Quesnel, British Columbia

History

Long before the arrival of prospectors during the Cariboo Gold Rush of 1862, the First Nations peoples, the Dakelh or Southern Carrier, lived off the land around Quesnel, occupying the area from the Bowron Lakes in the east to the upper Blackwater River and Dean River in the west. The Southern Carrier Nation were known among themselves as ‘Uda Ukelh’, meaning ‘people who travel by boat on water early in the morning’.

The name "Quesnel" is derived from Jules-Maurice Quesnel, who accompanied Simon Fraser on his journey to the Pacific Ocean. Quesnel came to be called 'Quesnelle Mouth' to distinguish it from Quesnel Forks, 60 mi up river. In 1870, it was shortened to Quesnelle and by 1900, it was spelled the way it is now. Quesnel is located along the gold mining trail known as the Cariboo Wagon Road and supplied nearby Barkerville, the commercial centre of the Cariboo Gold Rush. It also marks one end of the Alexander MacKenzie Heritage Trail.

Because of its location on the Fraser River, it was also an important landing for sternwheelers from 1862 to 1886 and then, from 1909 until 1921. The last sternwheeler on the upper Fraser was Quesnel's own namesake craft, and home town product, the Quesnel.

In 1891, the subdistrict of Quesnel had a population of 706. Quesnel was incorporated in 1928.

Geography and climate

Climate

Considering it is located inland and around the 53rd parallel north, Quesnel's humid continental climate (Dfb) is mild by Canadian standards, being subject to marine air flows from the Pacific. Overnight lows are still cool even in summer, but daytime temperatures average above 24 C in that season according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Quesnel was 41.7 C on 29 June 2021.{{cite web |access-date = 30 September 2023}} The coldest temperature ever recorded was -46.7 C on 31 December 1927 and 17 January 1950.{{cite web |access-date = 21 December 2016}}

Climate ID: 1096630; coordinates ; elevation: 545.0 m; 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present

|Jan record high C = 13.9 |Feb record high C = 15.1 |Mar record high C = 22.3 |Apr record high C = 31.0 |May record high C = 36.5 |Jun record high C = 41.7 |Jul record high C = 36.7 |Aug record high C = 36.2 |Sep record high C = 36.1 |Oct record high C = 26.8 |Nov record high C = 17.2 |Dec record high C = 12.2 |year record high C = 41.7

|Jan record low C = -46.7 |Feb record low C = -42.2 |Mar record low C = -38.9 |Apr record low C = -20.0 |May record low C = -10.0 |Jun record low C = -3.3 |Jul record low C = 0.6 |Aug record low C = -2.6 |Sep record low C = -8.9 |Oct record low C = -28.4 |Nov record low C = -37.8 |Dec record low C = -46.7 |year record low C = -46.7

Demographics

In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Quesnel had a population of 9,889 living in 4,508 of its 4,766 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 9,879. With a land area of 35.35 km2, it had a population density of in 2021. According to the same census, Quesnel had a census agglomeration population of 23,113, which represented a decrease from 23,146 in the 2016 census.

The median household income in 2015 for Quesnel was $60,651, which is slightly below the British Columbia provincial average of $69,995.

As of 2018, the population of Quesnel is estimated to be a little over 10,000 people living within the city, with roughly 13,000 people living outside the city limits but within the metro area.

Ethnicity

Religion

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Quesnel included:

• Irreligion (6,050 persons or 62.5%)
• Christianity (3,260 persons or 33.7%)
• Sikhism (185 persons or 1.9%)
• Hinduism (70 persons or 0.7%)
• Buddhism (15 persons or 0.2%)
• Indigenous Spirituality (10 persons or 0.1%)
• Other (90 persons or 0.9%)

Economy

Quesnel is a city known for its forestry, particularly the production of pulp and lumber. Forestry is the single biggest employer in Quesnel. Quesnel is home to a Bleached Chemi-ThermoMechanical Pulp (BCTMP) mill that was built in 1981, and a NBSK (northern bleached softwood kraft) pulp mill that started production in 1972. The BCTMP mill is currently 100% owned by West Fraser Timber, and the NBSK mill is a 50 / 50 joint venture between West Fraser and Mercer International. There is also a large sawmill, a plywood mill, and a MDF plant all owned and operated by West Fraser Timber. West Fraser started in Quesnel in the 1950s, and is now the largest manufacturer of wood products in North America, with operations also in Europe.

Administration

Quesnel's city government consists of a seven-member council, that is one mayor and six councillors. The current city council, elected in 2022 for a four-year term, is composed of mayor Ron Paul and councillors Scott Elliott, Tony Goulet, Debora McKelvie, Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, Martin Runge, and Mitch Vik.

Education

Quesnel is part of School District 28, which contains several elementary schools, as well as a junior and a senior secondary school (Quesnel Junior High School and Correlieu Senior Secondary School respectively). Also, within the school district is McNaughton Centre which is an Alternate High school. For post secondary education, Quesnel has the College of New Caledonia and University of Northern British Columbia shared campus, which offers several programs, including four year nursing and social work degrees, foundation or apprenticeship-level trades certification, health sciences, human services, academic upgrading, or industry and continuing education courses. The Quesnel CNC Campus also offers students the chance to start arts or sciences degrees and then, transfer to university.

Transportation

Quesnel is served by the Quesnel Airport, with several commercial flights daily to and from Vancouver. The city has a local transit system provided by BC Transit.

Healthcare

Quesnel is served by GR Baker Memorial Hospital.

A new emergency section was added to the hospital on 14 April 2023. This increased the overall size of the hospital as well as making it easier for patients to move from building to building.

Tourism

Quesnel's tourism industry is largely based on the city's access to nature, with hunting and guiding outfitters, fishing, hiking, canoeing. The Rocky Mountaineer, a rail-tour train also travels through and stops overnight at Quesnel at the Pacific Great Eastern Railway Station, owned by BC Rail.

Quesnel's history as a gold-rush town is also reflected, as there are over 30 heritage sites around the city. Quesnel is home to the world's largest gold pan, measured at 5.5 m in diameter and weighing 1400 kg, although this is disputed by Nome, Alaska. As of 2020 the gold pan resides in its new location, one deemed controversial, near the local Visitor Centre and Museum. Quesnel is also the closest city to Barkerville, the largest historic site western North America, and epicentre of the Cariboo Gold Rush.

Troll Ski Resort, or simply Troll, is located 44 km east of the city. Quesnel is also home to Hallis Lake Cross Country Skiing Facility, a 75 km network of trails maintained by the Cariboo Ski Touring Club for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. In addition, Ten Mile Lake Provincial Park, Pinnacles Provincial Park, and Dragon Mountain Provincial Park are also located just outside the city.

Quesnel Museum is home to numerous artifacts, including Mandy, a "haunted doll" made in the early 20th century that is claimed to have paranormal abilities and eyes that follow visitors around. Mandy appeared on The Montel Williams Show.

Culture

There are twenty-three decorated fire hydrants in the streets of Quesnel. This work was sponsored by the local businesses in the vicinity of the hydrants. Fire Hydrant of Carson Avenue and Kinchant Street in Quesnel, BC (DSCF5303).jpg|"Pilot", Carson Avenue and Kinchant Street Fire Hydrant of McLean Street and Shepherd Avenue in Quesnel, BC (DSCF5227).jpg|"Can Can Girl", McLean Street and Shepherd Avenue Fire hydrant of McLean Street and St Laurent Avenue in Quesnel, BC (DSCF5265).jpg|McLean Street and St Laurent Avenue Fire hydrant of Shepherd Avenue and Kinchant Street in Quesnel, BC (DSCF5068).jpg|"BX Cook", Shepherd Avenue and Kinchant Street Engineer (DSCF5310).jpg|"Engineer", Legion Drive, Cariboo Highway, and Carson Avenue Painted fire hydrant of Barlow Avenue and Vaughan Street in Quesnel, BC (DSCF5031).jpg|"Cyclist", Barlow Avenue and Vaughan Street

Sports

Quesnel is home to the Central Interior Hockey League's Quesnel Kangaroos Senior AA hockey team. The team plays at the West Fraser Centre in Quesnel. The city was formerly home to the Quesnel Millionaires, a British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) team, before they relocated to Chilliwack as the Chilliwack Chiefs in 2011.

Quesnel also has soccer, airsoft and paintball, minor baseball, softball, lacrosse, ringette, roller derby, and football leagues. A Mountain biking skills park is located behind the Arts and Recreation Centre and West Quesnel has a skateboard park known as the Quesnel Skatepark.

Notable people

• Brett Festerling – former National Hockey League (NHL) player (Anaheim Ducks and Winnipeg Jets)
• Aaron Gagnon – former NHL player (Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets)
• Bob Gassoff – former NHL player (St. Louis Blues)
• Brad Gassoff – former NHL player (Vancouver Canucks)
• Arjun Gill – wrestling gold medallist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
• Rory MacDonald – mixed martial artist currently with Bellator MMA in the Welterweight division
• Marco Marra – professor, medical genetics, University of British Columbia
• Jim Marsh – former World Hockey Association player (Birmingham Bulls)
• Errol Rausse – former NHL player (Washington Capitals)
• Bob Simpson – former provincial MLA for Cariboo North and former mayor of Quesnel
• Tom Stade – comedian

Neighbourhoods and nearby communities

• West Quesnel
  • Uplands
  • Riverview
  • West Riverside
• South Quesnel
  • Southhills
  • Red Bluff
  • Dragon Lake
  • Rich Bar
• North Quesnel
• Carson Sub
• Johnston Sub

Nearby communities, not part of the City of Quesnel, include:

• Moose Heights
• Ten Mile Lake (also locally referred to as Parkland)
• Barlow Creek
• West Fraser / Narcosli
• Cottonwood
• Nazko
• Bouchie Lake
• Kersley

Images

File:Wooden Bridge Quesnel.jpg|Fraser River walking bridge File:Rotary clock Quesnel.jpg|Looking down St Laurent Ave; Rotary Clock in the foreground File:Bridge over the Quesnel.jpg|Bridge over the Quesnel River File:Quesnel Station.jpg|Quesnel Station File:Quesnel River Bridges.jpg|Quesnel River from Red Bluff.

Sister city

• Shiraoi, Japan

Notes

References

References

1. Kurjata, Andrew. (17 January 2017). "Short commutes, affordable housing: Quesnel rebrands itself to attract disenchanted Lower Mainland residents".
2. {{Cite cgndb. JBNTS. Quesnel
3. {{CFS
4. , . (). ["Quesnel mayor Bob Simpson believes a new brand can help attract disenchanted Vancouverites"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/short-commutes-affordable-housing-quesnel-rebrands-itself-to-attract-disenchanted-lower-mainland-residents-1.3938564). *[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation*.
5. (6 May 2024). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations". [[Statistics Canada]].
6. "Explore Quesnel – It's in our nature".
7. Government of Canada (Department of Agriculture, Census Branch). ''[https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2016/statcan/CS98-1891-1.pdf Census of Canada, 1890-1891]'', 1893, table 2.
8. "Quesnel, British Columbia Climate Summary". Weatherbase.
9. "Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010 Station Data". [[Environment and Climate Change Canada]].
10. (1 February 2023). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table, Quesnel, City (CY), British Columbia [Census subdivision]. Quesnel, British Columbia [Population centre]. Quesnel, British Columbia [Census agglomeration]". [[Statistics Canada]].
11. (8 February 2017). "Census Profile, 2016: Quesnel". [[Statistics Canada]].
12. "BC Stats Has Released Population Numbers For The Cariboo". My Cariboo Now.
13. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census".
14. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile".
15. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles".
16. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles".
17. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2019-06-04). "Electronic Area Profiles Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions, 1996 Census".
18. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2019-03-29). "1991 Census Area Profiles Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions – Part B".
19. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2019-03-29). "Data tables, 1991 Census Population by Ethnic Origin (24), Showing Single and Multiple Origins (2) – Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions".
20. (2006). "Biofilm Activated Sludge process at Quesnel River Pulp installation". Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine.
21. (8 February 2017). "Quesnel City Council". City of Quesnel.
22. (16 October 2022). "B.C. municipal election 2022: Quesnel results – BC". Global News.
23. "GR Baker Memorial Hospital | Northern Health".
24. (2023-04-14). "New emerg department, ICU open at Quesnel's GR Baker Hospital".
25. "Quesnel".
26. "BC's Biggest Attractions Are Often in the Smallest Places". BC Lodging & Campgrounds Association.
27. (22 July 2020). "Quesnel gold pan moved to new downtown location sometime overnight".
28. "Visit Us – Barkerville Historic Town & Park".
29. (17 December 2012). "Things to do and see".
30. (27 May 2017). "Hallis Lake".
31. "Mandy The Haunted Doll".
32. (31 October 2018). "Mandy The Haunted Doll".
33. (8 March 2017). "Painted Fire Hydrant Walking Tour".
34. (March 2017). "Arts and Recreation: Shiraoi House". City of Quesnel.