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Week 37 • 2019/20www.classroomready.com LeVeL 2

WORD POWER

Weekly NewsHBC Turns 350

On May 2, 1670, the Hudson’s Bay Company was formed. This year, it turned 350

years old. It is Canada’s oldest company—in fact, it was formed almost 200 years before Canada became a country.

You are probably familiar with the Hudson’s Bay (also known as HBC, or simply “the Bay”). Most cities and larger towns have a Hudson’s Bay store in the downtown or larger malls. However, HBC didn’t start out as a department store.

Back in the 17th century, Europeans wanted the furs that could be made from beaver pelts and other animals found in North America. French traders Médard Chouart des Groseilliers and Pierre-Esprit Radisson wanted to create a company to reach deep into North America. The company would find furs in North America and sell them to Europe.

Des Groseilliers and Radisson found a sympathetic ear in Prince Rupert, the cousin of England’s

King Charles II. Prince Rupert convinced his cousin to create the Hudson’s Bay Company. HBC began creating trading posts across North America where hunters could come and trade fur pelts for goods like food, blankets, and hunting gear.

The company’s trading posts started out near the waters of Hudson Bay. Gradually, more were built inland—closer to where the hunters and furs were. In fact, the HBC helped advance European exploration and settlement in Western Canada. The locations of many Western Canadian cities are the direct result of settlements forming around HBC trading posts.

In the 19th century, the company was forced to evolve. Furs became less popular. Trading posts became more like retail stores—where people could buy goods with money rather than fur pelts. Then, in 1881, HBC opened its first department store in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It expanded across Western Canada, creating large flagship stores in every major

city. In 1960, HBC expanded into Quebec and Ontario, giving HBC a true cross-Canada presence.

Today, HBC calls itself Canada’s iconic department store. However, it is struggling. More and more people are shopping on the Internet rather than in department stores. It is hoped that after having survived 350 years of change, HBC can once again adapt, and remain one of the oldest companies still in existence.

Hudson’s Bay is named after Hudson Bay, the large body of water surrounded on three sides by Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Nunavut. The bay is named after Henry Hudson, an English explorer who sailed through the region in 1609.

DID YOU KNOW?

PelT: The skin of an animal. FlagsHiP: The best or most important thing owned by an organization.

iCOniC: Something that is seen to be symbolic or representative of something else, usually of importance or great interest.

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HBC Turns 3501. What did Europeans want in the 17th century? How did two French traders respond?

2. How did Des Groseilliers and Radisson realize their vision?

3. How did the trading posts impact Western Canada?

4. How did the company evolve in the 19th century?

5. What is HBC facing now?

CRITICAl THINKING1. What are your thoughts on the connection between the HBC and the settlement of Western Canada?

2. What are your thoughts on a Canadian company turning 350 years old? Explain your answer.

Weekly news Q & a

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The Fur Trade and indigenous PeopleThe fur trade had a dramatic impact on the Indigenous peoples of Canada. During the first stages of the fur trade, the fur traders were partners with the Indigenous people. The Indigenous people were the trappers who caught the beavers for their pelts. They travelled to the trading posts to trade the furs for goods such as blankets, axes, cloth, guns, sewing needles, knives, and glass beads. These items made life easier for the Indigenous people, but it also changed their way of life.

The Indigenous people were impacted in different ways. First, instead of hunting and trapping to supply their own needs, the Indigenous people were trapping to trade for goods. As well, their communities came to rely on the goods the Europeans traded. Many moved outside of their traditional territory to find animals to trap, which led to conflict between Indigenous peoples. The arrival of the Europeans also brought new diseases against which the Indigenous people had no immunity.

What are your thoughts on the impact of the fur trade on the Indigenous people of Canada?

LEVEL 2 CLASSROOM READY WEEKLY NEWS • WEEK 37 • 2019/20

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Word PowerUsing the words listed below, fill in the blanks in the following sentences. All of the words have been used in the article.

1. Mike his parents to let him go on the camping trip.

2. Scientists are creating rovers for the of Mars.

3. For some people, it can be very difficult to when their situation changes.

4. The African country of Chad is located .

5. Some species of animals are in danger of disappearing from .

adapt, advance, convinced, evolve, existence, expanded, exploration, inland, presence, settlement, surrounded, sympathetic

Quiz1. The Hudson’s Bay Company was formed almost 200 years after Canada became a country.

True False

2. Back in the 17th century, Europeans wanted the furs that could be made from beaver pelts and other animals found

in North America.

True False

3. Des Groseilliers and Radisson found a sympathetic ear in , the cousin of

England’s King Charles II.

4. The company’s started out near the waters of Hudson Bay.

5. In the 19th century, the company was forced to .