Formerly located at the northwest corner of Charles Street and Church Avenue in Winnipeg, a one, two, and three-storey Alberta redcliffe red-brown brick and Tyndall Stone trimmed, Mission Revival-style building, measuring 157 feet by 206 feet, was designed by local architect Frank Robert Evans and built in 1922 by contractor Arthur John Bonnett at a cost of about $65,000, for the St. John's College. It was built as an indoor ice hockey arena, managed under a subsidiary of St. John's College known as the St. John's Skating Rink Company. The 3,500-seat St. John's Olympic Rink opened officially on 22 December 1922.
In 1926, building was sold to a syndicate of businessmen including Benjamin Cronyn Parker, John A. McVicar, J. M. McNulty, C. G. Bencat, and Arthur John Bonnett. Bonnett would manage the facility in conjunction with the Western Trust Company. Following the acquisition, the “St. John's” was dropped from the name.
In 1955, following the completion of the Winnipeg Arena, this facility was purchased by entrepreneur John Draper “Jack” Perrin. Following demolition of the Winnipeg Amphitheatre, Perrin acquired its artifical ice-making plant and relocated it here. The building was the initial (and short-lived) home for the Perrin's Winnipeg Warriors professional hockey team.
In the 1960s, the Olympic was converted to a curling rink and when this use no longer proved economical, the building was offered by its owners to the City of Winnipeg to be used as a recreational facility. This offer was not taken up and the Olympic was demolished in 1968. In 1970, a new eleven-storey apartment building was constructed on the site under the name of Olympic Towers in an effort to preserve the rink's history.
Architectural concept for the Olympic Rink (1922)
Source: Manitoba Free Press, 4 November 1922, page 21.
Olympic Rink (1925)
Source: City of Winnipeg Archives
Olympic Rink (1968)
Source: Olympic Rink, Winnipeg Building Index
Olympic Rink being demolished (1968)
Source: Olympic Rink, Winnipeg Building IndexSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.92296, W97.12895
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Frank Robert Evans (1865-1949)
Memorable Manitobans: Arthur John Bonnett (1874-1942)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. John's College (1284 Main Street, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Arena (1430 Maroons Road, Winnipeg)
Memorable Manitobans: John Draper “Jack” Perrin (1915-1992)
Manitoba Business: Winnipeg Warriors
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Amphitheatre (49 Whitehall Avenue, Winnipeg)
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 2373/1922, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Winnipeg's new rink as it will appear when completed,” Manitoba Free Press, 4 November 1922, page 21.
“More building permits issued,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 November 1922, page 17.
“St. John's Olympic name of new rink,” Manitoba Free Press, 23 November 1922, page 16.
“St. John's Olympic Rink to be opened this week,” Manitoba Free Press, 18 December 1922, page 16.
“Portage or Tigers at Olympic Rink,” Manitoba Free Press, 6 March 1923, page 8.
“Olympic Rink sold to syndicate,” Manitoba Free Press, 6 December 1926, page 21.
Winnipeg fire insurance map, #313 January 1957, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Chance to buy Olympic Rink,” Winnipeg Free Press, 15 January 1965, page 5.
“Minors eye Olympic Rink,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 April 1965, page 37.
“Olympic site apt. approved,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 December 1968, page 3.
“Olympic Rink nostalgia recalled,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 August 1970, page 32.
Olympic Rink | Ice Hockey Wiki | Fandom
480 Charles Street, Winnipeg Architectural Foundation
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
Property Details [480 Charles Street], Winnipeg Assessment and Taxation.
We thank John Perrin and Dwayne Addison for providing additional infomation used here.
This page was prepared by Jordan Makichuk.
Page revised: 21 February 2026
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