Get outside this winter in the North Cariboo!

 Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

Editor's Note -- this week's Quesnel City Council column written by Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson.  He can be reached via email here

I’m not convinced we got an actual summer this year, and now it seems fall has been bypassed and we’re heading straight into an early winter. So, are we ready for our first COVID-winter?

Winter is difficult for many people at the best of times. The days are short and the nights long. As the cold deepens and the snow comes, it gets harder for some people to get outside; the place many people have been using to stay active, sane, and connected during this pandemic.

This winter, the opportunities for indoor activity in both public and private gathering places will continue to be restricted due to the social distancing requirements of public health officials and Worksafe BC. As a result, it’ll be important to pay even more attention to both our mental and physical health throughout the winter months.

City staff will continue to make every opportunity available for people to exercise indoors in our public venues while adhering to the guidelines imposed on those spaces to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Extra staffing continues to be deployed to sanitize these facilities and the COVID rules are clearly posted at each venue. Please adhere to these guidelines when you use these spaces so we can keep them open and limit the spread of the virus. Since the guidelines, operating hours, and programming may change over the course of this winter, please sign up for notifications by going to www.quesnel.ca/subscribe so you can easily keep abreast of these changes as they occur.

However, outdoors will remain the safest place to recreate and congregate over the winter and we’re fortunate that Quesnel provides a lot of opportunities for getting outdoors all year long. 

The riverfront trail is maintained all winter, making walking a safe and inexpensive activity throughout most of the winter. Snowshoeing in our parks and on the many trails surrounding our community can add variety to walking outdoors when the snow comes. Making walking/snowshoeing dates with friends and family can extend our “bubble” over the winter on all but the most inclement days if social distancing is maintained and masks are worn when needed. Purchasing a headlamp and wearing a high-viz vest can safely extend the hours when these activities can be enjoyed.

Once the snow comes in full force, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Hallis Lake or downhill skiing at Troll are affordable options for most families, and both have rental equipment available. Discounted seasons passes are now on sale for these venues, and if you haven’t tried these winter activities you can arrange for lessons to get you started.

The main message is: as winter starts to set in, start planning for how you will stay active outdoors, maintain your connections with friends and family, and continue to help stop the spread of COVID-19. And, as much as possible, be deliberate about getting out in the sun when its shining, which generally happens a lot during our Cariboo winters; with international travel still restricted, our Cariboo sunshine will have to suffice for those who would normally seek the sun elsewhere during the winter months.