David Thompson (1770-1857) was a British-Canadian fur trader, explorer and surveyor who served both the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company. Considered to be the greatest land geographer who ever lived, Thompson mapped one-fifth of the North American Continent with such accuracy that his work was still being used by the Canadian government well into the 20th century. For 23 years he lived in Williamstown with his Métis wife, Charlotte Small, and their thirteen children, before dying in relative obscurity in Montreal.

Friday, June 22nd, 2007

Friday night the museum committee hosted a dinner in honour of Hugh P. MacMillan at St. Mary’s Parish Centre in Williamstown. Hugh Pearson MacMillan is a modern-day adventurer who was employed by the Ontario Provincial Archives for over 25 years as a “roving archivist.” He was a founding member of the Glengarry Historical Society, the Dunvegan Pioneer Museum and the Nor’Westers and Loyalist Museum. It was only appropriate that this man be celebrated during the David Thompson weekend, as they are both wonderful men and explorers who have done a lot for Canada and for the perseverance of Canadian fur-trade history. The picture on the left shows Joan P. MacDonald, chairperson of the Nor'Westers and Loyalist Museum (centre), and Hugh MacMillan (right).

The dinner attracted a number of dignitaries, including every member of the South Glengarry Council. Zina Bethune, the great-great-great-great granddaughter of a very famous past resident of Williamstown, the Rev. John Bethune, was also present for the meal. Zina (pictured at right) is famous in the dancing and acting worlds, and gave a beautiful speech about the importance of preserving our history and always remembering where we have come from.

The guest speaker of the night was Dr. Paul Tamblyn, who was chosen by Hugh himself.

Dr. Paul Tamblyn is the head of Mathematics, Science and Computer Science at Acton High School. Paul spoke about the privilege of having travelled with Hugh P. in fur-trade re-enactments, and told us of an excursion he had with some of his students in which they followed an old Nor’Wester fur-trade route, in authentic costume and acting as authentic historical figures. Tamblyn made the connection between MacMillan and Thompson, showing us how similar both men were in their dedication to history, their explorations and their sense of adventure; not letting anything hold them back.

Pictured at left: Paul Tamblyn, John Lounsberry, Mike Buss

Saturday, June 23rd, 2007

Saturday morning kicked off with a canoe flotilla, starting at the Raisin River Marina in Lancaster and ending at the Bethune-Thompson House in Williamstown. Re-enactors in the canoes included David Thompspm (Scott McDonald), and his wife, Charlotte Small (Marj Quenneville), as well as Gilbert Giroux playing a member of the King's Royal Regiment, dressed in red-coat and gear of the 1812 era. Local resident of Williamstown and canoe enthusiast, Bruno Major, gave the paddle-salute as the group disembarked. Grant MacDougall was also there to pipe the group off. Various others participated in the flotilla with their own canoes, all dressed as voyageurs. After arriving at the Bethune-Thompson house, the group hopped on a tractor-drawn ride to the museum grounds, driven by Mr. Alex MacDonald.

Around 11:00 a.m. a special Métis Commendation Ceremony took place on the museum grounds, and a spiritual canoe was presented by the Métis Nations of Ontario President, Shaun Redmond. The canoe was part of a spiritual ceremony in Europe to call home the spirits of fallen warriors. This ceremony helped bring to light the service and sacrifice by Canada's First Nations, Inuit and Métis warriors.The small birchbark canoe is now proudly displayed in the museum's permanent display. Shuan is pictured at right.

During the ceremony, Hugh P. MacMillan also presented a North West Trading Co. flag that he had made for the museum to chair person, Joan P. MacDonald (picture at left).

During the day there were readings of D'Arcy Jenish's book Epic Wanderer as well as children's map making at the local public library, lemonade and bannock at the Sir John Johnson House, live music at the Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame, tours on the hour at the Bethune-Thompson House, and re-enactments of David Thompson's life and times by Glengarry students from Williamstown Public School, Martintown Public School, and Char-Lan District High School. The Williamstown Public School's fur-trader campground is pictured below.

      

Also at the museum was wildlife biologist, Mike Buss, who captivated his listeners with information about fur-trade history; trapping the animals, what kind of animals were valued at the time, the day in the life of fur-traders etc. (Mike pictured below with some of his furs and traps).

Many visitors also wandered through the museum and took a look at our special David Thompson exhibit that ran until August 8th, 2007.

Sunday, June 24th, 2007

Visitors to Williamstown were welcomed to church services at both St. Andrew's United Church and St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. Several partners of the North West Company worshipped at St. Andrew's Church, including David Thompson, John MacGillivray, and Sir Alexander MacKenzie, who donated the church bell. North West partner Hugh McGillis donated the land for St. Mary's Church, cemetery and presbytery, and also offered to build the church at his expense.

Sunday night a spectacular performace by Nova Scotian tenor Tom MacDonald and the MacLeod Fiddlers took place at the St. Raphael's Ruins. It was enjoyed by all! Pictured below is Tom MacDonald and the MacLeod Fiddlers performing at the Ruins.

      

Helen Sloan, a local poet, author and song-writer, was inspired by the weekend to write a song about David Thompson which was performed at Hugh P. MacMillan's dinner Friday night. Here are the lyrics:

David Thompson You Are Ours

As a lad of fourteen years, from England you did set sail,

Apprenticed as a company clerk, at this you did not fail.

Your passion for surveying, and mapping did overlap

Manitoba and Saskatchewan, you put on the map.

Chorus:

David Thompson you are ours, we claim you as our own

David Thompson you are ours and your home is Williamstown

As a North West fur trade partner, you mapped out routes of trade

Surveying land and rivers, for the maps that you had made,

As a naturalist you respected, the wildlife you observed,

Treated aboriginal people, the way they deserved.

Chorus:

Charlotte Small became your wife, and was a good, caring spouse

She bore you thirteen children, kept a fine, busy house

As astronomer, cartographer, writer and a man

You fulfilled your obligations, throughout our vast land.

Chorus:

In the year of 1815, you moved to Williamstown

And on our rough and dusty streets, you traveled up and down

You taught your wife to read and write, your sons to run the farm

Sheep and cattle you did nurture, and seeded the fertile land.

Chorus:

Watch a video of the song being sung by Helen Sloan and Andrea Hunter here.

All in all the weekend was a wonderful success! Here's to you David Thompson!