In March 2025, The Hudson’s Bay Company filed for creditor protection, marking the demise of this country’s oldest retailer and the end of the department store era in Canada.

As schoolchildren, we learned about the early history and legacy of The Hudson’s Bay Company. Founded in 1670, the company was granted a royal charter by the King of England to conduct sole trade and commerce in the area known as Hudson’s Bay, giving them a monopoly on the lucrative fur trade throughout much of English Canada.

For centuries, The Bay has been a part of our cultural fabric. Now, you too can own a piece of this storied company’s past.

Heffel Auction House is holding an online auction of Hudson’s Bay memorabilia and assets with bidding open until January 27, 2026. You can see all the items up for auction here.

I assumed most of the items would be rare and expensive works of art in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, but was pleasantly surprised to find most of the items were affordable.

Interested in an HBC decorative canoe paddle with the SS Beaver emblazoned on it? It can be yours for $700 (all bids stated are at the time of writing). Or how about a model of the tallship Nonesuch for $1,500? These are just some of the treasures you can find in the HBC Ephermera section. Or maybe you would prefer a decorative pocket watch for $400, commemorative sword for $1,600, a beaver pelt cheque for $500, or the map pictured above for $1,600.

The lots include coins, soapstone carvings and an entire collection of iconic Hudson Bay blankets, ranging from $50 to $3,750.

There are also two art sections, one of Inuit art and one of fine art, featuring works by well-known Canadian artists like Kenojuak Ashevak, Robert Bateman, and Alex Colville. I’m tempted to bid on this piece below called “He Guards the Peace” by David M. General, current bid of $50.

One thing you won’t find on the online auction is the original Royal Charter. It was auctioned off in late 2025, bought by the Thomson and Weston families for a cool $18 million. The families plan to donate it to a Canadian museum so all Canadians can see it.

This week’s #HappyAct is to take buying Canadian to heart and own a piece of Canadian history. Happy bidding!

Ed. note: if you are a fan of Indigenous art, be sure to make a trip to the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg before March 29, 2026 to catch the exhibit, Early Days: Indigenous Art at the McMichael.