Quesnel, British Columbia
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| Motto: in situ | |
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| Census Division | |
| Regional District | Cariboo Regional District |
| Area: | 35.34 km² |
| Founded | |
| Incorporated | 1928 |
| Population:
City Population |
10,481 (2001) |
| Population density: | 296.6/km² |
| Time zone: | Pacific: UTC -8 |
| Postal code span: | V2J*** |
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Latitude: |
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| Elevation: | 474 m MSL |
| Highways | Highway 97 |
| Waterways | Bowron Lake Fraser River |
| Mayor: | |
| Governing body: | Quesnel City Council |
| 1(sc) According to the Canada 2001 Census. 2(gr) Geographic references.Template help Edit Template  |
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Quesnel is a city in the Cariboo District of British Columbia, Canada. Located nearly evenly between the two larger cities of Prince George and Williams Lake, it is on the main route to Northern British Columbia and the Yukon. It is claimed to be home to one of the world's largest gold pans (disputed by Nome, Alaska and others).
Quesnel is sister city to Shiraoi, Japan and Val d'Or, Quebec. Quesnel hosted the 2000 British Columbia Winter Games, an annual provincial amateur sports competition. To the east of Quesnel lies Wells, Barkerville, and Bowron Lake Provincial Park, a popular canoeing destination in the Cariboo Mountains.
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[edit] Geography
- Location:
- Elevation: 474 m (1,555 feet)
- Average Annual Snowfall: 166 cm/year
- Average Annual Rainfall: 36 cm/year
- Frost Free Days: 179
- Average Winter Temperature: - 5 C
- Extreme Minimum Temperature: - 46.7 C
- Average Summer Temperature: 16 C
- Extreme Maximum Temperature: 40.6 C
- Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time
[edit] Administration
- Mayor: Nate Bello (elected November 2005)
- Peter Couldwell
- Mary Sjostrom
- Ron Paull
- Sushil Thapar
- Ron Craigmyle
- Coarlee Oakes
Canadian Federal Member of Parliament:
- Dick Harris, Conservative Party of Canada
Member of British Columbia Legislative Assembly:
- Bob Simpson, New Democratic Party of British Columbia
[edit] History
Quesnel was originally called 'Quesnellemouth' to distinguish it from 'Quesnel Forks', 60 miles up river. In 1870 it had been 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 was the commercial centre of the Cariboo Gold Rush. The name ultimately derives from Jules Maurice Quesnel, who accompanied Simon Fraser on his journey to the Pacific Ocean. It also marks one end of the Alexander MacKenzie Heritage Trail.
The local historical city of Barkerville gave Quesnel its yearly 'Billy Barker Days' festival.
[edit] [[Festivities]]
Billy Barker days is held every year on the first weekend in July. It's to celebrate Quesnel's heritage and the first person (Billy Barker) to strike it rich in Quesnel. There is a HUGE fair in the lebourdais park And on the friendship stage. Throughout the weekend there are performers from all over Canada, from the great band Trooper to the inspirational "Yael Wand." There are many fun things for children to do, as well as a "kids day" where all rides are on fro a special price and all the entertainment is geared towards the younger children. There are fun contests to enter and prizes everywhere. Also the food is delicious... who cant resist a good hot dog and cotton candy? Or fresh corn on the cob? There are many great locals who set up food booths, the samosa's are particularily delicious. Also the Rodeo goes on all weekend with cowboys and cowgirls from all over the province coming for a good time.
[edit] Economy
Quesnel runs on its forestry industry. Home to 8 different factories, including a medium density fiber plant, plywood plant and two pulp mills, it produces enough income to support more than 27000 citizens. Because of Northern British Columbia's small population, it is surrounded by lakes and virtually untouched wilderness for hundreds of kilometers in any direction. Quesnel's economy is also reliant on the tourism industry, the minerals, and many locally produced goods. Although in the past Quesnel's largest economic resource has been forestry, today the Mountain Pine Beetle has forced Quesnel's Economic Development sector to rethink the city's economy. The Pine Beetle infests juvenile and mature timber, making it useless for most purposes in the forestry industry and therefore eventually closing the industry in certain areas of British Columbia.
[edit] External links
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