The Hudson's Bay Boy: From Cabbagetown to Rupert's Land

Peter Harmathy teaches secondary-school fine arts in Barrie, Ontario.

John Seagrave, a native of Toronto, pursued a boyhood dream of working
for the Hudson’s Bay Company. Starting off at a young age, he worked
for 20 years tending merchandise and trading furs at his numerous
northern postings. He is currently a writer in Yellowknife, Northwest
Territories, and has published several short stories, including
“Caribou Stew for the Yellowknife Soul.” He co-wrote a successful
play, also titled The Hudson’s Bay Boy, which toured nationally.

This book assembles 37 short recollections garnered from the author’s
experiences with the Hudson’s Bay Company from 1979 to 2000. Each
story is a colourful reminiscence of an outsider’s perspective on the
North. We learn about the resourcefulness of Natives who recycle dog fur
for boots, about Kentucky Fried meals delivered in body bags, about
ankle-biting seals, kicking caribou, and curious bears. There are
hilarious recollections of mail orders gone awry, as well as tragic
tales of medical emergencies, plane crashes, and the unnecessary death
of a child or friend owing to a community’s remoteness. There is the
charm, calm, ruthlessness, and toughness of northern life—all
delivered without a shred of romance.

Seagrave is humble, honest, and self-deprecating. Even after 20 years
in the North, he portrays himself as a greenhorn. His lovingly written
book is strongly recommended for anyone curious about the people who
have made their life in Canada’s wildest and most remote regions.