Churchill – In 1768, two British scientists embarked on a journey to the Hudson’s Bay Company’s (HBC) Prince of Wales Fort, to observe a rare astronomical event the following year, the Transit of Venus. This collaboration between the HBC and the Royal Society, a British learned society for science, heralded four decades of Western scientific endeavours conducted out of what is now Canada’s north, resulting in advancements in the fields of astronomy, meteorology, cartography, and natural history.
Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada commemorated the national historic significance of Early Science in Canada’s North and the Hudson’s Bay Company with a special ceremony to unveil a plaque at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre in Churchill.
Beginning in 1768 and lasting until about 1810, the Hudson’s Bay Company sponsored scientific exploration in an array of fields, utilizing its northern posts such as Prince of Wales Fort to conduct the research. Whether they were observing the stars above, creating meteorological records or sending natural history specimens to England, these early researchers were significantly contributing to a growing body of work of scientific knowledge about the earth’s Arctic and subarctic regions.
Although much of the credit for scientific achievements went to Royal Society scientists, Indigenous Peoples were vital to many of these scientific endeavours. Indigenous traders at the posts were major contributors of knowledge of natural history and geography and brought to the posts specimens and information specifically intended for the collectors.
The Government of Canada, through Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant people, places, and events that shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. The designation process under Parks Canada’s National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,240 designations have been made nationwide.
National historic designations illustrate the defining moments in the story of Canada. Together, they tell the stories of who we are and connect us to our past, enriching our understanding of ourselves, each other, and our country. Heritage places provide a wide range of cultural, social, economic, and environmental benefits to their communities.
“The legacy of this important work in northern science continues to today in the development and orientation of natural scientific institutions, in ongoing northern research, and in international scientific cooperation in the northern circumpolar region. Historic designations reflect Canada’s rich and varied history and I encourage all Canadians to learn more about Early Science in Canada’s North and the Hudson’s Bay Company and its important contributions to Canada’s heritage.” – Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada