Coralee Oakes

08/16/2026

On this day in 1945, the Second World War came to an end with the announcement of Victory over Japan.

This is my great grandfather Allan Oakes and my great uncle Sonny Oakes taking a moment to pause from haying to mark V-J Day. My grandfather Wilson Oakes was serving in the Pacific at the time.

The “Cariboo Boys” came from communities throughout the Cariboo; from Quesnel, Moose Heights, Six Mile Lake, Gravelle Ferry, Beaver Pass, Kersley, Dragon Lake, Lone Butte to name a few.

The “Cariboo Boys” fought in France, Holland, Italy, Asia and the Pacific.

Nineteen never returned home.

I grew up in the very small farming community of Moose Heights. Mildred Mighton (Mufford) , Lee and Doug Mighton, Dalmer Mufford, John and Vic Fowley, Ray, Walter and Harvey Williams and my grandfather Wilson Oakes all enlisted. Our community lost Bunny Moxley and Walter Bond (the Moose Heights schoolteacher who boarded with my family). He went on one tour, was a tail gunner and never made it home.

There were family members back home that kept the farms operating. People like my great grandfather (the local postmaster) had the difficult task of delivering news to family members. On two separate occasions he had to deliver terrible news to my great uncle’s family Doug Mighton, that he was missing in action. Thankfully he lived to share the story of when he was serving in Italy he asked if there were any Canadians around. He was directed to a group and there he found is brother Lee. Lee did not know Doug had enlisted.

My great grandmother Kitty Hartley (Strapps) left Quebec at the age of 17, travelling by train where she enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy. There she met my grandfather Harold Hartley, a working cowboy from Alberta that also came to British Columbia to enlist. They both shared the same birthday August 16th.

There are so many important stories that need to be told before they are forgotten. That is why we are working with local Royal Canadian Legion Branch 94 to produce a 100th anniversary commemorative book. If you have stories - we would love to hear from you.

Lest We Forget. Let us not take our hard fought freedoms and sacrifices for granted.

The Royal Canadian Legion - National Headquarters
Debbie Michalko Colleen Mighton Cindy Mighton-Plaskett Maureen Mighton

08/16/2026

On this day in 1945, the Second World War came to an end with the announcement of Victory over Japan (V-J Day). Today, we pause to Remember the extraordinary sacrifices of Canada’s Armed Forces. Their legacy will never be forgotten.

Photo Credit: VJ-Day celebrations, London, UK, 1945
Sergeant Karen M. Hermiston of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit during VJ-Day celebrations in Piccadilly Circus, London, England, 10 August 1945
(Credit: Lieut. Arthur L. Cole / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-152103)

08/12/2026

08/12/2026

08/12/2026

Coming up next month, is a Grant Proposal Writing Workshop! This is great for Non-Profits and Businesses, and will be held in the Quesnel Downtown Association Boardroom, which is inside the Spirit Centre.

This workshop will be held Wednesday September 2nd, from 12pm to 2pm. You can come into the Quesnel Downtown Association Office, also in the Spirit Centre, to register, or email us at [email protected]

Presented by Living Well Prince George

08/12/2026

A difficult time for all of the workers their families and the community.

Another difficult day for Quesnel and another blow to the families who depend on forestry.

The announced temporary shutdown at Quesnel River Pulp is deeply concerning. My thoughts are with the workers, their families and everyone in the community who will feel the impact of this decision.

We cannot accept the continued erosion of good-paying forestry jobs in B.C. Our forest sector needs certainty, access to fibre and a competitive environment that allows mills to operate and workers to stay employed.

I will continue standing with Quesnel’s forestry workers and pushing for policies that protect good-paying jobs and keep our forestry communities strong.

08/12/2026