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PM visits York Factory National Historic Site
“One of the most important historic sites in Canada, York Factory National Historic Site reflects a key chapter in our nation’s heritage – the fur trade and the settlement of our great land,” said the Prime Minister. “I am proud that our Government has taken concrete action to protect this site so that future generations may experience this integral part of our country’s history.”
Located approximately 750 kilometres north of Winnipeg, York Factory was founded in 1684 by the British as a fur trading post at the mouth of the Hayes River on Hudson Bay. The establishment served as a headquarter for a massive fur trading empire that was supported by Aboriginal people and as a port where millions of dollars of goods were shipped in and out of Canada. From 1812 to the 1850s, it also served as the main port-of entry for immigrants coming to central and western Canada. The York Factory was designated a national historic site in 1936 and closed its doors in 1957.
Whereas 50 buildings once stood on site, today only four structures and features are still visible: the depot building—the oldest building in Canada—, the library, the remains of a powder magazine and the cemetery. Every summer, the York Factory is opened for visits, and interpretive displays help visitors understand its place in Canadian history.
In 2008, the Government of Canada announced $1.6 million for the Saving York Factory Project, a five-year research and engineering initiative aimed at finding ways to protect the site. Results of the initiative continue to be monitored and a report, which will inform decisions about the way forward, is expected in 2013.
