TORONTO — The Thomson and Weston families have emerged victorious from a process meant to decide who will be able to purchase the royal charter that formed Hudson’s Bay.
HBC says holding companies belonging to the families have been chosen to purchase the document that dates back to 1670.
The announcement confirms reporting from The Canadian Press, which previously revealed no one came forward to bid against the Thomsons and Westons.
If a court approves the sale, the families will pay $18 million for the charter and donate it to the Archives of Manitoba, the Manitoba Museum, the Canadian Museum of History and the Royal Ontario Museum.
The charter is one of the country’s most revered artifacts because it granted HBC control over one-third of modern Canada and laid the groundwork for mass colonialism.
The Thomsons and Westons are two of the country’s richest families. The Thomsons made their fortune in the media business, while the Westons are known for their ties to grocery giant Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and department store Holt Renfrew.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2025.
Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press
