War Memorial Gym

After my homes(s) this may be the most important building in my life.
This is War Memorial Gym on the campus of the University of British Columbia (UBC), in Vancouver BC.

War Memorial was completed in 1951 as a multi-sport, multi-use facility. It also honoured UBC students who were casualties in the World Wars, and is the venue for UBC’s annual Remembrance Day Ceremony. Additionally, it was also a venue for the 1954 British Empire Games, and is now the home of the UBC School of Kinesiology (formerly Physical Education), and the home court of the university Basketball and Volleyball teams.

It is now considered a heritage building, and has been threatened with demolition, but has out survived all of the buildings around it.

I first walked into this building in 1968, and was in awe. I had never seen a gym so large. The floor can accommodate 3 basketball games, or 6 volleyball games simultaneously. The stands can currently hold almost 5000 fans. I was in this building every school day for 5 years, often for many hours. My very first course was Basketball fundamentals. Little did I know that that would lead to a lifelong love of the sport and almost 40 years of coaching (mostly) women’s and girl’s basketball. I met my future wife and many lifelong friends in this building.

It is not a particularly attractive building on the outside, basically a big box, although it was very modern when built. Two large, colourful posters, one for academics, and one for athletics greet students, visitors and fans. It is on the inside that the ugly duckling becomes a swan. Memories are created here!
The dedication is in the entrance rotunda.