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The Explorers

The first man credited with exploring the general area of Drayton Valley, aside from the First 51BDFCDB-1560-95DA-4382CB50EE4224E9Nations people, was David Thompson while he was working for the Northwest Company. His mission was to cross the Rocky Mountains and trade furs in the Columbia region. Competition was fierce among the fur trading companies and time was always of the essence, so Thompson and four canoes set out to oppose another company.

On September 11th, 1810, after having sent his canoes ahead, he set out from White Earth House, a trading post close to the Alberta/Saskatchewan border, with William Henry and two First Nations guides. However, from then until the end of October of 1810, a shroud of mystery hangs over what took place. Thompson’s diary, usually very thorough, had very little information during this time.

Alexander Henry, a fellow explorer and nephew of William Henry, offered the most likely explanation in his diary. He was wintering at Rocky Mountain House and he wrote about warnings of hostile Peigans, a tribe in the area. Thompson’s canoes returned to Rocky Mountain House. On October 11th, Alexander Henry immobilized the Indians with liquor laced with laudanum so the canoes could continue. The next morning, William Henry arrived with the two First Nations people and announced that he had left Thompson on a tributary called the Brazeau.

Thompson had sent Henry and the two First Nations people ahead to Boggy Hall, an abandoned trading post. Henry discovered that Thompson’s canoe brigade had been attacked there and its members’ blood was still fresh on the rocks. After firing a signal shot, William Henry rejoined Thompson and told him what had happened. Thinking that Peigans would investigate the gunshot, He wrote, “they would be on us very early in the morning, and we must get an early start.” He also wrote that the next day, they all rode off together.

Alexander Henry’s account, however, differs considerably. He wrote that when Thompson heard122040F020 of the attack, he jumped on his horse and rode off, leaving his men and his canoes. On October 12th, Alexander Henry set out to find Thompson. He located him “on the top of a hill, 300 feet above the water, where tall pines stood so thickly that [he] could not see his tent until [they] came within ten yards of it”.

Thompson, it seems, had been occupying this spot for over three weeks and was suffering the effects of starvation, presumably because he did not dare fire a shot for fear of the Peigans’ wrath.

No mention of Alexander Henry is made in Thompson’s narrative of the incident. Many experts believe that Thompson destroyed this section because of the obvious disgrace involved. Many rumors did circulate during his lifetime, casting doubts about his bravery and heroism.

This was history’s initial brush with Drayton Valley. But more was to come.

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  • Our Town
    ▼
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    • Contact Us
      ▼
      • Hours of Operation
      • Emergency Contacts
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    • COVID 19
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    • Employment Opportunities
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    • History
    • Maps
    • Media Feed
    • Rural Renewal Stream
    • Taxation and Assessment
    • Town Council
      ▼
      • 2021 Municipal Election
      • Annual Reports
      • Chain of Office
      • Corporate Business Plan
      • Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes
      • Council Expenses
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      • Inter-municipal Cooperation
      • Public Hearings & Notices
      • Town of Drayton Valley Boards & Committees
    • Mayor’s Gala and Community Recognition Awards Night
  • Services
    ▼
    • Customer Service Portal
    • Permits
    • Child Care
      ▼
      • Child Care FAQ
    • Community and Recreation Services
      ▼
      • Accessible Housing
      • Adult Education and Employment Information
      • Family and Community Support Services
      • Recreation Fee Assistance Program
      • Drayton Valley Cemetery & Columbarium
      • Shelter Pods
    • Community Organizations and Groups
    • Community Grants
    • Customer Self Service Portal
      ▼
      • E-Billing
      • Online Payments
    • Emergency Services
      ▼
      • Fire Services
      • Associated Ambulance
      • Cardium Region Victims Services Society
      • Emergency Contacts
      • Pembina Crisis Connection Society
      • Winter Preparedness
    • RCMP
      ▼
      • RCMP Survey
      • RCMP Crime Map
      • Bike Index
    • Enforcement Services
      ▼
      • Community Standards
      • Animal Control
      • Traffic Safety
      • Noxious Weeds and Invasive Plants
      • Good Neighbours
    • Health Services
    • Post-Secondary Education
      ▼
      • Zero Fee Tuition
    • Schools
    • Sustainability
      ▼
      • Community Sustainability Plan
      • Preserve Our Ultimate Resource (P.O.U.R) Program
      • Waste & Storm Water Disconnect
      • Drayton Valley Energy & Emissions
      • Energy & Emissions Reduction Initiatives
      • Clean Energy Improvement Program
      • Foodcycler Pilot Project
    • Town Maintenance
      ▼
      • Snow Removal and Seasonal Parking Ban
      • Greenspace Maintenance
      • Spring & Summer Maintenance
      • Summer Greenspace Maintenance FAQ
      • Flowerpot & Flowerbed Sponsorships
      • Dust Suppression
      • Community Clean-Up Program
    • Water Treatment Plant
      ▼
      • Water and Sanitary
      • Water and Sanitary FAQ
    • Waste Management
      ▼
      • Waste Collection Services
      • Recycling
      • Recycling Depot
      • Aspen Waste Management Facility
      • Landfill Changes
      • Free Tipping Days
  • Business
    ▼
    • Small Business Week
    • Economic Development
    • Business Licenses
      ▼
      • Cannabis Legislation
    • Business and Industry
      ▼
      • Chamber of Commerce
      • Community Profile
    • Planning and Development
      ▼
      • Annexation Documents 2010
      • Area Structure Plans
      • Compliance Certificates
      • Intermunicipal Development Plan
      • Intermunicipal Dispute between the Town of Drayton Valley and Brazeau County
      • Land Use Bylaw
      • Municipal Development Plan
      • Permits and Information
      • Planning Authorities
      • Planning & Development Policies
      • Subdivision and Development Appeals
      • Subdividing and Rezoning
      • Planning and Development FAQ
    • Statistical Data
    • Tenders and RFPs
  • Things To Do
    ▼
    • This is Drayton Valley
    • Accommodations
      ▼
      • Hotels
      • Camping
    • Arts and Culture
      ▼
      • MacKenzie Conference Centre
      • CETC
      • Eleanor Pickup Arts Centre
      • Event and Conference Centre
      • Drayton Valley Museum
    • Electronic Sign
    • Events
    • Library
    • Places of Worship
    • Outdoor Recreation
      ▼
      • Golf Courses
      • Parks and Trails
      • Sports and Recreational Organizations
      • Pump Track
      • Splash Park
    • Parks and Recreation Map
    • Eagle Points Blue Rapids
    • Recreational Facilities
      ▼
      • Ricochet Oil Corp. Aquatic Centre
      • Omniplex
      • Total Works Health & Fitness Centre
    • Drayton Valley Industrial Airport
      ▼
      • Drone Rules & Regulations
  • Pull Together