E.A. Blakeney, a prospector, on his way to the gold fields of the Klondike, discovered gold in the Northwest Territory in 1898, but the ongoing Klondike Rush and the remoteness of the new find did not stir much enthusiasm. In 1934, another discovery of gold occurred in the same region. This time, with the use of aircraft, a rush to recover the mineral wealth resulted in the founding of Yellowknife.
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In 1795, the Hudson Bay Company built a trading post on the northern section of the Saskatchewan River. Fort Edmonton became a center in the thriving fur trade. In the 1890’s, the settlement became a starting point for thousands of prospectors starting out for the new gold fields of the Yukon Territory. The Canadian Pacific Railroad, reaching the area in 1891, contributed to Edmonton’s rapid growth.
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Located at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, the region of present day Winnipeg had been occupied by the Assiniboine and Cree people. The first European settlement was established by Sieur de La Vérendrye in 1738 and was named Fort Rouge. The North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company contributed to the area’s economy by setting up trading posts in the early 1800’s.
