CA29 – Simon Fraser

Stitchers: Pat Davis, Diana Caleb, Dorita Grant, Barbara Lake, Anne Clinckett, Roberta Fournier, Claudia Beaven, Susan Harrington, Barbara Gilbert, Johanna Lisakowski (Victoria, BC).

Born to Scottish parents in 1776, Fraser served the North West Company as clerk and fur trader from 1792–1818. He became a partner in 1801 and opened up trade beyond the Rocky Mountains. In 1805 he led an expedition up the Peace River and built Fort McLeod, the first permanent European settlement in what is now British Columbia. In 1808 he began his famous descent of the Fraser River, reaching the mouth of the river early in July. Discouraged to find the river was not the Columbia River, and of no use as a transportation route, he returned to Fort George. He named the territory he had travelled New Caledonia, later to become the Province of British Columbia.

CA29 Sìm Friseal
Air a bhreith do phàrantan Albannach ann an 1776, bha Friseal ag obair ann an Companaidh an Iar-Thuath mar chlàrc agus mar neach-malairt bèine bho 1792–1818. Thàinig e gu bhith na chom-pàirtiche ann an 1801 agus dh’fhosgail e suas malairt seachad air na Beanntan Rocky. Ann an 1805, stiùir e mòr-thuras suas Abhainn na Sìthe agus thog e Gearastan MhicLeòid, a’ chiad tuineachadh Eòrpach maireannach san àite ris an canar Columibia Breatannach san latha an-diugh. Ann an 1808, thòisich e air an teàrnadh ainmeil air Abhainn Fhriseil, a’ ruighinn beul na h-aibhne tràth san Iuchair. Air a dhi-mhisneachadh an dèidh faighinn a-mach nach b’ e an Abhainn Columibia a bh’ innte, agus gun fheum sam bith innte mar shlighe còmhdhail, thill e gu Gearastan Sheòrais. Thug e Cailleann Nuadh mar ainm air an dùthaich a bha e air a shiubhal, a thàinig às dèidh sin gu bhith air a h-ainmeachadh Mòr-roinn Coluimbia Bhreatannach