Gideon Halcrow was born and raised in Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland. He was employed by the Hudson Bay Trading Company at Cumberland House, Saskatchewan. Between 1860 and 1880 Gideon Halcrow was transferred to the new trading post in The Pas where he worked as Factor (a trader who receives and sells goods on commission) until he retired. The home that they built was constructed from wood shipped from Prince Albert but has since been taken down