After three centuries with deep Vancouver roots, the Hudson’s Bay Company goes out of business

The oldest company in North America — and one whose fingerprints linger in Vancouver — closed its doors earlier this week after more than three centuries in business.

The Hudson’s Bay Company, an iconic Canadian retailer, officially closed June 1 after declaring bankruptcy. It sold its name and all intellectual properties to another prominent retailer, Canadian Tire, which has no plans to resurrect Hudson’s Bay, according to media reports.

Tracy Fortmann was a brand new superintendent at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site when she made the trek to another former Hudson’s Bay fur trading post at Fort Langley National Historic Site in British Columbia in the early 2000s.

“We actually went to The Bay,” Fortmann said, referring to the retailer’s shortened name. “It was an enormous depa