Canada’s New Government Restores The Storehouse At Fort Langley National Historic Site Of Canada

February 24, 2007

FORT LANGLEY, British Columbia – Canada’s New Government will invest $187,000 to restore the Storehouse building at Fort Langley National Historic Site, announced Parliamentary Secretary Mark Warawa, Member of Parliament for Langley, on behalf of the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada.

The Storehouse is the only remaining building from the fur trade era at Fort Langley and is one of the oldest buildings in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.  The year 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of British Columbia, which occurred at Fort Langley on November 19th, 1858.

“Canada’s New Government is proud to contribute funding to the restoration of Fort Langley, the site where British Columbia was first proclaimed,” said Mr. Warawa. “This project is a perfect opportunity to reflect on the importance of this special place and to look forward to British Columbia’s 150th anniversary.”

Built by the Hudson’s Bay Company around 1840 as a provisions storage building for the fur trade, the Storehouse was also used as a sales shop. Later, with the closure of the Hudson’s Bay Company fort, the Storehouse became a barn, and then a museum. Restored in the 1930s, the Storehouse has become an important symbol of the fur trade era and, as part of Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada, is now a major tourist attraction in the Fraser Valley.

“The Storehouse is an important legacy from Canada’s past,” said Mr. Warawa. “Its preservation clearly demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to protecting Canada’s heritage and to creating memorable visitor experiences in the telling of our country’s incredible history.”