How did the rivalry between the North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company end?

The intense, decades-long rivalry between the North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company was characterized by bitter competition, armed clashes, and violence, most notably the Seven Oaks Massacre in 1816.123

This conflict reached a breaking point as both organizations struggled with the costs of their competition. Under significant pressure from the British government, the two companies were merged in 1821. The union was finalized under the name and charter of the Hudson’s Bay Company.123

For Montreal, which had served as the headquarters and primary hub for the North West Company’s fur-trading operations, this merger marked the end of its nearly two-century role as a major fur-trade entrepôt. Following the consolidation, the new entity found it significantly more cost-effective to ship furs via Hudson Bay rather than maintaining the extensive canoe supply lines that had previously connected Montreal to the western interior.43