The vast expanse of Western Canada holds a rich and interconnected history, woven from the endeavors of Indigenous peoples, the ambitions of fur trading companies, and the pioneering spirit of early settlers. Understanding the development of communities like those in the Red River Settlement and the later emergence of settlements in the Columbia Valley, such as Invermere, requires tracing the pathways of exploration, trade, and eventual migration. While a direct, mass movement of settlers from Lower Fort Garry to Invermere isn't the primary narrative, the historical connections are profound, linked by the overarching influence of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), the remarkable explorations of individuals like David Thompson, and the gradual westward flow of people drawn by opportunity and the changing landscape of the Canadian West.

The Fur Trade Tapestry: Connecting Distant Landscapes

The story begins with the insatiable European demand for furs, particularly beaver pelts, which fueled the establishment of vast trading networks across North America. The Hudson's Bay Company, chartered in 1670, held a significant monopoly over Rupert's Land, the watershed draining into Hudson Bay. Their initial strategy involved establishing posts along the bay's shores, relying on Indigenous peoples to bring furs to them. However, the rise of the North West Company (NWC), a more aggressive Montreal-based enterprise, forced the HBC to venture inland, leading to the development of crucial hubs like the Red River Settlement.  

The Strategic Importance of the Red River and Fort Garry:

The confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers was a strategic location of immense importance, long before European arrival. It was a natural meeting point for Indigenous nations, facilitating trade, social interaction, and seasonal movements. Recognizing this strategic value, the NWC established Fort Gibraltar at this junction in 1810. The subsequent rivalry with the HBC culminated in the 1821 merger, with the combined entity operating under the Hudson's Bay Company name.  

To consolidate their presence, the HBC rebuilt and expanded Fort Gibraltar in 1822, renaming it Upper Fort Garry in honour of Nicholas Garry, the HBC's Deputy Governor. Upper Fort Garry became the administrative and commercial heart of the Red River Colony, overseeing the vast Red River District. It managed the flow of furs, distributed goods, and served as a focal point for the growing settler population and the burgeoning Métis community.  

Lower Fort Garry: A Downstream Anchor:

Recognizing the limitations of Upper Fort Garry, particularly its vulnerability to flooding and its less advantageous position for accessing northern trade routes via Lake Winnipeg, the HBC established Lower Fort Garry, or the "Stone Fort," approximately 32 kilometers north of the Forks. Construction began in the early 1830s under Governor George Simpson. Lower Fort Garry's more robust stone construction, its location in a more fertile agricultural area, and its better access to northern waterways made it a crucial agricultural depot and transshipment point for the HBC's extensive network.  

While Upper Fort Garry served as the administrative and social nucleus, Lower Fort Garry played a vital economic role, supplying provisions and facilitating the movement of goods to and from the distant fur-bearing territories. It also later served significant roles as a treaty negotiation site and other functions beyond the immediate fur trade.  

David Thompson: Bridging Continents Through Exploration:

Against this backdrop of expanding fur trade empires emerges the figure of David Thompson. Born in London, England, Thompson came to North America as a young man to work for the Hudson's Bay Company. His innate talent for surveying and cartography soon became apparent, and he was instrumental in mapping vast stretches of the interior. However, frustrated by the HBC's more conservative approach to inland expansion, Thompson later joined the rival North West Company, where his exploratory ambitions could be more fully realized.  

Thompson's work for the NWC was nothing short of extraordinary. He meticulously charted rivers, lakes, and mountain ranges, creating remarkably accurate maps that were crucial for the fur trade and later settlement. His explorations took him across the Rocky Mountains, and in 1807, he established Kootenae House near the present-day site of Invermere in the upper Columbia Valley. This marked the NWC's foray into the rich fur territories west of the Rockies and established a crucial trading post in the region.  

Wilmer, BC: A Later Emergence:

While Thompson's Kootenae House was a significant early presence near Invermere, the community of Wilmer, BC, developed later. It grew as a result of mining activity in the region during the late 19th century and was named after the mining recorder at the time, Wilmer R. Spalding. While Thompson's early exploration laid the groundwork for understanding the region, Wilmer's development was tied to a different economic driver than the initial fur trade focus of Kootenae House.

The Indirect Link: Fur Trade Networks and the Movement of People:

The connection between the Red River Settlement, Lower Fort Garry, and the eventual settlement of the Invermere area is not a direct "settler migration" story from one specific fort to the other. Instead, the links are found within the broader context of the fur trade and the subsequent movement of people across Western Canada known as the “Red River settlers” in the Columbia valley of BC.

• HBC's Influence: The Hudson's Bay Company's vast network connected distant posts. Individuals who worked for the HBC, whether at Lower Fort Garry in the east or in the Columbia District in the west, were part of the same organizational structure. Transfers of personnel were common, meaning that some individuals who spent time at Lower Fort Garry could have later been stationed in the territories that included Invermere, although these were primarily HBC employees rather than agricultural settlers in the initial phases.  

• Métis Mobility: The Métis people, who played a vital role in the fur trade as voyageurs, hunters, and interpreters, were highly mobile. Originating largely from the relationships between European fur traders and Indigenous women, many Métis communities developed in the Red River region. As the fur trade expanded westward, so too did the Métis population, with some undoubtedly traversing and residing in the territories that would become British Columbia, including the Columbia Valley. While not solely tied to Lower Fort Garry, the Métis from the Red River region were part of the broader human movement facilitated by the fur trade.  

• Later Settlement Waves: As the 19th century progressed and the fur trade declined in dominance, Western Canada experienced increasing waves of agricultural and resource-based settlement. Individuals and families from the Red River region, including those with ties to the early settlement around the HBC forts, were part of this broader westward migration. The opening of land for homesteading and the development of industries like mining and logging drew people from various parts of Canada and beyond to regions like the Columbia Valley. While these later settlers might have had roots in the Red River area, their movement to Invermere was generally part of a larger pattern of westward expansion rather than a direct, organized migration from Lower Fort Garry itself.  

Tracing Potential Individual Connections:

To find more specific links between the Red River Settlement, Lower Fort Garry, and early settlers in the Invermere area, one would need to delve into genealogical records and local histories. It's plausible that individual families or former HBC employees who had connections to Lower Fort Garry later moved to the Columbia Valley. These personal narratives, if uncovered, would provide more concrete links between these regions. However, the general historical narrative points to a broader connection through the fur trade era and subsequent westward migration patterns.

The Enduring Legacy:

The stories of David Thompson, the Hudson's Bay Company, the Red River Settlement, and the early development of communities like Kootenae House near Invermere are all integral parts of the larger narrative of Western Canadian history. Thompson's remarkable explorations opened up vast territories, the HBC's network facilitated trade and movement, and the Red River Settlement served as a crucial early hub. While a direct mass migration from Lower Fort Garry to Invermere is not the central theme, the interconnectedness of these places through the fur trade era and the subsequent flow of people shaped the diverse and rich history of Western Canada. The legacy of these early endeavors continues to resonate in the cultural landscapes and identities of communities across the prairies and into the mountains of British Columbia.

David Thompson, a key figure in the fur trade and exploration, with ties to both the NWC and the HBC (the latter deeply connected to Lower Fort Garry and the Red River Settlement), played a pivotal role in mapping and establishing early trade in the Invermere area through Kootenae House. While there isn't a documented direct settlement of Invermere specifically by settlers from Lower Fort Garry, the overarching influence of the fur trade, the mobility of HBC employees and Métis individuals originating from the Red River region, and the later waves of westward migration created an indirect but significant connection between these distant parts of Western Canada. The history of these regions is intertwined through the ambitions of the fur trade, the dedication of explorers like Thompson, and the enduring spirit of those who ventured west in search of opportunity and a new life. The story is one of inter-connectedness within a vast and evolving landscape.