TORONTO — Two of Canada's wealthiest families, the Thomsons and the Westons, have teamed up to propose an $18 million bid for the royal charter that established the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in 1670. Their intention is to donate the document to a consortium of museums to ensure its preservation. The charter, which initially created the fur-trading entity that later evolved into a department store, holds significant historical value.
Court documents filed on a late Friday reveal that the holding companies of the Thomson family, led by media mogul David Thomson and his firm DKRT Family Corp., have collaborated with the Westons, known for their association with Loblaw Companies Limited, to increase their earlier offer. The Thomsons had initially offered $15 million while the Westons proposed $12.5 million through Wittington Investments Limited. Their combined bid represents a unified effort to secure the charter, with aspirations for it to be shared among prominent institutions including the Archives of Manitoba, the Manitoba Museum, the Canadian Museum of History, and the Royal Ontario Museum.
Speculation surrounding a mystery bid received by HBC in late September is now clarified, as the joint offer built upon an earlier proposal that stood at $16 million. This initial offer prompted HBC to postpone seeking court approval for the auction and sparked discussions with the two families, ultimately leading to the enhanced bid. The company is scheduled to request auction approval on November 21, with interested bidders required to indicate their intent by November 28; the auction itself is set for December 3.
If successful, the Thomson and Weston families plan to donate the charter immediately to the consortium of four institutions. Notably, the Archives of Manitoba and the Manitoba Museum already house extensive collections of HBC-related artifacts. Historical records at the Archives include maps from as early as 1709, along with a wealth of diaries, letters, and recordings that take up over 1,500 linear meters of shelf space. The Manitoba Museum boasts 27,000 items, comprising furnishings from HBC's former London headquarters and unique artifacts such as a birchbark canoe from the early 20th century.
The families' new bid incorporates elements from their initial offers, including an additional $5 million allocated for the conservation, education, and public tours associated with the charter. The documents also indicate that the Desmarais Family and Power Corporation of Canada, along with The Hennick Family Foundation, have committed support for this important initiative.
The Westons had originally aimed to donate the charter to the Canadian Museum of History, a Crown corporation located in Gatineau, Quebec, which chronicles Canada's history. Their first unsolicited offer of $12.5 million garnered much attention from HBC, prompting the retailer to reconsider its auction plans. However, after the Thomsons expressed interest in acquiring the charter to donate it to the Archives of Manitoba, HBC reverted to its original auction strategy before temporarily halting it again in light of the joint bid.
Galen Weston expressed a sincere commitment to ensuring the artifact is “preserved with care, shared with integrity, and made accessible to all Canadians.” David Thomson similarly highlighted the collaborative effort between private and public entities to safeguard the charter for future generations. Upon successful acquisition, the families intend for the four shared organizations to engage in consultations with Indigenous groups, museums, universities, and other stakeholders to develop a framework for sharing the charter more widely.
The charter's donation signifies not just a return to historical context but also an opportunity for enhancing reconciliation efforts, according to statements from various involved parties. Organizations such as the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation have voiced their support, viewing it as a means to foster partnerships that move beyond historical exclusions. Dorota Blumczynska, CEO of the Manitoba Museum, remarked that transferring the HBC charter into public hands would be a monumental step toward truth and reconciliation, acknowledging the document's historical implications concerning Indigenous land and relationships.
In summary, the proposed joint bid by the Thomson and Weston families aims to secure a crucial historical document, ensuring its preservation while promoting educational and cultural accessibility for all Canadians.
