Victoria has been officially designated a Sport Heritage Community, becoming only the second city in British Columbia to receive this honour, following Kamloops.
The announcement comes just one day before the city kicks off the 100th-anniversary celebration of the Victoria Cougars’ 1925 Stanley Cup victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
Several key moments in Victoria’s sporting history contributed to this designation. The city hosted the 1994 Commonwealth Games and, more recently, Hockey Day in Canada in 2024 – both major factors in earning this recognition.
The Cougars’ 1925 Stanley Cup victory remains a defining moment in Victoria’s sports history. The team later relocated to Detroit, eventually becoming the Red Wings in 1932. That franchise went on to become one of the NHL’s storied Original Six teams, winning 11 Stanley Cups to date.
On the individual front, Lester B. Patrick played a pivotal role in Victoria’s hockey history, serving as coach and manager for the Cougars during their championship season. Patrick later coached the New York Rangers, famously stepping in as an emergency goaltender during the 1928 Stanley Cup Finals at age 44, before returning to Victoria in 1948 to run the Cougars until 1954.
While Victoria’s sports history earned the city its designation, Tom Mayenknecht, president of the BC Sports Hall of Fame, emphasized its growing role in Canada’s sports landscape.
“Not only is Victoria a leading city in Canada for developing high-level athletes, but it’s also becoming a top destination for sports tourism,” Mayenknecht said.
Keith Wells of the Greater Victoria Sports Association reflected on the city’s rich sporting past.
“I like to picture ourselves in this exact spot 100 years ago, March 27, 1925,” said Wells. “Three days before the streets would be filled with passionate Victorians about to witness the Cougars lift the Cup at Oak Bay Arena. There is just so much sports history here.”
Wells also highlighted Victoria’s unique place in B.C. hockey history.
“Victoria is the last city in British Columbia to win a Stanley Cup,” he chuckled. “The Vancouver Millionaires won in 1915, so we’ve got a ten-year edge on them.”
With this new designation as a Sport Heritage Community, Victoria continues to honour its deep-rooted sports legacy while positioning itself as a hub for future athletic excellence.
