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Rotary’s 57th Seniors’ Expedition “best ever”

The group of local seniors went to Barkerville on Sept. 7
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120 local seniors travelled this month to Barkerville where they were treated to an afternoon show at the Theatre Royal. (Richard Palmer photo)

Despite its challenges, the Quesnel Rotary Club’s 57th annual Seniors’ Expedition to Barkerville has been lauded as “the best ever” by many.

The day trip held Sept. 7 saw 120 expeditioners travel 19,720 kilometres to Barkerville and back.

Lead organizer Ron Paull reports that the first obstacle was when this summer’s understaffing at Barkerville eateries prompted a sudden pivot from restaurant lunches to a self-catered affair so that the group could be assured they would get to Theatre Royal in time for the afternoon show. Club volunteers quickly put together a truckload of 140 “food-safe fantastic” box lunches that they served in Barkerville’s pavilion building, recently renamed Mitlite Iskum, meaning “gathering place.”

The event’s second challenge surfaced four days out when the charter bus company advised that they had to cancel their service due to mechanical problems. Other coaches were thankfully found after Paull insisted that the company must have buses for the more than 100 excited seniors who were all signed up and ready to go.

Following the “fantastic” box lunch in the pavilion building, the entourage was treated to an afternoon show at the Theatre Royal. Before boarding buses for home, everyone gathered in front of St. Saviour’s Church for a group photo. For those that would like a copy of the photo, email ronpaull@shaw.ca.

The Quesnel Rotary Club thanks the Quesnel Legion for opening their doors and putting the coffee on so early in the morning to welcome seniors as they awaited their chartered tour buses. Appreciation also goes to tour guide Jeff Dinsdale and his assistant, Margaret. A tip of the hat as well goes to our team of 11 very busy club volunteers. Barkerville staff was very accommodating and pitched in to help make the day run smoothly.

The Quesnel Rotary Club also thanks the seniors who “passed the hat” and took up a generous collection to aid the club’s local community projects.

President Laurey-Anne Roodenburg thanked the Seniors’ Expedition Committee for their contribution to the success of the event.

“As our club’s signature community service event, this yearly outing is a fitting and wonderful way for our club to recognize and thank our seniors for their contributions to the betterment of our community,” Roodenburg said. “This is what helps make Quesnel and area the best place to call home.”

Read More: Rotary Seniors’ Expedition to Barkerville set to return Sept. 7

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: rebecca.dyok@quesnelobserver.com



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