North America's oldest company is taking young readers on an intrepid journey through nearly 350 years of history. An Epic Tale, the new book about HBC written in collaboration with Canada's National History Society, will be delivered to schools across Canada beginning September 2018. The book is a bilingual resource for teachers and students alike, available to all French and English language schools in Canada, free of charge. The book will also be accessible on hbcheritage.ca.
"The story of Hudson's Bay Company is a story of adventure and innovation," said Mark Reid, Editor-in-Chief and author of An Epic Tale. "Thanks to its social, cultural and historical legacies, Hudson's Bay Company holds a unique and important place in the history of North America. The book was created in collaboration with HBC Heritage Services, with contributions on fur trade history from Dr. Karine Duhamel."
"We hold a tremendous responsibility and incredible honour to preserve and share the history of HBC, which is so intrinsically linked to the story of Canada," said Alison Coville, President, Hudson's Bay. "An Epic Tale offers a rich narrative that spans centuries, and we are very proud to share this story in an authentic way."
The 58-page book chronicles the legacy of HBC through three distinct eras:
- Charting a Course begins in the fur trade, telling stories of some of the many notable figures that played an important role in HBC, such as Radisson and des Groseilliers, Maud Watt, Samuel Hearne, Thanadelthur, and David Thompson.
- The Rise of Retail details the transition into department store retailing, with many nostalgic banner histories woven throughout, including Morgan's, Simpsons and Zellers.
- A Lasting Legacy dives into HBC's cultural and social impacts, including the efforts made to preserve the Company's storied history, which people everywhere can access today at the Hudson's Bay Company Archives at the Archives of Manitoba and the Hudson's Bay Company Collection at the Manitoba Museum.
An Epic Tale was created through an HBC History Foundation grant. More information about HBC's history can be found at hbcheritage.ca.
