Quesnel

A sister city to Shiraoi, Japan. Quesnel hosted the 2000 BC Winter Games, a biennial 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.

• Name — Quesnel • Official Name — City of Quesnel • Settlement Type — City • Motto — "It's in our nature" • Image Skyline — Quesnel, BC (3348683769).jpg • Image Caption — Aerial view of Quesnel in 2009 • Image Flag — File:Quesnel-flag.png • Image Blank Emblem — Quesnel-logo.png • Pushpin Map — Canada British Columbia • Pushpin Map Caption — Location of Quesnel in British Columbia • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — Canada • Subdivision Type1 — Province • Subdivision Name1 — British Columbia • Subdivision Type2 — Region • Subdivision Name2 — North Cariboo • Subdivision Type3 — Regional district • Subdivision Name3 — Cariboo Regional District • Leader Title — Mayor • Leader Name — Ron Paull • Leader Title1 — Governing body • Leader Name1 — Quesnel City Council • Leader Name3 — Coralee Oakes (Liberal) • Established Title — Founded • Established Date — 1861 • Established Title1 — Incorporated as village • Established Date1 — 1928 • Established Title2 — Incorporated as town • Established Date2 — 1958 • Established Title3 — Incorporated as city • Established Date3 — 1981 • Area Footnotes — (2021) • Area Land Km2 — 35.5 • Area Blank1 Title — Population centre • Area Blank1 Km2 — 25.23 • Area Blank2 Title — Census agglomeration • Area Blank2 Km2 — 21,708.62 • Population As Of — 2021 • Population Total — 9,889 • Population Density Km2 — 279.8 • Population Blank1 Title — Population centre • Population Blank1 — 12,110 • Population Density Blank1 Km2 — 480.0 • Population Blank2 Title — Census agglomeration • Population Blank2 — 23,113 • Population Density Blank2 Km2 — 1.1 • Timezone — PT • Utc Offset — −07:00 • Elevation Footnotes — at Quesnel Airport • Elevation Ft — 1788 • Postal Code Type — Forward sortation area • Postal Code — V2J • Area Codes — 250, 778, 236, 672 • Blank Name — Highways • Blank1 Name — Waterways • Blank1 Info — Fraser River, Quesnel River Quesnel is a city 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 River and Quesnel River. As of 2021, Quesnel's metropolitan area (census agglomeration) had a population of 23,113 making it one of the largest urban centres between Prince George and Kamloops. Quesnel is a sister city to Shiraoi, Japan. Quesnel hosted the 2000 BC Winter Games, a biennial 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.

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, 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.

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. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -46.7 C on 31 December 1927 and 17 January 1950.

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, it had a population density of sqmi 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.

• Panethnic groups in the City of Quesnel (1986−2021) • Panethnic group — 2021 — 2016 — 2011 — 2006 — 2001 — 1996 — 1991 — 1986 • Pop. Population — % percentage — Pop. Population — % percentage — Pop. Population — % percentage — Pop. Population — % percentage — Pop. Population — % percentage — Pop. Population — % percentage — Pop. Population — % percentage — Pop. Population — % percentage • European — 7,680 — 7,245 — 7,670 — 7,290 — 7,805 — 6,325 — 6,290 — 6,360 • Indigenous — 1,305 — 1,610 — 1,415 — 1,045 — 880 — 710 — 610 — 480 • South Asian — 295 — 510 — 485 — 555 — 830 — 1,150 — 1,040 — 1,130 • Southeast Asian — 170 — 90 — 45 — 90 — 80 — 70 — 20 — 70 • East Asian — 100 — 170 — 140 — 170 — 200 — 70 — 110 — 210 • African — 55 — 20 — 25 — 15 — 15 — 55 — 10 — 0 • Latin American — 45 — 20 — 25 — 10 — 40 — 0 — 10 — 5 • Middle Eastern — 0 — 10 — 0 — 10 — 0 — 0 — 10 — 5 • Other/multiracial — 20 — 20 — 0 — 10 — 10 — 0 • Total responses — 9,685 — 9,685 — 9,830 — 9,175 — 9,845 — 8,375 — 8,100 — 8,260 • Total population — 9,889 — 9,879 — 10,007 — 9,326 — 10,044 — 8,468 — 8,208 — 8,358 • Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.

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%) Religious groups in Quesnel (1991–2021) • Religious group — 2021 — 2011 — 2001 — 1991 • Pop. Population — % percentage — Pop. Population — % percentage — Pop. Population — % percentage — Pop. Population — % percentage • Christian — 3,260 — 4,200 — 5,230 — 4,525 • Sikh — 185 — 355 — 695 — 970 • Hindu — 70 — 55 — 100 — 50 • Buddhist — 15 — 30 — 70 — 0 • Indigenous spirituality — 10 — 20 — N/A — N/A — N/A — N/A • Muslim — 0 — 0 — 20 — 0 • Jewish — 0 — 0 — 0 — 20 • Other religion — 90 — 100 — 40 — 15 • Irreligious — 6,050 — 5,060 — 3,690 — 2,515 • Total responses — 9,685 — 9,830 — 9,840 — 8,100

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.

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.

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.

• Illustration — Quesnel Airport 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.

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.

• Illustration — Pacific Great Eastern Railway Station 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 in diameter and weighing, 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 east of the city. Quesnel is also home to Hallis Lake Cross Country Skiing Facility, a 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.

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. • Illustration — "Pilot", Carson Avenue and Kinchant Street • Illustration — "Can Can Girl", McLean Street and Shepherd Avenue • Illustration — McLean Street and St Laurent Avenue • Illustration — "BX Cook", Shepherd Avenue and Kinchant Street • Illustration — "Engineer", Legion Drive, Cariboo Highway, and Carson Avenue • Illustration — "Cyclist", Barlow Avenue and Vaughan Street

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.

• 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

• 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

• Illustration — Fraser River walking bridge • Illustration — Looking down St Laurent Ave; Rotary Clock in the foreground • Illustration — Bridge over the Quesnel River • Illustration — Quesnel Station • Illustration — Quesnel River from Red Bluff.

• Shiraoi, Japan