Image: Lake Superior News 

By Robert McKenzie - Lake Superior News - June 3, 2022

Following severe flooding from the Kaministiquia River, restoration of Fort William Historical Park is well underway. The site is currently available for weddings and conferences, with living history guided tours and campground use to resume on Friday, June 3. Full public program activities will resume on Canada Day, with summer day camps proceeding as planned through July and August.

“Over the past two weeks since the flood, the Fort William Historical Park team, including our newly hired students, has gone above and beyond to clean and restore the park,” stated Patrick Morash, General Manager of Fort William Historical Park. “We look forward to welcoming visitors of all ages again soon.”

One of the largest living history sites in North America, the park features Fort William, the inland headquarters of the North West Company, the largest fur trading empire in the world in the early 19th century. Fort William Historical Park also serves as a gateway to learn about the traditional lifestyle, culture and heritage of the Anishinaabe, the region’s Indigenous people. This summer, there are many exciting and affordable activities for visitors of all ages, including the park’s Canada Day and Anishnawbe Keeshigun events, night sky and solar viewing at the David Thompson Astronomical Observatory, and summer day camps for youth ages 7 to 9.

For more information about Fort William Historical Park, including upcoming programming, rates, and directions to the park, please visit fwhp.ca.

Quick Facts:

• From May 12-14, 2022, Fort William Historical Park (FWHP) experienced flooding from the Kaministiquia River. The flood response plan was activated to minimize damage to the site – including relocating the farm animals to higher ground, limiting employee access, and closing the property to the public.
• Last fall, FWHP implemented its annual site winterization plan. This plan included preparation for potential water inundation, helping to minimize the risk of damage to artifacts and buildings.
• Flooding continues to affect many areas in Thunder Bay and across the region. FWHP continues to work closely with regulatory authorities, including the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority and Ontario Power Generation, to monitor water levels across the region’s watershed.