A Window to 1995: The St. Albert Hudson’s Bay Time Capsule Unsealed
- Jean-François Lefebvre
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
The Discovery: An End and a Beginning
The Hudson’s Bay store at the St. Albert Centre Mall closed its doors for good in spring 2025, marking the end of an era. During the closure process, staff members uncovered a hidden time capsule sealed within a wall back in 1995, when the store underwent major renovations.
What started as a routine decommissioning quickly turned into a remarkable historical moment.
The 1995 Time Capsule, originally placed in the St. Albert Hudson's Bay store, was scheduled to be opened in 2045, was instead opened early on the store's final day.
The opening of the capsule was not just a nostalgic event, it was a communal experience that reconnected former employees, sparked local media interest, and reignited memories from a simpler time.
What Was Inside: A Snapshot of the Mid-'90s
The capsule’s contents are a delightful mix of pop culture, retail memorabilia, and personal tokens from the team who worked there in 1995.
Items included:
- A cassette tape of The Lion King soundtrack
- A CD of The Eagles’ “Hell Freezes Over”
- A cassette of The Tragically Hip
- A 1995 “Peacekeeper” loonie
- A local newspaper and promotional flyers
- Staff photos, names, and personal notes
- A store event catalog detailing in-store promotions and fashion of the day
All the items have since been donated to the Musée Héritage Museum in St. Albert, ensuring they remain accessible for future generations.
“It’s not too often we get a time capsule, so this is a unique donation,” Bierens said.
“Capturing the end of the Hudson’s Bay Company is very important for our museum. The Hudson’s Bay Company has had an influence within our community since the founding of the community that became known as St Albert.”
Time Capsules as Cultural Mirrors
Time capsules like this one do more than preserve objects—they preserve context. They capture who we were, what mattered to us, and how we chose to communicate with the future.
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