On June 1, Hudson’s Bay stores throughout Canada, including the one in St. Albert, Alberta, permanently closed their doors.
“It was quite emotional,” shared Muna Abdulhussain, who had been an employee for 15 years. “It was sad to see our loyal customers, with whom we had formed great relationships.”
On their last day, both current and former staff uncovered a time capsule from 1995 that was hidden within the wall, originally intended to be opened in 2045.
“When we removed the frame, we found a hole in the wall; they took out a box with a key already attached,” Abdulhussain noted.
Receive National Breaking News
Stay alerted with breaking news updates from Canada and around the globe, delivered straight to you as they happen.
“Opening that box felt like discovering a treasure.”
Inside the capsule were various mementos, including names of employees, photographs from the company’s 325th anniversary, a catalogue, a newspaper, a comic book featuring Hudson’s Bay, an Eagles CD, and two cassettes: the soundtrack of The Lion King and an album by the Tragically Hip.
Global News
“Immediately, the employees and the store manager recognized that this was a significant piece of Hudson’s Bay history in St. Albert,” remarked Martin Bierens, curator at the Musée Heritage Museum.
Staff at Hudson’s Bay decided to donate the time capsule to the Musée Heritage Museum in St. Albert.
“It’s not every day we receive a time capsule, making this a special contribution,” Bierens stated. “Documenting the end of the Hudson’s Bay Company is crucial for our museum. The Hudson’s Bay Company has shaped our community since its establishment.”
© 2025 Global News, a branch of Corus Entertainment Inc.
