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Sunday, September 05, 2010

Quesnel, British Columbia?qsrc=3044

Quesnel
Motto: In Situ
Quesnel is located in British Columbia
Quesnel
Location of Quesnel in British Columbia
Coordinates: 52°58′42.4″N 122°29′33.6″W / 52.978444°N 122.492667°W / 52.978444; -122.492667Coordinates: 52°58′42.4″N 122°29′33.6″W / 52.978444°N 122.492667°W / 52.978444; -122.492667
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
RegionCariboo Regional District
Incorporated1928
Government
 - MayorMary Sjostrom
 - Governing bodyQuesnel City Council
Area
 - City35.34 km2 (13.6 sq mi)
 - Metro21,765.74 km2 (8,403.8 sq mi)
Elevation474 m (1,555 ft)
Population (2006)
 - City9,326
 - Density263.9/km2 (683.5/sq mi)
 - Metro22,449
 - Metro Density1.0/km2 (2.6/sq mi)
Time zonePST (UTC−8)
Postal code spanV2J***
HighwaysHighway 97, Highway 26
WaterwaysBowron Lake
Fraser River, Quesnel River
Websitehttp://www.city.quesnel.bc.ca/

Quesnel (pronounced /kwəˈnɛl/) is a small city that is part of the Cariboo 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. 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 lie Wells, Barkerville, and Bowron Lake Provincial Park, a popular canoeing destination in the Cariboo Mountains.

 
Table of Contents
1History
2Geography and climate
 2.1Climate
3Demographics
4Administration
5Festivities
6Sports
 6.1Hockey
 6.2Soccer
7Notable residents
8Neighbourhoods & nearby communities
9Sister cities
10Education
11References
12External links

History

The name derives from Jules Maurice Quesnel, who accompanied Simon Fraser on his journey to the Pacific Ocean.Quesnel came to 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. 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 during 1862 until 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.

Main article: Steamboats of the Upper Fraser River in British Columbia

Geography and climate

Climate

Climate data for Quesnel
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)13.9
(57)		15.1
(59.2)		22.3
(72.1)		31
(88)		36.5
(97.7)		35.6
(96.1)		36.7
(98.1)		36.2
(97.2)		36.1
(97)		26.8
(80.2)		17.2
(63)		12.2
(54)		36.7
(98.1)
Average high °C (°F)-4.3
(24.3)		0.8
(33.4)		7
(45)		13.4
(56.1)		18.3
(64.9)		21.2
(70.2)		24
(75)		23.7
(74.7)		18.4
(65.1)		10.7
(51.3)		2
(36)		-3.1
(26.4)		11
(52)
Average low °C (°F)-12.8
(9)		-9.1
(15.6)		-4.8
(23.4)		-1
(30)		3.5
(38.3)		7.3
(45.1)		9.3
(48.7)		8.6
(47.5)		4.5
(40.1)		0.1
(32.2)		-5.2
(22.6)		-10.7
(12.7)		-0.9
(30.4)
Record low °C (°F)-46.7
(-52.1)		-42.2
(-44)		-38.9
(-38)		-20
(-4)		-10
(14)		-3.3
(26.1)		0.6
(33.1)		-2.6
(27.3)		-8.9
(16)		-28.4
(-19.1)		-37.8
(-36)		-41.1
(-42)		-46.7
(-52.1)
Precipitation mm (inches)48.5
(1.909)		24.4
(0.961)		28.9
(1.138)		21.9
(0.862)		40.7
(1.602)		68.6
(2.701)		61.6
(2.425)		50
(1.97)		44.8
(1.764)		51.4
(2.024)		49.8
(1.961)		49.7
(1.957)		540.3
(21.272)
Source: Environment Canada[1]

Demographics

Quesnel had a population of 9,326 people in 2006, which was a decrease of 7.1% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Quesnel was $54,044, which is slightly above the British Columbia provincial average of $52,709.[2]

Administration

City Council:

  • Mayor: Mary Sjostrom (elected November 2008)
  • Peter Couldwell
  • Mike Cave
  • Sushil Thapar
  • Laurey Roodenburg
  • Coralee Oakes
  • Ron Paull

Canadian Federal Member of Parliament:

Member of British Columbia Legislative Assembly:

Festivities

The Quesnel gold pan.

Billy Barker Days is held every year on the third weekend in July. It celebrates Quesnel's heritage and the first gold miner, William Barker (for whom Barkerville is named), to strike it rich in the Quesnel area. To kick off Billy Barker Days there is an annual Crash to Pass event. There is a large fair in downtown's Lebourdais park. Throughout the weekend there are performers from all over Canada. There are contests and prizes, as well as many things for children to do, including a "Kids' Day". The food is quite popular too, with many locals who set up food booths. The Rodeo goes on all weekend, and the whole thing ends with a fireworks display on Sunday evening.

Sports

Hockey

Quesnel is home to the BCHL's Quesnel Millionaires junior A hockey team. Quesnel also has a minor hockey association.

Soccer

The Quesnel Youth Soccer Association and the Quesnel Mixed Soccer Association both serve the community. The Quesnel Strikers are Quesnel's youth rep teams.

Notable residents

Neighbourhoods & nearby communities

Sister cities

Quesnel has "sister city" agreements with the following cities:

Education

References

  1. ↑ Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 11 July 2009
  2. ↑ "Quesnel, British Columbia - Detailed City Profile". http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5941013&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Quesnel&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2009-10-01. 

External links

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