In which city were the major Montreal traders who formed the NWC based?

• A. Montreal.
• B. Toronto.
• C. Quebec City.
• D. Ottawa.

Answer: (A)

Montreal served as the base for the traders who formed the North West Company. In the late 18th century, a group of Montréal-based fur merchants pooled their resources to create a rival to the Hudson’s Bay Company, using their city’s networks and capital to build posts and expand into the interior. The other cities listed were important places in Canadian history, but they were not where this group of Montreal traders organized their venture. This origins in Montréal explains why the company’s leadership and early trading operations were centered there.