 Strettell's interest in various branches of the trade to America is further shown by his activity in collecting money for the relief of sufferers from the Montreal fire in 1765, and from the fire in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 1766; and for the establishment of what later became Brown University, in 1768.When the Northwest fur trade, into the present western Canada, was re-established in the late 1760s and after, John Strettell provided the goods for some of the most important traders.Among his Canadian customers were the partnership of Isaac Todd and James McGill, and that of Benjamin Frobisher and Joseph Frobisher.