10-08-2025
Fort Qu'Appelle museum fundraising to purchase property owned by Hudson's Bay Company
WATCH: Mick Favel has the story about a museum in Fort Qu'Appelle looking to acquire a piece of land owned by the Hudson's Bay Company.
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The Fort Qu'Appelle Heritage Museum has launched a fundraising campaign to purchase a property linked to the glory days of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC).
Located on land next to the museum stands a house built over 140 years ago. It was originally owned by Archibald 'Archie' McDonald, who was once the Chief Factor of the HBC.
The museum is looking to the public to help purchase the property.
'We believe that this house is of provincial and national importance. Anyone with a sense of history, we are asking them to contribute,' said Alan Hustak, the curator of the Fort Qu'Appelle Heritage Museum.
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Heritage property
The Fort Qu'Appelle Heritage Museum is fundraising to acquire a property linked to the Hudson's Bay Company. (Mick Favel / CTV News)
Heritage property
The Fort Qu'Appelle Heritage Museum is fundraising to acquire a property linked to the Hudson's Bay Company. (Mick Favel / CTV News)
Heritage property
The Fort Qu'Appelle Heritage Museum is fundraising to acquire a property linked to the Hudson's Bay Company. (Mick Favel / CTV News)
Heritage property
The Fort Qu'Appelle Heritage Museum is fundraising to acquire a property linked to the Hudson's Bay Company. (Mick Favel / CTV News)
Heritage property
The Fort Qu'Appelle Heritage Museum is fundraising to acquire a property linked to the Hudson's Bay Company. (Mick Favel / CTV News)
Heritage property
The Fort Qu'Appelle Heritage Museum is fundraising to acquire a property linked to the Hudson's Bay Company. (Mick Favel / CTV News)
Heritage property
The Fort Qu'Appelle Heritage Museum is fundraising to acquire a property linked to the Hudson's Bay Company. (Mick Favel / CTV News)
The house has changed ownership many times over the years, with various upgrades included.
Much of the original architecture has remained intact, including the brick used for the outside, as well as a wooden staircase to the second floor.
It's a landmark site the museum hopes to preserve for many years to come.
'This is a really important part of our Canadian history. We see it being a really good asset for our town, bringing tourism in, helping our businesses,' said Norma Jean Robb, the treasurer of The Fort Qu'Appelle Heritage Museum.
Inside of the home are a variety of antiques and items collected over the years, making it a great fit for the museum's collection.
'It's absolutely a stunning, one-of-a-kind home. It would be wonderful for it to be maintained by the museum,' said Elisa Demyen, a real estate agent from Authentic Realty Inc.
So far, the campaign has raised $50,000.
The museum hopes to meet their goal through private and cooperate donations.
Larger donors will be recognized by having portions of the home named in their honour.
In the future, the museum hopes to open up the property to the public for events.
