The Lhtako Dene Cultural Centre is a partnership between the City of Quesnel and the Lhtako Dene Nation to acknowledge reconciliation. The site is of national historic significance as the point of first contact between Alexander Mackenzie and Dakelh people, who led the explorer to the coast via the Grease Trail.
Main objectives of the cultural centre include:
Community gathering place & performing arts
Repatriation of Lhtako Dene artifacts and history sharing
Celebration of arts and culture and educational opportunities
Resident and visitor attraction
Conceived as a Pithouse village – deriving its cultural precedent from the Pithouse Villages used by the Dene in the Plateau region along the Fraser River. Two large Pithouses emerge out of the existing park green, forming a village housing a Performance gathering place, a Cultural exhibit centre and surrounded with secondary programmed spaces. To preserve the nature and continuity of the park pedestrians can walk up and over the cultural centre in a continuous paved trail. The roof of the building is planted with indigenous grasses and a central ethno-botony garden is located at the centre with an observation deck overlooking the river. Will be an architectural highlight along our Riverfront Trail System.
Client: The Lhtako Dene Nation and the City of Quesnel Location: Ceal Tingley Memorial Park, Quesnel, BC Completed: 2019 Building Area: 1,715sm (18,480sft)
Design Team: Alfred Waugh (Lead Architect), Monika Kolon, Henry Dyck