Fort Espérance

The trading post Fort Espérance was built in 1787 by Robert Grant of the North West Company on the south bank of the Qu'Appelle River in the extreme southeast of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was one of the first points of the trading company in the Assiniboine Basin.

The fort served the supply of pemmican for the more northern hunting grounds and was a central trade hub of the North West Company. It was abandoned in 1810, in 1816 at its present location newly built, finally closed in 1819 and replaced by a trading post on the Assiniboine River. This was located about 20 km away at Beaver Creek.

In 1959, the fort was declared a National Historic Site. The protected site covers an area of 24.3 ha The core area, the actual archaeological site, includes 1.4 ha in the protected area there are three sites of the former fort, this is a so-called Butchering site, a point at which the local Indians butchered bison, disassembled and preserved.

At the site of the first fort of 1787 years of agricultural use has destroyed the artifacts, so that there only a few remains were found. The flood-prone Fort in 1816 moved to a higher location. There are numerous remains of how collapse in cellars or stone pile of the collapsed chimneys are already visible on the surface. The Park Authority published a brochure that provides information on the historical significance of the site. In addition, users can subscribe to in a visitor book.

Parks Canada provides for regular grass cutting, so that the site is not overgrown. This and other protective measures to the scenic appearance of the late 18th and early 19th centuries are preserved. In order to provide visitors with a larger historical context, a path to two adjacent, younger forts was created. How often in Canada, as part of the personal reliving the historical experience that are supported by fire pits, picnic areas and information boards to support independent exploration. This includes warning signs of bears, as well as evidence of endangered species. For this project, a management plan was adopted in 2004. On this basis, archaeological investigations are carried out.