Vancouver History: Denman Arena

Comments 9 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Update: January 5, 2009 – it was on this day in history that the Denman Arena hosted its first professional hockey game [VancouverHistory – h/t VancouverBOT]. In honor of this, I’m promoting this blog post from April 2008 to the front page of my website.

Mixing my new parks series with the staple history tidbits, a quick note about the former site of one of Canada’s first indoor ice rinks.

Now the home of Devonian Harbour Park, and one of the Sculpture Biennale pieces, Denman Arena on the corner of Georgia and Denman was a fixture and tribute to hockey on Canada’s west coast.

… [Denman Arena] was built at a cost of $300,000 in 1911 and held 10,500 people, making it one of the world’s largest arenas when it was built. It burned down in 1936 after an explosion at an adjacent Coal Harbour shed. [wiki]

It was also home to the Stanley Cup when the Vancouver Millionaires reigned in 1915. Knowing all of this makes ask why there’s no monument or plaque dedicated to this historical structure somewhere in the park. The only evidence of the arena’s existence is in a tiny display box at the entrance to the West End Community Centre ice rink.

I wonder what it would take to make more of a permanent dedication a reality in memory of this important piece of Vancouver, Canadian, and World hockey history. Although with the recent seasons experienced by our professional NHL team in this town, one wonders if this would be a stinging tribute or subtle encouraging reminder.

Update: Since this post was published, many information signs and placards have been placed around Stanley Park and the Coal Harbour area. I was delighted to find one dedicated to the Denman Arena, just off Georgia Street, this past summer.

Current Contests on Miss604
*All contests are open to residents of Canada only, unless otherwise stated. Contest timelines are published on each individual post along with entry methods. Some contests may only be open to those 19 years of age and older. Winners are announced on the contest blog posts. Contest policy »

9 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. mort-yMonday, April 14th, 2008 — 5:17pm PDT

    An extra tid-bit for other Sherlock Holmes fans like me…did you know that in 1915 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave a speech in the Denman Arena? Once again, “the game’s afoot” in Vancouver!

  2. DaveMonday, April 14th, 2008 — 5:55pm PDT

    Another photo:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/dazil/2414320311/

  3. Mr. Beer N. HockeyMonday, April 14th, 2008 — 6:54pm PDT

    I vote for stinging tribute.

  4. fotoeinsMonday, April 14th, 2008 — 8:35pm PDT

    Hah! I’d go for “stinging reminder”. In any case, it’s a good piece of history for the hockey-mad town.

  5. Blogathon Vancouver 2008: “C” is for Canucks » Vancouver Blog Miss 604Saturday, July 26th, 2008 — 6:30pm PDT

    […] seen more of the “thick” in recent years. We haven’t seen the Cup since the Millionaires won it at the Denman Arena but we’re not giving up hope just yet. Go Canucks […]

  6. The Best of BC 150: Greatest Sport Moment » Vancouver Blog Miss 604Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 — 8:35am PDT

    […] a few names out there… Miracle Mile, Rick Hansen, Roger Nielson’s towel power, 1915 Stanley Cup victory… or maybe even that new indoor event called “when Shaw’s internet services go […]

  7. New Canucks Third Jersey – Rumoured » Vancouver Blog Miss 604 by Rebecca BollwittWednesday, October 15th, 2008 — 4:51pm PDT

    […] It’s kind of interesting to see the incorporation of Johnny Canuck on the shoulder crest but they’ve been wanting to share Canucks history a lot lately – maybe to kind of remind folks that this city does have a strong hockey tradition (and that we even won the cup… well the Millionaires did anyway). […]

  8. Stanley Cup in Vancouver and Hockey Blogging Notes » Vancouver Blog Miss 604 by Rebecca BollwittSaturday, November 22nd, 2008 — 2:03pm PST

    […] been won in our city before, in 1915 the Vancouver Millionaires captured the Challenge Cup at the Denman Arena. To celebrate this heritage, there was a special event at the Vancouver Giants game last […]

  9. Pieces of Vancouver’s hockey past in Coal Harbour and Stanley Park / The Crazy CanucksMonday, November 2nd, 2009 — 10:55pm PST

    […] Vancouver History: Denman Arena […]

Also on Miss604.com
«
»