Quesnel Bakery marks 49 years with founder Horst Teetzen turning 82—celebrating community, family, and a legacy built one loaf at a time.
A Sweet Legacy: Quesnel Bakery Turns 49
In the heart of Quesnel, where the scent of fresh bread fills the air, a remarkable celebration is unfolding. On August 1st, Quesnel Bakery isn’t just marking 49 years in business—it’s also the 82nd birthday of its founder, Horst Teetzen, a man whose hands have shaped more than just dough.
“I couldn’t have done it alone,” Horst says, beaming with gratitude. “It’s the people—the community, my customers, my team. I’m amazed every day.”
From War-Torn Germany to Small-Town B.C.
Horst’s journey to Quesnel began thousands of miles away in post-war Germany. Born in 1943 in an area now part of Poland, Horst grew up dreaming of the sea, not ovens. But at 14, life had other plans.
Right after finishing middle school, apprenticeships were assigned, and Horst found himself in a bakery 17 kilometers from home. He worked hard, eventually moving to Hamburg, where his love for baking—and a special store clerk who would become his wife—blossomed.
Despite dreams of sailing, Horst combined travel with work, eventually baking aboard fishing ships. A connection through family led him to Canada, where he and his wife made the leap to Montreal, then to British Columbia—with two young children in tow.
Quesnel Becomes Home
After working in bakeries across Kamloops and Penticton, Horst arrived in Quesnel and took over the town’s main bakery from his brother-in-law. The cold didn’t sit well with his relatives, but Horst stayed. On August 1st, 1976, Quesnel Bakery officially opened under his care.
Nearly five decades later, the ovens are still warm. Horst’s favorites—crusty buns and light rye—are still bestsellers, though the bakery is now run by his son Gerd, daughter-in-law Wanda, and even a granddaughter.
More Than Just Bread
“It’s my home,” Horst reflects. “I never knew my home because it’s Poland now.”
Over the years, the bakery has become a local institution. Horst’s employees have gone on to run their own businesses in Quesnel, including one long-time team member who worked beside him for 35 years.
At 82, Horst remains as active as ever—he’s part of Quesnel’s 55+ senior bowling league, where he recently reunited with a former teenage bakery employee.
Giving Back and Looking Forward
This year’s anniversary also doubles as a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Quesnel, an organization that once shared the bakery’s building. With each purchase of a happy face cookie pack, customers are entered into a Black Forest cake draw.
“Working with BBBSQ has always been positive,” Gerd says. “It’s been good for everyone involved.”
And in a full-circle moment, the bakery recently welcomed a new baker from India—Ian—along with his wife and three children. After two years of immigration hurdles, they’re now settling into Quesnel, just as Horst did decades ago.
“Just like my dad, Ian was welcomed with open arms,” says Gerd. “It speaks volumes about our country and this town.”
Still Rising After All These Years
How long will Horst keep baking?
“As long as I can,” he says with a smile.
And why not? With flour on his hands, stories to tell, and a community that feels like family, Horst Teetzen shows no signs of slowing down. After all, when your heart is in it, even 82 feels like just the beginning.
