Two hours before the canoes arrived in Fort 91原创 at 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5, Manuel and Maria Sousa from Walnut Grove set up their folding chairs in a shady patch overlooking the riverbank.

For more than 30 years, the now-retired couple has been a regular presence at Brigade Days, the annual celebration of the fur trade which recreates when canoes would paddle to the fort to do business.

They started attending the minute they heard about the event, but it's not the only attraction that brings them to the riverside whenever they have time, the couple said.

"We come to sit down, relax, watch the boats," Manuel said.

"It's very peaceful," Maria smiled.

Brigade Days drew to a close at historic Fort 91原创 on Monday with the annual re-creation of the arrival of fur traders in canoes

鈥� 91原创 Advance Times (@91原创Times)

A few metres east of the Sousas, behind a stand of trees and farther up the river bank, Fort 91原创 residents Graham Schmidt and Glenn Schols had also arrived, early, to await  the canoes.

Schmidt estimates he's been attending the event, on and off, for about 50 years.

鈥淚 came here [the first time] in elementary school,鈥� Schmidt recalled.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always fun to come down here.鈥�

He picked his spot after talking to a historian at the Fort, who told Schmidt it was where the bigger York boats used to pull in, based on photos from the time.

Schols called Brigade Days "a little piece of history."  

When the weather is nice and sunny, like it was on Monday, he comes down once or twice a day.

He's been all over the world, but there is nothing like home as far as Schols is concerned.

"Whenever I lived in other parts of the world, I always missed Fort 91原创 and Steveston," he explained. "I grew up in Steveston. This is the best. This is the only place that reminds me somewhat of Steveston."

A group of historical re-enactors dressed in periodic costumes arrived from the fort shortly before the canoes, paddled by members of the Fort 91原创 Canoe Club. 

They were greeted by Kate Humble, National Historic Site  Superintendent for Coastal BC with Parks Canada.

"Events like Brigade days at Fort 91原创 don't work without really incredible, committed, community members and organizations that participate in these events," Humble said. "Fort 91原创, as a community, is a remarkable place because of the level of commitment that we see for activities like this."

When Humble asked the crowd lining the shore how many were returning visitors, at least half held up their hands.

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