[6] The convention centre was recommended as part of the Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg (Metro) Downtown Development Plan of 1969.

The building, designed by Canadian architect Isadore (Issie) Coop, of the Number Ten Architectural Group,[9] was among the first "purpose-built" convention centre of its kind built in Canada.

A $180-million expansion, completed between 2012 and 2015, roughly doubled the size of the facility, adding 131,000 square feet (12,200 m2) of exhibit space and underground parking.

[11][12] In July 2013, the facility was rebranded as the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg after its naming rights were purchased by Royal Bank of Canada.

[13][14] By 2017 the annual visitor count to the Winnipeg Convention Centre had increased by about 50,000 to 557,000 which was directly related to the WCC expansion.