The Forks in Winnipeg, Manitoba — Canada’s Prairie Region (North America)

Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye

1685-1749

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 15, 2022

1. Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[English] Between 1731 and 1743 La Vérendrye, a native of Trois-Rivières, supervised the construction of a series of fur trade posts west of Lake Superior. To secure the trade of the resident Cree, Ojibwa and Assiniboine, he and his sons built, among others, Fort Rouge here at The Forks and Fort La Reine (now Portage la Prairie) on the Assiniboine. These “postes du nord” were intended to help finance the search for the western sea as well as to cut off the inland fur trade of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Discouraged by the lack of official support for his exploration work, La Vérendrye retired to Montréal in 1744.

[Français] Originaire de Trois-Rivières, La Vérendrye, fit construire, entre 1731 et 1743, une série de postes de traite à l'ouest du lac Supérieur. Afin de s’assurer du commerce avec les Cris, les Ojibwas et les Assiniboines de la région, lui et ses fils établirent, entre autres, le fort Rouge, ici à La Fourche, et le fort La Reine (maintenant Portage la Prairie). Ces postes du nord devaient aider à financer l’expédition vers la mer de l'Ouest et a maintenir la concurrence avec la Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson.

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Manquant d’appui à la Cour pour ses explorations, La Vérendrye, découragé, se retire à Montréal en 1744.

Erected 2002 by Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada/Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration • Forts and Castles • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1731.

Location. 49° 53.197′ N, 97° 7.699′ W. Marker is in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is in The Forks. It can be reached from Forks Market Road 0.3 kilometers east of Fort Gibraltar Trail. Marker is located along the river walk, near the Oodena Celebration Circle at the Forks National Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Winnipeg MB R3C 0A2, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Manitoba’s Historic Winnipeg.

It is also in the Prairies.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 15, 2022

2. Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye Marker

(looking south from the Forks River Walk • confluence of Assiniboine River and Red River in background)

itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Canadian Northern Railway Freight Lift Bridge, East Yard (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Creation of Manitoba (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Forks of the Red and Assiniboine (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); The Path of Time (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Le Couvent des Soeurs Grises / Grey Nuns' Convent (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Sister Marguerite d’Youville / Sœur Marguerite d’Youville (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Les Soeurs Nolin / Nolin Sisters (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); The Five Saint Boniface Cathedrals (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winnipeg.

Also see . . .
1. Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye.

French Canadian soldier, fur trader, and explorer whose exploits, little honoured during his lifetime, now ranks as one of the greatest explorers of the Canadian West. Moreover, the string of trading posts he and his sons built in the course of their search
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for an overland route to the “western sea” broke the monopoly of the London-based Hudson’s Bay Company and strengthened, for a while, French claims in North America.

(Submitted on April 16, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye.

The expeditions organized by La Vérendrye and spearheaded by his sons were the first to open the country from Lake Superior to the lower Saskatchewan River and the Missouri River to the French fur trade. La Vérendrye is often portrayed as emblematic of the French-Canadianvoyageur and of French Manitoba in particular.

(Submitted on April 16, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye.

At an age when others were enjoying their retirement, he was exploring the Canadian West and having eight forts or trading posts built between Lake Superior and present-day Manitoba. On September 28, 1738, he reached the mouth of the Assiniboine River and the site of present-day Winnipeg. On December 3 he entered what is now North Dakota. This was to be the farthest point of his travels. After wintering at Fort La Reine, La Vérendrye returned to Montreal. Meanwhile his sons were exploring part of the Saskatchewan River and lakes Manitoba, Winnipegosis, Bourbon and Dauphin. Two of his sons were the first Frenchmen to see and describe the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.

(Submitted on April 16, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 255 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 16, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.