Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada

🇨🇦 Quesnel is a city located in the Cariboo Regional District of British Columbia, Canada. Located nearly evenly between the cities of Prince George and Williams Lake, it is on the main route to northern British Columbia and the Yukon. Quesnel is located at the confluence of the Fraser and Quesnel Rivers. Quesnel's metropolitan area is the largest urban centre between Prince George and Kamloops.

Quesnel hosted the 2000 British Columbia Winter Games, an annual provincial amateur sports competition. To the east of Quesnel is Wells, Barkerville, and Bowron Lake Provincial Park, a popular canoeing destination in the Cariboo Mountains.

History Long before the arrival of prospectors during the Cariboo Gold Rush of 1862, the Southern Carrier (Dakelh) people 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, 97 km (60 mi) 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 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. Quesnel was incorporated in 1928.

Religion According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Quesnel included: • Irreligion (62.5%) • Christianity (33.7%) • Sikhism (1.9%) • Hinduism (0.7%) • Buddhism (0.2%) • Indigenous Spirituality (0.1%) • Other (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 1950's, 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.

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

Healthcare Quesnel is served by GR Baker Memorial Hospital.

Tourist Industry 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 in Quesnel at the Pacific Great Eastern Railway Station.

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. The gold pan currently resides in its new controversial location near the local Visitor Center and Museum. Quesnel is also the closest city to Barkerville, the largest historic site western North America, and epicenter of the Cariboo Gold Rush.

Troll Ski Resort, or simply Troll, is located 44 km (27 miles) east of the city. Quesnel is also home to Hallis Lake Cross Country Skiing Facility, a 75 kilometer 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.

Sport 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 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 Rec Center and West Quesnel has a skateboard park known as the Quesnel Skatepark.

Notable people • Brett Festerling – former National Hockey League Player (Anaheim Ducks & Winnipeg Jets) • Aaron Gagnon – former National Hockey League Player (Dallas Stars & Winnipeg Jets) • Bob Gassoff – former National Hockey League player (St. Louis Blues) • Brad Gassoff – former National Hockey League player (Vancouver Canucks) • Rory MacDonald – Mixed martial artist currently with Bellator MMA in the Welterweight division • Jim Marsh – former World Hockey Association player (Birmingham Bulls) • Errol Rausse – former National Hockey League player (Washington Capitals)

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

Nearby communities 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.