Memorial Arena - Dawson Creek, BC
Posted by: 
T0SHEA
N 55° 45.340 W 120° 14.021
10U E 673591 N 6182352
Dawson Creek's second Memorial Arena, this one is coming up on 70 years of constant use by Dawson Creek residents.
Waymark Code: WM14K9H
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 07/19/2021
Views: 0
The first Dawson Creek Memorial Arena was built in 1952-53 as a memorial to Peace Country residents who were lost in two World Wars. The initial cost was
$100,000, with another $50,000 spent to complete the building. In May of 1956 the city planned to sell bonds to install artificial ice in Memorial Arena and the Curling Rink, next door. However, on December 24, 1956 the Memorial Arena was destroyed in spectacular morning fire.
In 1958 a replacement Memorial Arena had been built and in December of that year another public subscription bylaw was passed, seeking $150,000 to complete the interior. Apparently, all went well with the second Memorial Arena until 1997. On January 8, 1997 the roof of the Memorial Arena came down, on a night when the temperature had dipped to -30° C. 21 Months later, on Saturday, October 3, 1958 a grand reopening ceremony was held at the arena, which included rededication of the commemorative World War I and World War II plaques within the arena.
To this day the arena hosts several hockey leagues, figure skating, speed skating and public skating. In front of the arena, to aid out-of-towners in finding the place, are a pair of 30 foot long hockey sticks.