Chapter 8: HBC – A Piece of Canadian History

Do you like to shop at The Bay? If you replied “yes,” you are not alone. The Hudson’s Bay Company, known as HBC, is Canada’s oldest company. HBC has been around for over 350 years. That means HBC was here before Canada was made a country. They have seen a lot of customers! HBC is very special to Canada. There are many reasons why.

HBC started as a fur trading company in 1670. They depended on Indigenous communities to hunt and trap animals all across northern Canada. HBC traders learned all about the land and created maps of the areas they travelled. They used the skins of animals to make warm coats and hats. Then they sold the coats and hats to people in Europe. Europeans were learning more about the natural resources of this new land that they claimed. HBC started cities and towns in popular places where they traded fur and clothing. As a company, they played a significant role in the exploration and development of Canada.

In 1869, HBC grew. They not only sold fur, but they also sold household products like soaps and socks. Over the years, HBC changed in many other ways. They built big department stores starting with the “original six” Hudson’s Bay Company stores in the cities of Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg. Instead of trading with Indigenous communities, or sending their fur to Europe, HBC sold goods to the people in the new communities around them. The Hudson’s Bay Company also made a catalogue of their products so that people who lived far from the city could order things and get them in the mail. Today, HBC sells many different products, including its symbolic Bay Point Blanket. The company has a strong presence on social media, which keeps people connected. For example, they can shop online from their mobile devices 24/7. It is a popular shopping option for teenagers. These are just a few ways that HBC showed the ability of Canadian businesses to grow and change with the times.

HBC’s history is not just about a growing business; they publicly shared that they made mistakes with how they treated Indigenous communities in the past. They were not always fair with the trade agreements. The company did not always include Indigenous communities in the decisions they made. At times, Indigenous communities were sad because of this company’s power and connection to Britain. As HBC continues to grow, it is committed to making good decisions for moving forward.

For centuries, HBC was synonymous with the fur trade. It is now a big name in retail with stores across North America. The Hudson’s Bay Company holds a special place in Canada’s history because it teaches us many things about business and community. To sum up, the Hudson’s Bay Company is not just a store; it is an important symbol in Canada.