Richard “Dick” Johnstone (1901–1993) was a Scottish-born Second World War veteran who served with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. A long-time Selkirk resident, he worked as a greenskeeper at the Selkirk Golf Course and later as a local handyman, while actively contributing to his community as a founding member and Grand Chieftain of the Manitoba Highland Gathering.
Junior hockey in Selkirk dates to at least 1918, when the Manitoba Junior Hockey League was first founded.
From its origins as a 1907 “tin-covered monster” rink to its official 1949 rebirth as a pillar of community recreation, the Selkirk Arena has stood as a proud testament to a “big-little sports city.” Discover how local fundraising, innovative architecture, and a deep-seated love for the game shaped Selkirk’s most iconic gathering place for generations of hockey fans and community events.