Seeking a shorter route to the Western Sea and Asia, the Europeans ventured into this area. Thier expeditions were financed by the companies in the fur trade. Expeditions such as those of Pierre Gaultier de la Verendrye established trading with various nartive peoples and in exchange for their furs they provided firearms, axes, iron and copper kettles and other goods. The establishment of outposts and forts eventually came into being as this trade increased and because of these outposts/forts non-native peoples were drawn to other regions of the country.

Rivalry between Hudson's Bay Company and the French traders who were independents (The Northwest Company, XY Company and John Asotr's American Fur Trade Company ensued. The Hudson's Bay Company eventually eliminated these companies and wound up with a monopoly of the trade.

The HBC post located on Old Fort Island on the Winnipeg River was also known as Rat Portage House. This was a rough translation from Ojibway which meant "Portage to the country of the muskrats." Eventually this outpost was moved to the mainland and called the community of "Rat Portage" which eventually became what is now known as Kenora.

In 1918 the HBC ceased operating in Kenora, however it's introduction to this area is still evident today. It was the company that was responsible for surveying the town, and the property was sold to businessmen of that time creating the downtown core we have now.