Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Curtis Goodrum

Hudson Bay Closure

Historic Hudson’s Bay liquidates stores across Canada, including Kamloops location

Mar 24, 2025 | 5:11 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Hudson’s Bay Company has announced the liquidation of all but six of its famous department stores. The Kamloops location, a staple of the city for more than 200 years, is not included in the remaining six.

“A majority of these people have put in their lives at Hudson Bay,” said Jordan Lawrence, Financial Secretary at USW Local 1-417.

Aberdeen Mall employees have been kept in the dark about the closure and have yet to receive confirmation.

“We haven’t gotten anything official from Hudson’s Bay. I had an email a couple of weeks ago, about the hearing and that was it. Since the hearing, we haven’t gotten any official word from Hudson’s Bay about their plans or what the future looks like for either the company or our members,” said Lawrence.

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For many employees, the closure is a huge disappointment. After last year’s strike, many were hopeful for the future of the Kamloops location.

“There was hope after our strike last year. There was hope that things were going to be okay. Now, I think that they know the writing is on the wall even though they haven’t heard it personally. Our store isn’t one of the ones being saved and so morale is not great,” said Lawrence.

When asked for a comment, the Hudson’s Bay Company stated that it would be restructuring the company after being approved by the Ontario Supreme Court.

“We had such a great outpouring of support during the strike and for the people who are going to be going into the mall and for the people who are going to go into Hudson’s Bay over the next however long the liquidation, the store closing is — just have a good message to the workers,” said Lawrence.

The big-box behemoth will be looking to save itself in the restructuring to keep alive one of North America’s oldest stores.