The City of Prince George owes its inception to its geographic location at the intersection of the Fraser and Nechako Rivers.  Long before the City of Prince George was incorporated, this area was home to the Lheidli T’enneh who recognized the uniqueness of their territory by calling their Nation “where the two rivers flow together”.​

These rivers became the venue for the Northern Hardware Canoe Race.  For several years prior to 1960 hardy paddlers raced from Fort St. James down the Stewart, Nechako and Fraser Rivers to Prince George some finishing in less than 15 hours! From 1960 to 1984, the Northern Hardware sponsored of the most prestigious canoe races in North America. It was an exciting time for the community every spring as pro racers and novices powered their canoes from Isle Pierre to Fort George Park (Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park) in an exciting 67.5 km downriver race with thousands of spectators and race sponsors watching on.  Racing canoes adorned with local business sponsor logos were splashed across the front cover of the Prince George Citizen and sport pages showing community involvement and prestige this race brought to the Prince George!

No race was more exciting than the 1982 edition, where after a gruelling 67.5 kms and hours of paddling local paddlers, Tom Blackburn and Harry James crossed the finish line only one second ahead of the second canoe!
 
Fast forward 30 years to 2015 -  thanks to the support of the Northern Hardware the historic canoe race made its inaugural comeback. In 2015, the Centennial year of Prince George, the Race was a resounding success that saw nearly 100 paddlers of all ages and abilities come out and celebrate our beautiful waterways, land and our great City. 2018 is the fourth year of the revitalized Northern Hardware Prince George Canoe Race.