Albert Campbell (dogsled racer)


Albert Campbell was a Canadian musher and trapper of French-Cree descent. He gained popularity as a Canadian "national hero" after winning the 1917 Red River Derby sled dog race.

Life

Campbell was born in The Pas, Manitoba in the family of Cree native John Campbell and French Adeline Beauchamp. He won The Pas Dog Derby in 1916, the first annual of long dog sled race held in his hometown as a part of Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival.
However, he became best known in 1917 for winning the Red River Derby, the Winnipeg – Saint Paul dog sled race, which was part of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival organized by the Saint Paul Outdoor Sports Carnival Association from 27 January to 3 February 1917. His younger brother Gabriel, who also competed in the race, finished in fourth place. According to Campbell, by this success he fulfilled the last wish of his father, who died two weeks before the race started. The race gained such widespread popularity that the Canadian government was reporting the news of the Campbell brothers' progress to the Canadian troops fighting overseas in the First World War.
Albert Campbell died on 30 November 1961. He is buried at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Winnipeg, Manitoba.