Lord Stanley and the Enduring Cultural Importance of his Trophy

Patrice Dutil explores the politics and ambitions of Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada from 1888 to 1893 who is best known for having donated a silver punch bowl to honour the best hockey team in the country, with Jordan Goldstein, Professor of Kinesiology at Wilfrid Laurier University. His book is entitled Canada’s Holy Grail: Lord Stanley’s Political Motivation to Donate the Stanley Cup, and it is published by the University of Toronto Press. The interview is focused on Stanley’s politics and his perception of what Canada needed following years of tension over the Riel hanging, the Jesuits Estates Act and the divisive 1891 election over the possibility of free trade with the United States. His gift of a trophy, since known as the “Stanley Cup” has become a uniting symbol for many Canadians of all ages and geographies. This podcast was produced by Jessica Schmidt.

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