Quesnel, British Columbia

Quesnel
City
City of Quesnel
Aerial view of Quesnel in 2009
Aerial view of Quesnel in 2009
Flag of Quesnel
Flag
Official logo of Quesnel
Motto: 
"Quesnel: It's in our nature"[1]
Quesnel is located in British Columbia
Quesnel
Quesnel
Location of Quesnel in British Columbia
Coordinates: 52°58′47″N 122°29′37″W / 52.97972°N 122.49361°W / 52.97972; -122.49361[2]
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
RegionNorth Cariboo
Regional districtCariboo Regional District
Founded1861
Incorporated as village1928
Incorporated as town1958
Incorporated as city1981
Government
 • MayorRon Paull
 • Governing bodyQuesnel City Council
Area
 (2021)[3]
 • Land35.5 km2 (13.7 sq mi)
 • Population centre25.23 km2 (9.74 sq mi)
 • Census agglomeration21,708.62 km2 (8,381.75 sq mi)
Elevation
 at Quesnel Airport[4]
545 m (1,788 ft)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total
9,889
 • Density279.8/km2 (725/sq mi)
 • Population centre
12,110
 • Population centre density480.0/km2 (1,243/sq mi)
 • Census agglomeration
23,113
 • Census agglomeration density1.1/km2 (3/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−08:00 (PST)
Forward sortation area
V2J
Area code(s)250, 778, 236, 672
Highways Highway 97
Highway 26
WaterwaysFraser River, Quesnel River
Websitequesnel.ca Edit this at Wikidata

Quesnel (/kwɪˈnɛl/; Kee-nel in French) 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 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.[5]

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.

History

See also: Steamboats of the Upper Fraser River

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’.[6]

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.

Geography and climate

Climate

Considering it is located inland and around the 53rd parallel north, Quesnel's humid continental climate[7] (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 (75 °F) in that season according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Quesnel was 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) on 29 June 2021.[8] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −46.7 °C (−52.1 °F) on 31 December 1927 and 17 January 1950.[9][10]

Climate data for Quesnel (Quesnel Airport)
Climate ID: 1096630; coordinates 53°01′34″N 122°30′36″W / 53.02611°N 122.51000°W / 53.02611; -122.51000 (Quesnel Airport); elevation: 545.0 m (1,788.1 ft); 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high humidex 13.8 15.0 21.8 30.8 36.6 36.0 41.9 36.8 37.0 27.1 16.6 11.7 41.9
Record high °C (°F) 13.9
(57.0) 		15.1
(59.2) 		22.3
(72.1) 		31.0
(87.8) 		36.5
(97.7) 		41.7
(107.1) 		36.7
(98.1) 		36.2
(97.2) 		36.1
(97.0) 		26.8
(80.2) 		17.2
(63.0) 		12.2
(54.0) 		41.7
(107.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −2.9
(26.8) 		1.3
(34.3) 		7.3
(45.1) 		13.5
(56.3) 		18.4
(65.1) 		21.7
(71.1) 		24.1
(75.4) 		24.1
(75.4) 		18.5
(65.3) 		10.8
(51.4) 		2.1
(35.8) 		−2.3
(27.9) 		11.4
(52.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.9
(19.6) 		−3.6
(25.5) 		1.3
(34.3) 		6.4
(43.5) 		11.1
(52.0) 		14.7
(58.5) 		16.8
(62.2) 		16.4
(61.5) 		11.5
(52.7) 		5.5
(41.9) 		−1.4
(29.5) 		−5.9
(21.4) 		5.5
(41.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −10.8
(12.6) 		−8.3
(17.1) 		−4.7
(23.5) 		−0.8
(30.6) 		3.7
(38.7) 		7.6
(45.7) 		9.5
(49.1) 		8.6
(47.5) 		4.5
(40.1) 		0.2
(32.4) 		−5.0
(23.0) 		−9.6
(14.7) 		−0.4
(31.3)
Record low °C (°F) −46.7
(−52.1) 		−42.2
(−44.0) 		−38.9
(−38.0) 		−20.0
(−4.0) 		−10.0
(14.0) 		−3.3
(26.1) 		0.6
(33.1) 		−2.6
(27.3) 		−8.9
(16.0) 		−28.4
(−19.1) 		−37.8
(−36.0) 		−46.7
(−52.1) 		−46.7
(−52.1)
Record low wind chill −48 −43 −42 −25 −10 −2 0 −1 −9 −27 −48 −47 −48
Average precipitation mm (inches) 47.8
(1.88) 		22.7
(0.89) 		24.9
(0.98) 		24.5
(0.96) 		42.6
(1.68) 		66.4
(2.61) 		65.6
(2.58) 		46.2
(1.82) 		50.2
(1.98) 		52.6
(2.07) 		51.3
(2.02) 		41.6
(1.64) 		536.2
(211.1)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 10.4
(0.41) 		6.7
(0.26) 		12.7
(0.50) 		21.2
(0.83) 		41.4
(1.63) 		66.4
(2.61) 		65.6
(2.58) 		46.2
(1.82) 		50.2
(1.98) 		46.3
(1.82) 		22.3
(0.88) 		4.9
(0.19) 		394.3
(15.52)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 44.0
(17.3) 		19.0
(7.5) 		13.4
(5.3) 		3.6
(1.4) 		1.2
(0.5) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		6.7
(2.6) 		31.5
(12.4) 		42.8
(16.9) 		162.1
(63.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 12.8 9.7 9.7 9.8 12.1 15.8 14.2 12.0 12.4 14.8 14.0 13.4 150.7
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 3.1 3.4 5.9 8.8 11.9 15.8 14.2 12.0 12.4 13.7 7.2 2.4 110.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 11.3 7.1 5.4 2.2 0.72 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.4 8.8 11.8 49.7
Average relative humidity (%) (at 15:00LST) 74.3 62.0 46.9 37.9 40.0 44.8 44.4 42.9 49.4 59.0 72.6 75.7 54.2
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada[8][9][10]

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 0.1% from its 2016 population of 9,879. With a land area of 35.35 km2 (13.65 sq mi), it had a population density of 279.7/km2 (724.5/sq mi) in 2021.[3] 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.[3]

The median household income in 2015 for Quesnel was $60,651, which is slightly below the British Columbia provincial average of $69,995.[11]

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.[12]

Ethnicity

Panethnic groups in the City of Quesnel (1986–2021)
Panethnic
group 		2021[3] 2016[13] 2011[14] 2006[15] 2001[16] 1996[17] 1991[18][19] 1986[20][21][22]: 107 
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[a] 7,680 79.3% 7,245 74.81% 7,670 78.03% 7,290 79.46% 7,805 79.28% 6,325 75.52% 6,290 77.65% 6,360 77%
Indigenous 1,305 13.47% 1,610 16.62% 1,415 14.39% 1,045 11.39% 880 8.94% 710 8.48% 610 7.53% 480 5.81%
South Asian 295 3.05% 510 5.27% 485 4.93% 555 6.05% 830 8.43% 1,150 13.73% 1,040 12.84% 1,130 13.68%
Southeast Asian[b] 170 1.76% 90 0.93% 45 0.46% 90 0.98% 80 0.81% 70 0.84% 20 0.25% 70 0.85%
East Asian[c] 100 1.03% 170 1.76% 140 1.42% 170 1.85% 200 2.03% 70 0.84% 110 1.36% 210 2.54%
African 55 0.57% 20 0.21% 25 0.25% 15 0.16% 15 0.15% 55 0.66% 10 0.12% 0 0%
Latin American 45 0.46% 20 0.21% 25 0.25% 10 0.11% 40 0.41% 0 0% 10 0.12% 5 0.06%
Middle Eastern[d] 0 0% 10 0.1% 0 0% 10 0.11% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.12% 5 0.06%
Other/Multiracial[e] 20 0.21% 20 0.21% 0 0% 10 0.11% 10 0.1% 0 0% — — — —
Total responses 9,685 97.94% 9,685 98.04% 9,830 98.23% 9,175 98.38% 9,845 98.02% 8,375 98.9% 8,100 98.68% 8,260 98.83%
Total population 9,889 100% 9,879 100% 10,007 100% 9,326 100% 10,044 100% 8,468 100% 8,208 100% 8,358 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Religion

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Quesnel included:[3]

Religious groups in Quesnel (1991–2021)
Religious group 2021[3] 2011[14] 2001[16] 1991[18]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Christian 3,260 33.66% 4,200 42.73% 5,230 53.15% 4,525 55.86%
Sikh 185 1.91% 355 3.61% 695 7.06% 970 11.98%
Hindu 70 0.72% 55 0.56% 100 1.02% 50 0.62%
Buddhist 15 0.15% 30 0.31% 70 0.71% 0 0%
Indigenous spirituality 10 0.1% 20 0.2% N/A N/A N/A N/A
Muslim 0 0% 0 0% 20 0.2% 0 0%
Jewish 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 20 0.25%
Other religion 90 0.93% 100 1.02% 40 0.41% 15 0.19%
Irreligious 6,050 62.47% 5,060 51.48% 3,690 37.5% 2,515 31.05%
Total responses 9,685 97.94% 9,830 98.23% 9,840 97.97% 8,100 98.68%

Economy

Quesnel is a city known for its forestry, particularly the production of pulp and lumber. Forestry is the single biggest employer in Quesnel.[23] 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.[citation needed]

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.[24][25]

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 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.

Healthcare

Quesnel is served by GR Baker Memorial Hospital.[26]

A new emergency section was added to the hospital on 14 April 2023.[27] This increased the overall size of the hospital as well as making it easier for patients to move from building to building.

Tourism

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.[6] 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.[28] Quesnel is home to the world's largest gold pan,[29] measured at 5.5 m (18 ft) in diameter and weighing 1,400 kg (3,100 lb), 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.[30] Quesnel is also the closest city to Barkerville, the largest historic site western North America, and epicentre of the Cariboo Gold Rush.[31]

Troll Ski Resort, or simply Troll, is located 44 km (27 mi) east of the city.[32] Quesnel is also home to Hallis Lake Cross Country Skiing Facility, a 75 km (47 mi) network of trails maintained by the Cariboo Ski Touring Club for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.[33] 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.[34] Mandy appeared on The Montel Williams Show.[35]

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.[36]

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

Neighbourhoods and nearby communities

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

Images

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

Sister city

Notes

  1. ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  3. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  4. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  5. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

References

  1. ^ "Short commutes, affordable housing: Quesnel rebrands itself to attract disenchanted Lower Mainland residents". CBC News British Columbia. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Quesnel". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "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. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  4. ^ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations". Statistics Canada. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Explore Quesnel – It's in our nature". www.tourismquesnel.com. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Quesnel, British Columbia Climate Summary". Weatherbase. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Daily Data Report for June 2021". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Daily Data Report for December 1927". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010 Station Data". Environment and Climate Change Canada. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Census Profile, 2016: Quesnel". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  12. ^ "BC Stats Has Released Population Numbers For The Cariboo". My Cariboo Now. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  13. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 October 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  14. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 November 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  15. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (20 August 2019). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  16. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2 July 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  17. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (4 June 2019). "Electronic Area Profiles Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions, 1996 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  18. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (29 March 2019). "1991 Census Area Profiles Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions – Part B". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  19. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (29 March 2019). "Data tables, 1991 Census Population by Ethnic Origin (24), Showing Single and Multiple Origins (2) – Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  20. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 June 2019). "Data tables, 1986 Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 Census – Part A". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  21. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 June 2019). "Data tables, 1986 Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 Census – Part B". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  22. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (3 April 2013). "Canada's aboriginal population by census subdivisions from the 1986 Census of Canada". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  23. ^ Sointio, Jon; Rankin, Anna; van Aert, Mike (2006). "Biofilm Activated Sludge process at Quesnel River Pulp installation" (PDF). Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine.
  24. ^ "Quesnel City Council". City of Quesnel. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  25. ^ "B.C. municipal election 2022: Quesnel results – BC". Global News. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  26. ^ "GR Baker Memorial Hospital | Northern Health".
  27. ^ "New emerg department, ICU open at Quesnel's GR Baker Hospital". Quesnel Cariboo Observer. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Quesnel". www.hellobc.com/quesnel.aspx. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  29. ^ "BC's Biggest Attractions Are Often in the Smallest Places". BC Lodging & Campgrounds Association. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  30. ^ "Quesnel gold pan moved to new downtown location sometime overnight". caribooobserver.com. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  31. ^ "Visit Us – Barkerville Historic Town & Park".
  32. ^ "Things to do and see". britishcolumbia.com. 17 December 2012.
  33. ^ "Hallis Lake". quesnel.ca. 27 May 2017.
  34. ^ "Mandy The Haunted Doll". quesnelmuseum.ca.
  35. ^ "Mandy The Haunted Doll". Huffpost.com. 31 October 2018.
  36. ^ "Painted Fire Hydrant Walking Tour". City of Quesnel. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  37. ^ "Arts and Recreation: Shiraoi House". City of Quesnel. March 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
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