The front of the former hockey arena and the current curling club in Port Alberni are seen in this vintage photo from the Alberni Valley Museum. The photo was taken in 1964, and the cars parked in front of the building are a giveaway as to the date.
The hockey arena was eventually decommissioned once the Alberni Valley Multiplex opened more than two decades ago. The newer multiplex houses two hockey rinks.
The former arena is now home to the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society and the society's impressive collection of vintage vehicles. The building has fallen under some controversy lately as the City of Port Alberni faces necessary upgrades and is considering whether the building is worth the upkeep. There has been tentative talk of demolishing the building entirely and moving to private and city-owned heritage vehicles to another location.
To view more than 24,000 historical Port Alberni photos, visit the Alberni Valley Museum’s online photo archives at portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)
