The BC Seniors Games Society was organized in 1987 with the assistance of the Recreation and Sport Branch, Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Culture (now the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport). The premise was that sport and recreation development for seniors would have a direct bearing on the quality of life for older British Columbians and for the province as a whole.

In 2015, the name of the Games was changed to the 55+ BC Games and the BC Seniors Games Society continued to organize and be the main funding partner for the Games. In the fall of 2017, the working partnership between the BC Seniors Games Society and the BC Games Society ended and all aspects of organizing and managing the 55+ BC Games now rests with the BC Seniors Games Society.