Canadian Tire will start selling iconic Hudson's Bay blankets, donating proceeds to Indigenous fund

Canadian Tire will begin selling the iconic Hudson's Bay point blankets and has pledged to continue a program started by HBC to donate the net proceeds to support Indigenous-led initiatives.

Under an expanded partnership between Canadian Tire and the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, the retailer has guaranteed at least $1 million a year to support Oshki Wupoowane, The Blanket Fund.

The money will be used for grants that support grassroots Indigenous organizations and one-time cultural, artistic and educational projects.

Canadian Tire acquired HBC's intellectual property, including the iconic Hudson's Bay stripes, earlier this year for $30 million as part of the wind down of the retailer. The deal didn't include the company's art, artifacts and archives — some of which will be auctioned off next month.

WATCH | Canadian Tire to buy Hudson’s Bay's iconic stripes, logos:

Canadian Tire is buying Hudson’s Bay's iconic stripes, coat of arms, various company names, logos and related intellectual property in a $30-million deal, as Hudson’s Bay liquidates its stores and winds down operations.

While popular with shoppers today, the HBC point blankets have a problematic history because of their association with the company's colonial past. The blankets were once used as currency to trade by early European settlers in Canada, but there is oral history that says they were used to spread smallpox intentionally to Indigenous communities in the 1700s and 1800s.

The Blanket Fund was launched in 2022 in an effort for truth and reconciliation with an initial $1 million investment from the Hudson's Bay Foundation and a commitment to give 100 per cent of the net proceeds from the sale of Hudson's Bay point blankets to the fund.

“We are exceptionally proud to be the stewards of HBC’s legacy — and as one of the nation’s longest-standing companies, we don’t take the responsibility lightly,” said Greg Hicks, President and CEO of Canadian Tire, in a statement.

“The Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket is a Canadian symbol with a complex history, and through our deepened relationship with [the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund], we are committed to ensuring its cultural preservation and meaningful reconciliation for generations to come.”