By Adam Berls

caledonia days

Caledonia Days takes you on a trip back in time

Aug 28, 2023 | 11:32 AM

FORT ST. JAMES — Caledonia Days happens once a year at the Fort St. James National Historic Site and a variety of activities are held including the world famous chicken races. Caledonia Days is like a fall fair, but held back in the late 19th century.

“Caledonia Days is an annual festival that has gone on for decades here at Fort St. James. Traditionally, it was put on by the district. It had a lot to do with the forestry industry and we’ve just tried to continue on with that tradition here. So it’s kind of like a full, fair. We’ve got games, we’ve got a bocce ball tournament, horseshoe tournament, a pie auction later on today, and just a lot of fun for the family to come on out and and see the site.” – Kyle Mustard, Site Manager, Fort St. James National Historic Site

Fort St. James was founded in the early 1800’s by explorer and fur trader Simon Fraser and later came under the management of the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1821 eventually became the administrative centre for the company’s New Caledonia fur district and operated until its closure in 1952.

“The Fort has actually been here since 1806. It was the first fur trading site that with west of the Rockies. So it’s it’s a very, very important site for all of Canadians, which is why it’s nationally significant and why the National Historic Site is the largest collection of wood buildings associated with the fur trade anywhere in Canada that are in situ right here on site.” – Kyle Mustard, Site Manager, Fort St. James National Historic Site

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The fort has been rebuilt four times and the buildings on site date back to the 1880’s and in the fur warehouse, original writings on the wall still exist, and this math equation on the wall was written by someone who worked in the warehouse, and instead of using paper they wrote on the walls. One of the many interpreters on site, who are extremely well versed in the history of Fort St. James, will tell you all about what happened, including how at one point James Douglas, first Governor of British Columbia actually resided at the fort for some time.

If you’re ever at the historic site, you’ll notice a group of people wearing red vests and they are Friends of the Historic Site, volunteers that have made many, many contributions to the site including getting the Home Stretch Diner up and running and running the gift shop.

If you are planning on visiting the historic site, there’s only one week left before the season is over. The park is open from May to September and it’s last day of the season is Monday, September 4. The site is open all year round for self-guided walks of the grounds.

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Twitter: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com