THUNDER BAY – To recognize their contribution to the history of the fur trade, City Hall hoisted the Canadian Corps of Voyageurs flag on Friday morning in honour of the organization’s 50th anniversary.
“Fifty years. How many volunteer groups make it to 50 years? And we have one member here who actually was one of the founding members. It started off with six members. We have about 41 members now, and, yeah, it’s just a beautiful event. I mean, it’s an extended family that I’m with,” Chris Mills, president of Canadian Corps of Voyageurs, told Newswatch.
The historical re-enactment group of the Canadian Corps of Voyageurs was organized in 1976 by John Robertson, who worked at Fort William Historical Park. It is a family-oriented group focusing on military, voyageur militia and family life during the War of 1812.
Historically, the corps were composed of skilled fur trade voyageurs tasked with maintaining and securing vital waterborne supply lines between Montreal and western military outposts during the war.
“They had a few battles that they were in in Southern Ontario that they’re involved in, and then they were made into the commissary, and they started moving gear for the military. I’m dressed as a (Regiment) De Meuron. They came with Lord Selkirk in 1816, and they took over the fort while they were on their way out to Red River Colony. But the voyageurs were employed by the North West Company with William MacGillivray,” Mills said.
Westfort Coun. Kristen Oliver, acting as deputy mayor on Friday, congratulated the volunteer group on their years of success and acknowledged their significance to the community.
“We’re living in history every day. Some it seems, are historic moments that are going to resonate long after we’re gone,” she said.
“Knowing that we can still take a moment to think about our history, the contributions that the voyageurs and the fur traders and even the Europeans and our First Nations, how they were able to work together, I think it’s fantastic and to see this group of volunteers continue the re-enactment and to share in the history,” Oliver said.
