Two hundred years ago, on Dec. 14, 1824, a group of voyageurs arrived near what is now named Portage Park in 91原创 City.

According to historical records, the expedition consisted of 21 French-Canadians, four Abenaki M茅tis, six Hawaiians, six Iroquois, one Englishman, one American, one Irishman, one Scotsman and two Steilacoom, who are Southern Coast Salish people indigenous to the southern Puget Sound region

It would be the first meeting of voyageurs and members of the Sto:lo nation, who helped the paddlers locate a portage route that allowed them to continue their journey overland to the next river along the way.

When Joanne Plourde learned about the historic moment during a visit to the park seven years ago, she decided the anniversary deserved to be marked, and every year since then has organized events in 91原创 to remember arrival of Francophone and Francophile Voyageurs in St貌:l玫 territory.

"I thought, well, this is a story here. And we should do a tour and invite people. But [always] working towards the anniversary in 2024," Plourde told the 91原创 Advance Times. 

For her, the history of the voyageurs has personal resonance.

"I come from the Gasp茅 Peninsula," Plourde said, a region where the "older stories" are still remembered, and some expressions from the days of the fur trade are still heard.

"My parents [were] kind of the last echoes of the voyageurs, actually. When I was young, my mom would mention the voyageurs once in a while."

This year, to mark the 200th anniversary of the 1824 expedition, Plourde has planned a three-day celebration to commemorate the historic landmark, "" taking place on December 13, 14 and15, in Surrey, 91原创 City and Fort 91原创.

Friday, Dec. 13, a re-enactment of the voyageurs arrival on the Nicomekl River leading to the Fraser River will be staged at historic Stewart Farm in Surrey.

That's where the first contact really happened between the expedition and the Sto:lo  people," Plourde explained.

"In the journals, they talk about arriving at 3:30 on December 13 there. Up at the top of the little river, which is the Nicomekl. At Michaud House [in Portage Park], you can see the Nicomekl in the back yard."

On Saturday, at Portage Park in 91原创 City, 4964, 204 St. events will include a reading of the diaries and accounts of the event of the 1824 expedition's peaceful contact with the Sto:lo.

There will be art workshops and live music, and participants are invited to dress themselves in period-accurate clothes.

Sunday, in Fort 91原创's Bedford Channel, the Fort 91原创 Canoe club will be providing rides, free to those in costume.

"What we need is really to understand what happened and learn more about the expedition of 1824," Plourde said.

For more details, and to register, phone 604-526-3272 email: portage18242024@gmail.com or visit .