The 1950s

Top left, counter-clockwise: The First B.C Lions Football Team; Doug Hepburn, Weight Lifting, gold medal, B.E.G 1954; Empire Stadium; Roger Bannister and John Landy, ‘The Miracle Mile’ Empire Stadium, 1954.

British Columbia gained worldwide attention when the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Vancouver. Empire Stadium was built specifically for the Games. The stadium was the site of the historic Miracle Mile- the biggest sport stories of the decade.

In 1954, the BC Lions football club became the newest professional team in the province. Hydroplaning and marathon swimming were two other popular professional sports. In amateur competition, the Eilers women’s basketball squad dominated at the national level. The Penticton Vs won the 1955 world amateur hockey championship.

Television came to BC in the 1950s. The new medium had a big impact on sports. In 1954, CBC televised the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Controversy raged over the issue of Sunday sports. In 1957, Vancouver residents voted in favour of allow1910ing sports on Sundays.