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Steamboat crews were often brought into the Peace River region from outside by their employers but a large percentage were from the local population. Of the locals a large portion were Metis and First Nations members.

One well known figure in the early operation of steamboats on the upper Peace River was Captain John Gullion (1870-1915). He was born in Manitoba into a family of boat builders. His father, George Gullion, and his two brothers came from the Orkney Islands of Scotland to build boats for the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Garry in the late 19th century. John worked with his father from an early age.

In 1889 John moved to Athabasca Landing with his father. Together they built and operated boats on the Athbasca River for the Hudson's Bay Company. At some point John obtained his Master Mariner's Certificate, a qualification that allowed him to captain vessels.

In 1906 John Gullion became the Captain of the S.S. Peace River which operated out of Fort Vermilion. Unlike some crew members who might leave at the end of the season Gullion stayed at Fort Vermilion in the winter and performed other tasks such as threshing, constructing scows and buildings, equipment repairs and recruiting staff.

In 1915, with the retirement of the S.S. Peace River, Gullion took over a gasoline powered boat, The Beaver. In September of that year he died of a heart attack while operating the Beaver.

Gullion is of significance in that he was one of the first professionally trained Captains to serve on the upper Peace River.


Sources:

Alice Gilliland. 'Captain John Gullion.' Fort Vermilion: People in Our Vast Trading North 1788-1988., p. 187.

Alice Gullion. 'The Captain John Gullion Family.' Peace River Remembers., p. 149.

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Captain John Gullion.
Circa 1906-1915
Peace River Crossing, Alberta, Canada


Credits:
Peace River Museum, Archives & Mackenzie Centre, 82.1229.008