As of June 29th, the familiar green and yellow logo of Fort William Historical Park is no more. In addition to the release of the official plans for The Great Rendezvous Celebration happening this July, FWHP unveiled its new logo today – a beautiful, colourful symbol that speaks to the partnership between Indigenous Peoples, French-Canadians, and Europeans during the fur trade.
Designed by local company Pulp + Paper, this new logo depicts a birch bark canoe in the water. The birch bark canoe is an Indigenous invention that served as a vital piece of technology during the fur trade and played a fundamental role in the expansion of trade networks during an integral era of Canadian history. The new slogan of the park, Bringing Life to History, highlights the Park’s purpose: to educate people of all ages from around the globe about this unique place and time in Canadian history through first-person interpretation. The Park is proud to honour its 50th year in operation with this new design.
This year’s Great Rendezvous Celebration will take place July 8-16, 2023, daily from 10AM to 5PM. Days are organised thematically: the 8th-9th will celebrate the music, dance, and cuisine of Celtic culture, the 10th honours Northern Nature, the 11th features Farm and Food, and the 12th is all about Art and Music, while the 13-16th will see the Great Rendezvous Re-enactment. The week will see two free public presentations by David Phillips, Senior Climatologist for Environmental and Climate Change Canada, and Travis Novitsky, a proud citizen of Grand Portage Anishinaabe Nation. The Honourable Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell will be visiting on July 15th, when she will present the James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Awards. Filled with opportunities to learn from experts from Science North, Lakehead Regional Conservation Authority, Thunder Bay Museum Society, as well as many others, the week is an incredible opportunity to enrich your knowledge of history, science, and culture – and have fun while you’re at it!
The park has provided tourists and locals alike with a unique cultural and historical experience for the past 50 years, and is a beloved place by all. “We are grateful to the numerous partners, alumni, and volunteers who are helping to support this amazing event,” shares Patrick Morash, General Manager of the Park, “We look forward to seeing the community enjoy this great opportunity to learn more about fur trade history and the many different cultures represented at Fort William.” To honour the year, they are offering a special on Season Passes: $90 for a family pass, and $50 for an individual. Admission is free for Indigenous People, military personnel, and veterans.
We look forward to celebrating this important year at Fort William Historical Park with the community! For more information, see https://fwhp.ca/festivals-and-events
By Emily Turner
