About the Seniors' Trip

Shortly after our club was chartered in 1955, we began to hold a picnic for Quesnel-local seniors (or "old age pensioners" as they were known back then).

 

In 1962, we had the idea of taking a group on a day's outing to Barkerville, beginning an activity that continued annually until the wildfiires of 2017 and then the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021 - the longest continually-running club event in our District!

 

Here's the picture printed in the 16th August 1962 edition of the Observer, along with Photostory #311 from the National Gallery of Canada , coincidentally composed in 1962 (the link for which appears to have changed since we originally found the story). 

 

Scroll down to see pictures of more recent adventures. If you have any pictures you would like to share, please email us at RotaryClubOfQuesnel@gmail.com

 

 

 

Perfect day, just nicely sunny and warm, 22 degrees...

 

Group picture to follow, but plenty to look at in our Photo Album

 

 

 

 

Our 60th Trip since 1964 - only wildfire (2017) and COVID-19 (2020) stopped the wagons/buses.

 

This year, it was so blessed hot after the Theatre Royal performance that we did a series of small-group pictures. Many more pictures, as always, in our Photo Album

 

 

 

 

For the 59th time since 1964...August 22nd gave us clear skies and happy faces.

Tons of pictures to scroll through, thanks to multiple Rotarians and Rocky Mountaineer employee (and longtime Quesnel resident) Lynn Schwehr - click here for the photo album.

 

 

 

 

Registration opened August 1st for the Expedition taking place August 24th.

 

As always, it was a great success. Our classic end-of-day group shot below; click here for more pictures.

 

 

 

 

After a two-year, pandemic-necessitated hiatus...we're back, baby!

 

Wednesday 7th September, the forecasted rain stayed away, and 116 seniors made the trip. Several changes needed from our previous format, not least of which being the need to organize a boxed lunch for our Expeditioners as all the Barkerville restaurants continued to be challenged by post-pandemic staffing shortages. Kudos to Bev Halushak for the idea; she and Jenna Turner put together top quality potato salad and egg salad, key compoents of 120 lunches composed by a crack team of volunteers (we estimated a collective 60 hours of volunteer time!).

Footnote: if you know how to get chickens to lay boiled eggs, please get in touch with Jenna!

 

In spite of our protestations, our Expeditioners insisted on sending round the hat and donated a total of $729 which we will put towards a future community project yet to be determined.

 

As always, we got our group picture in front of St Saviours. Click here for all the other pictures of the day.

 

 

 

 

5th September, for the 56th year in succession since 1964. A touch dreary in Quesnel but the sun came out again for us in Barkerville.

 

We hosted 102 seniors on two charter tour buses, 21 residents and staff from Dunrovin Park Lodge on two more buses, plus our team of a half dozen Rotary club volunteers. And in spite of this being a free day out, our guests passed round the hat and gave us $576.20 to put towards the local community project of our choice. 

 

For more pictures, click here or on the Phot Albums link to the left.

 

 

6th September...no rain, no smoke, just smiles!

 

100 or so made the Expedition (name changed because we couldn't agree on whether it was a Trip or a Trek - "A rose by any other name..."!)

 

Mrs McGinley (aka Amy Newman) and her troupe delivered a rousing Variety Show at the Theatre Royal and all seniors made it back in one piece to Quesnel.

 

Just a small handful of pictures this year (click here)...but always the one in front of St Saviour's Church

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

7th September...and we managed to get a dry day without any of the wildfire smoke. 

 

94 hopped on board, but nobody chose to use the Rotary-sponsored scooter until Rotarian Sheila Pritchard, who looked a bit disappointed in not being able to burn rubber, and then Cathy Walsh, who figured Sheila needed a passenger!

 

Be sure to check out the pictures in the Photo Album!

 

    

 

 

 

 

8th September...and this time the rain did not hold off. In fact, it may have been trying to make up for the last two or three dry years!

Another 100 or so of Quesnel's seniors made the Trip, and a bit of rain wasn't going to dampen any spirits.

 

See the Photo Album link for more pictures.

 

 

2nd September...and somehow the rain fell during the drive there and back but held off in Barkerville itself.

120 participants enjoyed Barkerville, lunch, and the afternoon show at Theatre Royal. 

 

 

This year's picture by Rotarian Tim Cawdell picture...and it never gets old (click on it to enlarge) 

If you look closely, you'll find (from left to right) Rotarians Sheila Pritchard and Liz Neave, Ron Paull, Tim (the centre of attention!), President Debbie Wiens (sky blue jacket), and our Youth Exchange Student from 2007-8, Paula Versiani, visiting from Brazil. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another successful Seniors’ Trip to Barkerville is in the history books!

 

On Monday, August 27^th, we treated three busloads of seniors, including residents of Fraser Village, Maeford Place and Dunrovin Lodge, to an outing to Cottonwood House and Barkerville. Everyone enjoyed a sunny day... including a stop in Cottonwood House, lunch, and a Theatre Royal performance in Barkerville.

 

Rotary thanks Gold Pan City Stage Lines, House Hotel and Wake-Up Jake Restaurants, Cottonwood House, Barkerville Historic Town and Theatre Royal for generous breaks on pricing. We also acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia.

 

Picture below is courtesy of Rotarian Ron Paull - click to enlarge, or take a look at all the pictures on our Facebook page.

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 

2009