The Pioneers from Montreal: Alexander Henry the Elder After 1763, when the two provinces of Canada were definitely ceded to Great Britain, the exploring energies of the Hudson's Bay Fur-trading Company revived.

But before this rather sluggish organization could take full advantage of the cessation of French opposition, independent British pioneers were on their way to explore the vast north-west and west, soon carrying their marvellous journeys beyond the utmost limits reached by La Verendrye and his sons.

Eventually these pioneers, who had Montreal for their base and who wisely associated themselves in business and exploration with French Canadians, founded in 1784 a great trading association known as the North-west Trading Company.

A few years later certain Scottish pioneers brought a rival exploration and trading corporation into existence and called it the "X.Y.
Company".

In 1804 these rival Montreal fur-trading associations were fused into a new North-west Trading Company.