Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:
Editor's Note -- this week's Quesnel City Council column is written by Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson. He can be reached via email here
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to run its course, Quesnel residents, like other British Columbians, have been hunkering down at home or discovering various parts of our home province in their trailers, campers, or tents. For a large portion of our population, the outdoors has become a refuge, and outdoor gear has flown off the shelves of local retailers.
Fortunately, Quesnel and the North Cariboo have plenty to offer in our natural surroundings and our trails, lakes, rivers, campsites, and recreation sites have been abuzz with activity. Our two new mountain bike and hiking trail networks that were opened this spring (Wonderland and Dragon Mountain) were heavily used by both locals and visitors alike; creating their own buzz about what Quesnel has to offer.
This buzz about Quesnel was amplified by a robust community and tourism marketing program led by the City’s Economic Development and Tourism team. This campaign included significant communications and promotions using social media, various strategic ad purchases, a Global TV competition, and a new series of videos. The video highlighting our new mountain bike trail networks has garnered a lot of attention and interest, and the mountain biking community throughout BC is alive to the fact that Quesnel is quickly becoming a great destination for this growing sport.
Quesnel City Council and the Cariboo Regional District Directors representing the North Cariboo have been collaboratively and aggressively pursuing trail development over the last few years and together we’ve supported not only the trail networks we now have to offer, but also the development of a detailed master plan to enhance these networks so that our local residents can enjoy them even more and they become more attractive to visitors (and the economic benefits tourists bring to our local businesses). Grant applications have or will soon be submitted for trail developments in Pioneer Park, the Wonderland trail network (with a connector trail to Hallis Lake), West Fraser Timber Park, and an upgraded bike park behind the recreation centre.
But, trails are only one part of our strategy to transition Quesnel into a preferred place to “come to” as opposed to simply being a beautiful community to “drive thru.” The renovations to the Museum and Visitor Centre and Spirit Square are now well underway. Council is working towards redeveloping Shiraoi House into a new and fun retail space. Grant applications are in or being submitted for significant safety and quality enhancements to the walking bridge and riverfront trail along the Fraser River and for the RV Park and Campground that will be built on the downstream side of the Johnston Bridge where the City’s utilities yard is currently located. The Lhtako Dene are also submitting a grant application for phase 1 of their cultural centre at Ceal Tingley Park.
The buzz about Quesnel that we’ve been able to create with our community and tourism marketing campaign and our initial trail networks is bound to grow as a result of Council’s determination to drive our transition strategy and ensure Quesnel remains a great place to live and invest in and a fun place to visit.
View some of the tourism and community marketing campaign assets:
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