Who bid on the Hudson's Bay Company charter?

The charter was bid on by holding companies owned by David Thomson and Galen Weston, two of Canada's wealthiest families.

Where will the 1670 Hudson's Bay charter be kept?

The charter will be permanently donated to the Manitoba Museum, the Canadian Museum of History, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Archives of Manitoba.

What is the significance of the 1670 HBC charter?

The charter granted the Hudson's Bay Company a trading monopoly over a vast area and the right to exploit mineral resources, originating from European governance models.

Home / Business and Economy / Canada's Oldest Charter Saved from Private Sale

Canada's Oldest Charter Saved from Private Sale

3 Dec

•

Summary

Wealthy families successfully bid for the 355-year-old Hudson's Bay charter.
The charter, signed by King Charles II in 1670, will be donated to public museums.
A $5 million donation is earmarked for Indigenous consultations on the charter.

Canada's Oldest Charter Saved from Private Sale

The historic royal charter that established the Hudson's Bay Company approximately 355 years ago is set to remain in public hands following a successful bid by two prominent Canadian families. The charter, originally granted by King Charles II in 1670, conferred vast trading and resource exploitation rights.

Holding companies associated with David Thomson and Galen Weston submitted a joint $18 million bid, aiming to preserve the document for public access. Their bid ensures the charter will be permanently donated to institutions like the Manitoba Museum and the Canadian Museum of History.

This outcome prevents a private sale and includes a $5 million contribution for Indigenous consultations. Experts emphasize the charter's colonial implications and the importance of this repatriation for reconciliation and public education.