Within the coming months, the City of Quesnel’s gold pan, currently located at the corner of Hwy 97 and Hwy 26, will be removed, refurbished and relocated to the Quesnel Train Station. Planning and work are already underway at the Train Station to ensure the safe installation of the gold pan.
The move into the inner city area, close to the Quesnel Museum and Visitor Centre, will put the gold pan in a centralized hub, which will not only support growth in the downtown but will also add vibrancy by attracting more visitors to the downtown core. This new centralized location will provide more opportunities to entice visitors to explore the area than they have been able to at the location on the outskirts of the city.
New signage will be installed at the corner of Hwy 97 and Hwy 26 welcoming travellers entering Quesnel from the north. The new gateway sign is part of the complete wayfinding program that is currently being implemented.
Once removed from its current location, the gold pan, originally erected in 1987, will be repainted. There will also be interpretive signage telling visitors more about the importance of Quesnel during the gold rush at the new location.
Gold Pan relocation - background
In 2018 the City of Quesnel updated its community signage (place-making) program. The updated program included new signage to help tourists find points of interest in Quesnel and new community gateway signage. The process to update this program included workshops with arts, culture and heritage groups and the business community, as well as an open house and survey for the public.
The final report included a recommendation to move the gold pan to a more central location.
On October 22, 2019, a vote to the relocate the City's gold pan sign from its current site on Highway 97 North to the BC Rail lands adjacent to the station house, located at 710 Legion Drive, Quesnel, BC was approved https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/116727.
The Quesnel Train Station was selected because it can be easily accessed from Hwy 97 which will allow visitors to access restaurants and shops. The train station is also home to the Rocky Mountaineer, a Canadian rail-tour company in Western Canada that operates trains on three rail routes through British Columbia and Alberta. In 2019 the Rocky Mountaineer brought over 6,000 tourists to Quesnel who started and ended their experience at the train station.
The place-making and wayfinding project falls under the Destination Development pillar of the City of Quesnel’s Economic Development Transition Strategy.
For more information about the City’s place-making and wayfinding strategy, visit: www.quesnel.ca/wayfinding
For more information about the City’s Economic Development Transition Strategy, visit: www.quesnel.ca/transition
For more information about the Pacific Great Eastern Railway Station, visit: www.quesnel.ca/pacific-great-eastern-railway-station
For more information about the Quesnel Museum and Archives, visit: www.quesnelmuseum.ca
For more information about the Quesnel Visitor Centre, visit: www.quesnel.ca/visitor-centre
FAQ
Q – Where will the gold pan be moved to?
A – The Quesnel Train Station - located at 710 Legion Drive, better known as the Pacific Great Eastern Railway Station.
The train station is a prominent location in the centre of the city and is an important piece of Quesnel’s heritage. The building was constructed in 1921 and continues to be used as a railway station. It is also the home of the Rocky Mountaineer that welcomes hundreds of travellers coming to Quesnel every week during the tourist season.
Q – Why was the Train Station selected as the new location for the gold pan?
A – The train station and surrounding area are considered a centralized hub for the City of Quesnel. The station is located in downtown Quesnel which is the commercial and administrative centre of the city. It is also central to the Visitor Information Centre that hosts a gold pan loan program and has RV parking. Also, the gold pan will be close to the Quesnel Museum and Archives which features Quesnel’s rich history. The location is also considered a central transportation point for many travellers on their way to Barkerville.
Q – Is the gold pan a historical heritage item?
A – No. The gold pan was originally installed in 1987, as part of a community marketing campaign brought in by Expo 86. At that time, many communities across British Columbia installed oversized features/attractions.
Q – Where do other communities display their oversized attractions?
A – Typically communities install these attractions within a central location or close to their community Visitor Centre. Examples include 100 Mile House, Williams Lake and Houston.
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