Welcome to the community of Fort St James - Southern limits Fort St. James was originally established by the explorer Simon Fraser for the North West Company in 1806. Vanderhoof B.C. ( Junction of Highway #16 The Yellowhead Route) to Fort St. James B.C This highway leads to The National Historic Site Fort St. James with fort buildings dating back to the 1880s - Fort St. James displays the largest group of original wooden buildings representing the fur trade in Canada.