Timeline

1715 Waupisoo, known as Captain Swan, brought samples of salt and brimstone to York factory and described the Great River (Athabasca)

1719 Waupisoo brought samples of pitch (oil sand) to York factory.

1778 Peter Pond, crossed the Methye Portage. Pond descended the westerly flowing Clearwater River, and built a post on the Athabasca River near Lake Athabasca. This opened up the valuable MacKenzie Basin fur region. The portage was used for over 100 years. Peter Pond's post closed in 1788 in favor of Fort Chipewyan.

1780 Fur traders established posts on the Athabasca, Slave and Peace Rivers. Independent traders, called Pedlars or Canadians, were the first to move into the region, followed by the Hudson's Bay Company.

1787 The North West Company was formed by the amalgamation of the Pedlar partnerships. Alexander McLeod, a North West Company Trader, established McLeod's House on the north side of the Clearwater River near the forks. The post closed in 1790.

ca 1790 Chipewyan Indians moved south. Now both Cree and Chipewyan were trading in the area around the confluence of the Clearwater and Athabasca Rivers.

ca 1790 Explorer Alexander MacKenzie provided the first recorded description of the Athabasca tar sands.

ca 1800 Fur trading posts were built down the MacKenzie River. There was competition, often violent, between the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company throughout the Athabasca-Mackenzie District.

1802 The North West Company established Pierre au Calumet on the east bank of the Athabasca River, 89 kilometers (55 miles) from Fort McMurray.

1815 The Hudson's Bay Company build Beren's House on the west side of the Athabasca River, in opposition to Pierre au Calumet. It closed in 1820.

1821 The Hudson's Bay Company and North West Company joined, ending the fierce rivalry in the Athabasca Mackenzie District.

1847 Father Alexander Tache, o.m.i., was the first Roman Catholic priest to travel through this area. "Fort McMurray" was not officially served by a visiting priest until 1853.

1858 Archdeacon James Hunter was the first Anglican missionary to travel into Athabasca country. In 1865 priest William Bompas arrived. He became Bishop of the Diocese of Athabasca in 1874 and lived in he north until his death in 1906. Services were offered in Fort McMurray in 1880.