One of Maple Ridge’s most notable pioneers has a Fort Langley connection.

Samuel Robertson, the first landowner in Albion, became an employee of the Hudson’s Bay Company and left Scotland bound for Canada.

He arrived at Fort Langley in 1843. With the discovery of gold on the Fraser River and later in the Cariboo, he left the HBC to enter into a partnership with Peter Boulanger to open the What Cheer House at the old Derby Townsite to cater to miners who passed through en route to goldfields.

Robertson’s story will be played out during this weekend’s Brigade Days celebration at the Fort Langley National Historic Site. The vignettes run at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

The Sam Robertson: Sailor to Settler play is about Robertson, who travelled from his home in Scotland to become the boat builder at Fort Langley and eventually became the first settler in what is now Maple Ridge.

He has many adventures along the way including joining the first gold miners in their search for gold and opening his own business.

Meanwhile, canoes carrying Hudson’s Bay Company employees, their wives, and bales of fur will land on Fort Langley shores sometime around 1 p.m. on Monday.

The re-enactment is set to mark its quarter century at the Fort, which celebrates the arrival of the brigades from B.C. Interior posts between 1848-58.

The first Brigade Days, hosted by the Fort Langley National Historic Site, took place in 1987.

“This is one of the longest running events the site has put on,” event coordinator Gerry Borden said. “It is the big event of the year.”

He has taken part in 23 of the past 24 Brigade Days events.

Saturday, Aug. 4

9 a.m. – site opens

9:30 a.m. – guided introduction

10 a.m. – flag-raising procession

10:30 a.m. – weapons demonstration

11 a.m. – Samuel Robertson Play

11:30 a.m. – ensemble folklorique traditions (one hour)

12:30 p.m. – trapping techniques

1 p.m. – fur trade game show

1:30 p.m. – weapons demonstration

2 p.m. – ensemble folklorique traditions (one hour)

3 p.m. – fur trade wedding

4 p.m. – weapons demonstration

4:30 p.m. – heritage garden

5 p.m. – site closes

Sunday Aug. 5

9 a.m. –site opens

9:30 a.m. – guided introduction

10 a.m. – flag-raising procession

10:45 a.m. – historic church service

11 a.m. – Samuel Robertson play

noon – weapons demonstration

12:30 p.m. – fur trade game show

1:30 p.m. – weapons demonstration

2 p.m. – fur trade wedding

3 p.m. – trapping techniques

4 p.m. –weapons demonstration

4:30 p.m. – encampment heritage cook-off

5 p.m. site closes

Monday Aug. 6

9 a.m. – site opens

9:30 a.m. – guided introduction

10 a.m. – flag-raising procession

11 a.m. – Samuel Robertson play

12:30 p.m. – bagpipe procession to Marina Park

1 p.m. – brigade arrival at Marina Park

1:30 p.m. – procession from river to Big House

3 p.m. – fur trade wedding

4 p.m. – weapons demonstration

4:30 p.m. – heritage garden

5 p.m. – historic buildings close

6 p.m. – picnic in the Fort concert & barbecue featuring the Langley Music School Fiddlers with Andrea Taylor, John Reischman, and the Jay Birds

This free concert is sponsored by the Fort Langley Community Improvement Society

Admission to the Fort on Saturday and Sunday is $3.90/youth, $6.55/senior, $7.80/adult, $19.60/family, or free with annual pass.

Call 604-513-4777 or visit www.pc.gc.ca/fortlangley. You can check out the FLNHS on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FortLangleyNHS.

The FLNHS is located at 23433 Mavis Ave.