In May 1944, representatives from the Kinsmen Club and Board of Trade raised the idea of a memorial arena, and soon the good citizens of Victoria were contributing to a building fund, raising $65,000. The first estimates were $215,000, so the city covered the shortfall with a $150,000 loan. The total cost in the end would be $1.2 million. The building was the first all-concrete arena built in Canada and the official opening ceremony on September 25 drew 2,000 people.
Victoria Memorial Arena was built by efforts of Second World War Veterans in honour of those from the area who had given their lives in that war. The arena stood until 2003 when it was demolished to make room for the present Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
