion of museums in Canada.The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. The...
, CHIN
Canadian Heritage Information Network
The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a Canadian government-supported organization that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage, largely through the World Wide Web. It aims to give access to Canada's heritage for both Canadians and a worldwide audience, by supporting the...
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada
The Virtual Museum of Canada is Canada's national virtual museum. With a directory of over 3,000 Canadian heritage institutions and a database of over 600 virtual exhibits, the VMC brings together Canada's museums regardless of size or geographical location.The VMC includes virtual exhibits,...
.
External links
- Alberta Culture and Community. Victoria Settlement