Feb. 4: Provincial rules requiring students to wear masks in class to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were expanded.
Students in elementary schools were the only exceptions to the mask order.
Feb. 5: After holding out hope their season could be salvaged, the Quesnel Curling Club shut their doors for the season.
The centre had hoped stricter health rules would relax in time for them to restart their season, but they were extended instead.
Feb. 8: A house on Anderson Drive in West Quesnel was completely burned to the ground. The residents of the home were treated for smoke inhalation, but were otherwise okay.
The house stood on the exact same spot as another fire which took place in Jan. of 1984.
A man was charged with arson in relation to the blaze.
Feb 11: Northern Health earned the tragic distinction of having the highest rate of illicit drug deaths in the province in 2020.
Experts cited rural isolation, stigma a toxic drug supply and inadequate treatment services as causes.
Feb. 12: The district of Wells announced they had detected lead in their water supply.
“We honestly expected some of the historical buildings to have issues, but I did not expect a water main to come up positive as well,” district CAO Donna Forseille said.
The district provided potable water for residents while they investigated and tested further.
Feb. 16: Quesnel’s efforts to host the 2024 B.C. Winter Games appeared to be finished at a council meeting.
Staff revealed they had not secured a key letter of support which would complete their bid, and would not complete it before the deadline for application.
Feb. 20: A local gold miner reported $300K in gold was stolen from his home on the Barkerville Highway.
“They also so lovingly scratched ‘F.U.’ in the TV,” Tim Kleman’s daughter said. “I think maybe it’s a personal matter. They obviously were going there to look for the gold.”
Feb. 23: For the second consecutive year, Billy Barker days was cancelled.
The 2020 Billy Barker Days event was cancelled in early April of 2021.
Feb. 27: The second 2021 Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run took place. Planned as a way to potentially have spectators attend, this run was also made without people watching.
Four teams of dogs and their mushers carried over 2,000 envelopes from Quesnel to the Barkerville post office.
READ MORE: Sled dog mail run artist inspired by 2020 event
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com
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cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com
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