Canoes carrying Hudson’s Bay Company employees, their wives, and bales of fur will land on Fort Langley shores sometime around 1 p.m. on Monday.

This re-enactment is set to mark its quarter century mark at the Fort, which celebrates the arrival of the brigades from B.C. Interior posts between 1848-58.

Event coordinator Gerry Borden said in the mid-1800s, hundreds of people arrived at the Fort with their year’s return of animal pelts.

The Hudson’s Bay Company furs were subsequently re-packed into larger bales for shipment back to England.

The ships that were going to carry the furs overseas would have arrived with European-made goods, supplies for the Fort, and trade items for First Nations people.

The first Brigade Days, hosted by the Fort Langley National Historic Site, took place in 1987.

Since then, through rainfall but primarily under a sizzling sun, the brigades have made their way west along the Fraser River to their final destination: the southern shores of the Fraser River.

“This is one of the longest running events the site has put on,” Borden said. “It is the big event of the year.”

Borden has taken part in 23 of the past 24 celebrations.

“I missed the first one,” he said.

From Saturday until Monday (Aug. 4-6) visitors will have an opportunity to see an estimated 50 interpreters demonstrating life during the fur trade in the Lower Mainland.

On B.C. Day Monday (Aug. 6), the final day of the event, admission to the Fort is free.

The Fort Langley Canoe Club had been recruiting volunteer paddlers for this anniversary edition of the brigades’ arrival.

Like the voyageurs of old, FLCC volunteers will be up before sunrise on Monday, readying large 10-14 person canoes for the final 21.5 kilometres from Mission to Fort Langley.

At 7 a.m. other paddlers, regular folks who have secured tickets for the opportunity to be part of the reenactment, will gather in Fort Langley, and from there be bused to the waiting canoes in Mission.

“Last year’s Brigade swelled to eight boats and 82 paddlers,” said FLCC commodore Cheryl MacIntosh [help make B.C. history – again, July 10, Langley Advance]. “More people wanted to go than we had seats available, so this year we are planning on nine to 10 boats allowing 90 to 100-plus paddlers.”

The high waters of the Fraser River will make it difficult for the canoes to dock at the boat launch at Marina Park, however, Borden said there is plenty of room for people to come and welcome the paddlers.

“The landing of the canoes will still take place,” he said. “Generally, it will happen on either side of the boat launch.”

The fast-moving water of the Fraser actually benefits the paddlers, because it flows downstream.

“It just means they don’t have to paddle as hard,” Borden said.

Dignitaries from days of yore are taking part. Re-enactors will play the role of Mr. Yale, chief trader of Fort Langley, Governor James Douglas (the first governor of British Columbia), and VIP’s from Interior trading posts.

“Some of our volunteers come with specific historical persona,” Borden said.

Re-enactors are coming from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and throughout B.C. for this event.

“These are people who have a penchant for telling the story,” Borden said. “It’s not just dress-up. This is dress-up with a purpose.”

There will be plenty to do at the Fort before and after the brigades’ arrival.

The schedule:

Saturday, Aug. 4

9 a.m. – site opens

9:30 a.m. – guided introduction

10 a.m. – flag-raising procession

10:30 a.m. – weapons demonstration

11 a.m. – Samuel Robertson play

11:30 a.m. – ensemble folklorique traditions (one hour)

12:30 p.m. – trapping techniques

1 p.m. – fur trade game show

1:30 p.m. – weapons demonstration

2 p.m. – ensemble folklorique traditions (one hour)

3 p.m. – fur trade wedding

4 p.m. – weapons demonstration

4:30 p.m. – heritage garden

5 p.m. – site closes

Sunday Aug. 5

9 a.m. – site opens

9:30 a.m. – guided introduction

10 a.m. – flag-raising procession

10:30 a.m. – weapons demonstration

10:45 a.m. – historic church service

11 a.m. – Samuel Robertson play

noon – weapons demonstration

12:30 p.m. – fur trade game show

1:30 p.m. – weapons demonstration

2 p.m. – fur trade wedding

3 p.m. – trapping techniques

4 p.m. – weapons demonstration

4:30 p.m. – encampment heritage cook-off

5 p.m. – site closes

Monday Aug. 6

9 a.m. – site opens

9:30 a.m. – guided introduction

10 a.m. – flag-raising procession

11 a.m. – Samuel Robertson play

12:30 p.m. – bagpipe procession to Marina Park

1 p.m. – brigade arrival at Marina Park

1:30 p.m. – procession from river to Big House

3 p.m. – fur trade wedding

4 p.m. – weapons demo

4:30 p.m. – heritage garden

5 p.m. – historic buildings close

6 p.m. – picnic in the Fort concert & barbecue featuring the Langley Music School Fiddlers, with Andrea Taylor, John Reischman and the Jay Birds

This free concert is sponsored by the Fort Langley Community Improvement Society

- Admission to the Fort on Saturday and Sunday is $3.90/youth, $6.55/senior, $7.80/adult, $19.60/family, or free with annual pass.

- Call 604-513-4777 or visit www.pc.gc.ca/fortlangley.

The historic site is at 23433 Mavis Ave.

tlandreville@langleyadvance.com