President’s report Treasurer’s report

October saw The Paranormal Network’s We Want To Believe release The Ghost Town Part 1 on Youtube wherein they visit Barkerville in the off-season and explore the site’s most reputed haunts. Meanwhile, Beyond the Haunting Investigations’s pilot (which was filmed in Barkerville during early April of 2021) was picked-up by Vancouver-based Small Army Productions. A formal paranormal documentary was filmed in Barkerville early this summer. This two-part special, Haunted Gold Rush, is now being distributed by the T+E channel as of October 30th. Our congrats to Cariboo paranormal investigators, Corinne, Leanne, and Kelly, for their success and for promoting Barkerville and the Gold Rush Trail. You can watch Haunted Gold Rush by subscribing through your cable provider. If you do so, you’ll see an interview with the Friend’s own Emily Bailey (née Lindstrom) recounting an “experience” during her time as a Stage Manager in the Theatre Royal. There was no Ghostly Hallowe’en event in Barkerville this year, nor will there be a Victorian (formerly Old-Fashioned) Christmas event this year, but rest assured, Barkerville has posted in their social media that they are “committed to having these cultural events return in our 2023 season.” As these events have decades-long history in Barkerville (Victorian Christmas dating back to the 1980s) and are adored by locals and locals to the Cariboo region alike, we have faith that we can all gather and enjoy these special traditions again in the coming years. If you are looking for gifts for the holiday season, though, don’t worry! You can still purchase letterpress cards (including a Christmas Card package), blacksmith items, and numerous other Barkerville goods through their online store at barkerville.ca. Mason & Daly Merchants also have an online store for all of your required fine provisions and sophisticated tastes which you can find at masonanddaly.com. For history buffs looking for new material, Linda Peterat’s new book, From Denmark to Cariboo: The Epic Journey of the Lindhard Sisters, is now available from Heritage House Publishing. Linda will be speaking about the book and her research at the Quesnel and District Museum & Archives Heritage Speaker Series at 7pm on December 6th. In nearby Wells, where many Barkerville employees live their second lives, you can always visit Island Mountain Arts, see Peter Corbett’s iconic plein air paintings in the St. George Gallery, all things owl-artwork in the Owl’s Roost gallery, find an assortment of fine fashion, games, books, ornaments, jewellery, specialty items, and sundries at the Frog on the Bog Gifts, as well as a gift shop at the Jack ‘O Clubs, and there are a plethora of fun and unique artisan bath goods; soaps and bath-bombs, at Bath Magic (Good Eats building beside the Sunset Theatre, open Saturdays). Don’t forget, if you’re travelling off of Highway 97, you can always hit the slopes at Troll Ski Resort over the coming months or stop in at Barkerville Brewing in Quesnel for unique branded merchandise and delicious local craft beers (my personal favourite winter warmer and fireside sipper is the Prescription Porter, but one of their legacy brews, the 52 Foot Stout, just placed Gold in its category at the BC Beer Awards: congratulations Barkerville Brewing, and how fitting for a stout named after the 1862 Barker Co. Discovery Shaft!). Lastly, Barkerville is open to snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and sight-seeing over the winter months. There are world-renowned snowmobile trails in the area. Some of the best winter photography and recreation you’ll find is actually in and around Barkerville and Wells during the winter months. Just be sure to check ahead to ensure that accommodations (such as Mountain Thyme Getaway, the Willow River Inn, the Wells Hotel, and the Barkerville Cottages) and restaurants (the Wells Hotel and Jack of Clubs) are available to you during your visit as accommodations can see group-bookings and some businesses adjust to winter hours with less tourism activity. Heritage BC’s Heritage Week 2023 runs from February 20th-26th with the theme: “Always in All Ways.” Keep an eye out for exciting annual events such as the 31st Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run, scheduled for February 24-26th, 2023. Some great resources for planning your visit are What’s Up in Wells at whatsupinwells.com, and, of course, all of your Barkerville questions can be answered at barkerville.ca or by contacting the site. In Wells, you now have access to cell service if you require it. Are you asking yourself if it’s too late to purchase a 2022 Membership? No, not at all! Our 2022 membership is active until April 30th, 2023. The winter season is only just beginning and you can present your card at Troll Ski Resort to receive 10% off of a day-pass on the slopes or stop into Barkerville Brewing for a winter warmer and an appetiser and receive 10% off of your bill. Your membership will pay for itself in no time. Happy Holidays to one and all from the Friends near and far.

Five Flags, Left: Bibby Tin Shop; photos B. Bailey

–Brendan Bailey

President’s Report

Winter is quickly approaching and 2022 is coming to a close. It’s been a good year in moving a number of FOB projects ahead: work continues with getting the signage completed for the CWR, the posts are up, and final drafts of signs (18 in total) detailing the history along the trail are being completed. We hope to be able to host an event on the trail next year to encourage people to use the trail and experience part of our history. A Bloody Good Bash! was held at Troll Ski Resort on Saturday, October 22nd. It was deemed a success and we hope to make it an annual event. We continue with our main goal to support Barkerville Heritage Site and the trails and Cemeteries that complement Barkerville. There is a fair bit of work ensuring our historic cemeteries don’t fall into total disrepair, and the historic trails leading to Barkerville be kept up. Any and all help is welcomed. We have a wonderful group of dedicated directors at FOB making meetings and workbees fun and productive. Thank you all. –Hildur Sinclair, President

Treasurer’s Report

As mentioned in our summer newsletter, the Friends of Barkerville-Cariboo Goldfields Historical Society was granted charitable status by Canada Revenue in December 2021 and can now issue tax receipts for donations. The previous year was a successful year for FOB donation-wise, while 2022 has been a little more challenging. We continue to receive membership renewals, new members, and cash donations from collection boxes in Barkerville, Wells, and Quesnel, which are all much appreciated. The first annual “Bloody Good Bash” fundraiser was held at Troll Ski Resort in October and thank-you to Hildur Sinclair and her staff for the facility and efforts in making this event a success. Looking forward to 2023, we are in contact with a potential corporate partner which will allow the FOB to continue to fund upgrading on the Cariboo Wagon Road from Stanley to Barkerville and a much needed upgrade to the Stanley Cemetery. –Tony McDonald, Treasurer