The Pembina Valley Rendezvous kicked off last Saturday, June 21st. Hosted at the Darlingford curling arena, festival goers were treated to events and programming that reflected life during Canada’s fur trade from the 17th century to early 19th century.
Harvey Thiessen is not only involved with the board of the Rendezvous but also sells woodworking products he makes. Why he gets involved? “I believe in the cause” Thiessen shared. “I believe in the hunting, fishing, trapping aspect of things, and to teach our young people...all about what we do and how we do it.”
For those interested in experiencing what life could have been like for someone involved in the fur trade, the Rendezvous invites attendees to camp onsite, with some folks opting for historically accurate camping setups. One of these campsites is where James Robertson slept over the weekend, something he does often.
What Robertson enjoys most about camping in a historically accurate manner is the reenacting of the fur trade era, including the rough bits. “Most of us today take for granted our luxuries like electricity and flush toilets” shared Robertson. “It opens one’s eyes.”
As for why he attends events like these, it’s all about outreach. “We get to get out and meet people.” Robertson said. “Show them the history...the gear and the equipment they used back then. We find it interesting.”
Historical reenactment has been enriching to Robertson, and he shared some advice: “To all the young people out there in school, don’t get too bored in history class, because it’s who we are. That’s our past and that defines our future too.”
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