Louis Rubenstein
Encyclopedia
Louis Rubenstein was a Canadian figure skater, sportsman and politician. Rubenstein is considered the "Father of Canadian Figure Skating." After retirement from skating in 1892, Rubenstein became involved in the sports of bowling, curling, and cycling. He was elected president of the Canadian Bowling Association in 1895, president of the International Skating Union of America in 1909. He was alderman in St. Louis ward in Montreal from 1916 until 1931.
. His parents were Polish Jews who had fled Russian rule.
He was coached by Jackson Haines
.
Rubenstein was chosen to represent Canada in an unofficial international championships that were one of the precursors of the World Figure Skating Championships
, in St. Petersburg, Russia. Although being subject of a great deal of antisemitism there, he won the gold medal
He became the first Canadian to win international honours in the sport.
Rubenstein was chosen to represent Canada announced in 1889 that it would host the in the following year. Not surprisingly, , and a special fund was set up by the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association to pay for his two-and-a-half month trip.
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Louis+Rubenstein+real+champ/4148708/story.html#ixzz1BzFTNUGT
Rubenstein was the force behind the establishment and organization of the Amateur Skating Association of Canada, now known as Skate Canada. He was the first president of the organization and served until his death.
He was President of the International Skating Union of America 1907–09, President of the Canadian Wheelmen's Association] for 18 years, and President of the Montréal Amateur Athletic Association 1913–15. Rubenstein also had a hand in the organization of the National Amateur Skating Association of the United States; a forerunner to the United States Figure Skating Association
.
The Montreal Star wrote in 1895 of his presidency of the Canadian Bowling Association, and called him the "Father of Bowling in Canada." A tremendous bowler, he averaged 173.4 in 129 games between 1892–1900.
After retiring from active skating, Rubenstein also held the presidency of various Canadian organizations representing curling
, bicycling, tobogganing, and lifesaving.
Rubenstein was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
in 1981 and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame
in 1984.
There is a permanent memorial to Rubenstein in Montreal
at Fletcher's Field at the corner of Park Avenue and Mount Royal Avenue
s.
He was also politically active; he was an alderman
for 17 years.
Biography
Rubenstein was born and raised in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. His parents were Polish Jews who had fled Russian rule.
He was coached by Jackson Haines
Jackson Haines
Jackson Haines was an American ballet dancer and figure skater who is regarded as the father of modern figure skating.Born in New York City, Haines claimed to be national champion in 1864. However, many such "championships" were held during those years, and none were sanctioned by a unifying...
.
Rubenstein was chosen to represent Canada in an unofficial international championships that were one of the precursors of the World Figure Skating Championships
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
, in St. Petersburg, Russia. Although being subject of a great deal of antisemitism there, he won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
He became the first Canadian to win international honours in the sport.
Rubenstein was chosen to represent Canada announced in 1889 that it would host the in the following year. Not surprisingly, , and a special fund was set up by the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association to pay for his two-and-a-half month trip.
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Louis+Rubenstein+real+champ/4148708/story.html#ixzz1BzFTNUGT
Rubenstein was the force behind the establishment and organization of the Amateur Skating Association of Canada, now known as Skate Canada. He was the first president of the organization and served until his death.
He was President of the International Skating Union of America 1907–09, President of the Canadian Wheelmen's Association] for 18 years, and President of the Montréal Amateur Athletic Association 1913–15. Rubenstein also had a hand in the organization of the National Amateur Skating Association of the United States; a forerunner to the United States Figure Skating Association
United States Figure Skating Association
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating on ice in the United States. It is recognized as such by the United States Olympic Committee "USOC" under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and is the United States member of the International Skating...
.
The Montreal Star wrote in 1895 of his presidency of the Canadian Bowling Association, and called him the "Father of Bowling in Canada." A tremendous bowler, he averaged 173.4 in 129 games between 1892–1900.
After retiring from active skating, Rubenstein also held the presidency of various Canadian organizations representing curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
, bicycling, tobogganing, and lifesaving.
Rubenstein was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
in 1981 and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame
World Figure Skating Hall of Fame
The World Figure Skating Hall of Fame serves as a repository for the sport of figure skating. The World Figure Skating Hall of Fame is where the greatest names in the history of the sport are honored...
in 1984.
There is a permanent memorial to Rubenstein in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
at Fletcher's Field at the corner of Park Avenue and Mount Royal Avenue
Mount Royal Avenue
Mount Royal Avenue is a street in Montreal. The main part of the street transects the borough of Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, from Park Avenue at the foot of Mount Royal, for which the road is named, to rue Frontenac. Another section in Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie runs from rue Molson to Pie-IX Boulevard...
s.
He was also politically active; he was an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for 17 years.