What connection do the Thompson and Fraser rivers in British Columbia have with the Raisin River here in SD&G? The answer has much to do with the North American fur trade.
Last Saturday witnessed the annual Raisin River Canoe Race from St. Andrews West in Stormont to Williamstown in Glengarry. Both villages are home to historic fur traders who traversed by canoe what later were named as BC’s Thompson and Fraser rivers. They provided cartographic services to their respective fur trade employers.
Simon Fraser (1776-1862) became a partner in the Northwest Company in 1801 and in 1808 produced the first map of the Fraser River canyon. He named the Thompson River in honour of David Thompson. A heritage plaque located on the former Fraser homestead near St. Andrews West commemorates Simon Fraser.
David Thompson (1770-1857) worked for the Hudson Bay Company beginning in 1784 and became a partner in the Northwest Company in 1804. In 1814 he produced an important fur trade map. And he named the Fraser River in honour of Simon Fraser. A heritage plaque commemorating David Thompson is in his hometown of Williamstown.
The Glengarry, Nor’Westers and Loyalist Museum at 19651 County Rd. 17, Williamstown features an amazing fur trade exhibition on the upper floor of their building. The museum will be open Wednesday to Monday 10 a.m.5 p.m. from Victoria Day Weekend until Labour Day Weekend.
Year round the Cornwall Community Museum, located in Lamoureux Park at the foot of York Street, is open for visitation (archives by appointment) 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday and noon – 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Museum staff are busily adding finishing touches to several exciting new exhibits. Come check us out!
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