2012- For over 100 years the people of Quesnel have gathered at Lebourdais Park for community celebrations and recreation. From sports days, horse races, and the Willingdon Links golf course in the early twentieth century, through the stock car races in the 1950s to the many festivals of the present day. This park is where you’ll find the Quesnel & District Museum and Archives, as well as the Visitor Information Centre. The City of Quesnel has a rich and colourful history that dates back for hundreds of years, and this museum houses many of the artifacts that tell the story.
In 2008, Northern Development funded a feasibility study that explored the viability of building the Cariboo Culture, Heritage & Visitor Centre to replace the current facility. The museum is very limited in space and as such, the staff are restricted in the historical pieces that they are able to accept and the types of educational programs they can deliver. The proposed facility would allow the City to increase programming and cultural activities that would serve both tourists and area residents. Upon the completion of the feasibility study, the City was provided with detailed plans that included the ideal location for the centre in the park that would allow the current facility to continue operations during construction, a sustainable building design that would feature innovative wood technology and create a landmark, and a detailed strategic exhibit plan that outlines a preliminary storyline with exhibit chapters, floor plans and a selection of inspirational images. The completion of the architectural and exhibit design is a key step toward the construction of a new Museum and Visitor Centre that will be a catalyst for cultural tourism in Quesnel.
