The City of Quesnel is answering questions about its decision to relocate the Quesnel gold pan from corner of Highway 97 and Highway 26 to the Quesnel Train Station.
The decision to move the gold pan was approved by city council in 2019 after the City updated its community signage (place-making) program in 2018, the final report of which recommended that the gold pan be moved to a more central location.
“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,” states the release.
The release states that the relocation of the gold pan to a more centralized hub in the community will support growth in downtown Quesnel as well as add vibrancy by attracting more visitors to the downtown core.
READ MORE: WEB POLL: Do you support the Gold Pan relocation?
The City of Quesnel release states lists the following answers to popular question regarding the relocation of the gold pan:
Question – Where will the gold pan be moved to?
Answer – 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.
Question – Why was the Train Station selected as the new location for the gold pan?
Answer – 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.
Question – Is the gold pan a historical heritage item?
Answer – 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.
Question – Where do other communities display their oversized attractions?
Answer – 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.
READ MORE: Gold pan relocation causing pan-demonium
sasha.sefter@quesnelobserver.com
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