The James Bay Eeyou Corporation and JHD Immobilier announced a $400-million bid to acquire the former Hudson’s Bay building in downtown Montreal. The developers are planning a museum and cultural hub that celebrates the Cree nation.

“This building represents much more than a commercial acquisition; it embodies over 350 years of shared history between our people and the Hudson’s Bay Company,” said Henry Gull, President of the James Bay Eeyou Corporation. “We see this project as a way to give the building new life while preserving its soul.”

The proposed redevelopment includes a museum dedicated to the fur trade and exchanges between the Cree and the Hudson’s Bay Company, as well as an urban Indigenous cultural centre, experiential spaces, retail showcases, mixed-use facilities, and a hotel complex. To further reconciliation, the venue will serve as a place of gathering, learning, and sharing.

The Cree have maintained deep historical ties with the Hudson’s Bay Company. Originating in the 17th century, this trade forged alliances and exchanges that went far beyond fur trading. It became a space of cultural exchange, knowledge sharing, and bonds that left a lasting mark on the land and on relations between nations.

The James Bay Eeyou Corporation has spent nearly 40 years advancing economic opportunities for the Cree community. “We return today not to trade furs, but to reclaim a place that our ancestors never left in their hearts, said Gull, speaking as the Cree Nation Spokesperson.

The redevelopment is scheduled to open in 2029, but requires zoning approval from the City of Montreal. The developers are working with all three levels of government to establish it as a benchmark for nation-to-nation partnership.

“This initiative reflects our values of urban development and heritage preservation,” added Julien Hamel-Doyon, president of JHD Real Estate. “It ensures the economic and cultural sustainability of this site while bringing new life to downtown Montreal.”