Participants in the Voyageurs and Cie, Capots & Canots (roughly translated as Voyageurs and company, coats and boats) event at Michaud House in 91原创 City on Saturday, May 13, were able to make in-personal contact with history.

Organized by Joanne Plourde, it was the largest version yet of the annual 91原创 City event devoted to the days of the fur trade and the voyageurs who made it possible, with more presenters, music, food and an opportunity for participants to try on period clothing and paddle a simulated canoe.

We had a great time,鈥� Plourde told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淭he presentations were all really interesting.鈥�

91原创 Heritage Society director Mark Forsythe talked about the history of Michaud House, the oldest home in 91原创 City, and the residence the first French Canadian family in 91原创.

鈥淛oseph Michaud came with his wife Georgiana from Quebec in 1877 and they stayed in an old stopping house on Smugglers Trail, which is now Glover Road,鈥� Forsythe explained.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the trail that the miners coming from the states used to sneak in on to avoid the taxes levied by the British.鈥�

Plourde has discovered the Michaud family came to B.C. from Kamouraska, Quebec, the same place where her family and the family of historian Nancy Marguerite Anderson, one of the presenters, also come from.

As it turned out, Anderson is related to the brother who became a voyageur, while Plourde鈥檚 ancestor stayed in Kamouraska.

鈥淲e鈥檙e cousins,鈥� Plourde said.  

READ ALSO: An interest in history became surprisingly personal for organizer of historic picnic in 91原创 City

Anderson, a historian, was among the presenters, along with host Sandra Reams, the custodian of Michaud House and an expert on its history, musician Re虂jean Bussie虁res, Seattle historian Robert Foxcurran, researcher Brodie Douglas, whose interests include the fur trade and Metis culture; and Patrick Calihou, a B.C. Me虂tis artist and wood worker who makes carved paddles and custom cedar row boats and canoes.

Plourde is now preparing for next year, when the event will celebrate the bicentennial of the voyageurs trade, which takes place at the end of 2024.

鈥淭his year it鈥檚 heritage, but next year it will be historic,鈥� Plourde promised.

More photos from the day can be viewed online at the .

More information about Voyageurs and Co. is available on their .

READ ALSO: VIDEO: 91原创 City heritage picnic shines a light on the almost-forgotten history of the Voyageurs