Quesnel
10000 inhabitants. The strategic position of Quesnel at the turnoff of the route to the goldfields of Barkerville
let it grow quickly to an impressive town in the 19th century. Even before gold was found discoverers and fur
traders travelled through this region. This is where Quesnel gets its name from. Jules Maurice Quesnel was a
member of Simon Fraser's expedition down the Fraser River, that successfully mastered all hardships involved
in this trip. Here they had no notion of what was yet to come on their was through Fraser Canyon at Hell's Gate.
Today forestry is an economic mainstay. Two pulp mills, a plywood plant and five saw mills provide work to
the people living here.
The museum of Quesnel is considered one of the best community museums west of Ottawa and shows a surprising
collection of Chinese artefacts.
Other attractions in the surrounding area are hoodoos, stone columns, and a scenic canyon in Pinnacles
Provincial Park 8 km west of Highway 97. Gold panning tours are available in Quesnel, that remind tourists of
the goldrush times in British Columbia in the middle of the 19th century.
From July 18 to 21, 2002, goldrush times are revived in Quesnel, when the annual Billy Barker Days celebrate
the memories of bygone times.
top
Talisman Inn Motel***
The Talisman Inn Motel is a full-service, 86 room motel offering a variety
of amenities to suit the individual traveler, corporate groups, seniors and
families alike.
753 Front Street, Quesnel, B.C. V2J 2L2, from B.C. and Alberta:
call free: 1-800-663-8090,
Tel: (250) 992-7247
Fax: (250) 992-3126
