The Hudson Bay Complex in Flux: Contemplating the future of the world’s largest seasonally ice-covered inland sea

Hudson Bay is historically important and played a defining role in the early history of Canada. Hudson Bay, and the forts and trading posts established around its margins and in its watershed, played a pivotal role in the early fur trade, the economic engine that shaped much of the exploration and settlement of the lands that would eventually become part of Canada. While Hudson Bay continues to occupy a large part of the map of Canada, it is mostly ignored by Canadians and there is little appreciation of this vast and unique part of our country. The Arctic Ocean has, comparatively, garnered much more public, political, scientific and media attention. The warming of the Arctic, sovereignty issues, oil and gas reserves, decreases in the volume of the polar ice cap and reductions in the extent of the summer ice cover have all helped to make Canadians more aware of Canada’s interests in the Arctic