As many of you know, the Vancouver Canucks begin the final stage of their quest for the Stanley Cup tonight. They will play the Boston Bruins  in game one of the Cup Finals.

Fewer of you may know the history of Cup, why it is named ‘Stanley,’ and what that name means to Vancouver. Here is a brief summary of the Cup, the man it was named after, and his connections to the city.

 

Who Was Lord Stanley?

Frederick Arthur Stanley (15 January 1841 – 14 June 1908) was born in London and was educated at Eton and Sandhurst. He was the second son of Prime Minister Edward Smith-Stanley and the Hon. Emma Caroline. Lord Stanley. He received a commission in the Grenadier Guards, rising to the rank of Captain. Later, he was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom.

Stanley was named Lord Stanley of Preston in 1886, and served as Governor General of Canada between 1888 and 1893. During his term as Governor General, Lord Stanley travelled widely throughout the country. His visit to western Canada in 1889 created an appreciation of the region’s natural beauty and residents.

 

Stanley Park

Stanley Park is a 404.9 hectare (1,001 acre) urban park bordering downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was opened in 1888 by David Oppenheimer in the name of Lord Stanley. The following year, Lord Stanley became the first Governor General to visit British Columbia. during his trip, he officially dedicated the park. An observer at the event wrote:

Lord Stanley threw his arms to the heavens, as though embracing within them the whole of one thousand acres of primeval forest, and dedicated it ‘to the use and enjoyment of peoples of all colours, creeds, and customs, for all time. I name thee, Stanley Park.*

Stanley Park is more than 10% larger than New York City’s Central Park and attracts an estimated eight million visitors every year. The Project for Public Spaces has named Stanley Park as one of tyhe best parks, not only in North America, but the world.

 

Stanley Theater

The Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage (formerly the Stanley Theatre) is a landmark theatre at 12th and Granville Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. The theater was designed by the same architectural firm who built the landmark Marine Building in downtown Vancouver. It was built with the same Winnipeg stone used in Canada’s House of Parliament. The theatre first opened in December 1930 and was named after Lord Stanley

The Stanley Theatre showed movies for over sixty years before falling revenues led to its closure in 1991. After avoiding several threats of demolition, the building was renovated as a stage theatre in 1997–1998 and subsequently awarded heritage status. It is the main stage for the Arts Club Theatre Company.

 

The Stanley Cup

Upon arriving in Canada to assume his position of Governor General, Lord Stanley’s children became avid ice hockey players in Ottawa. His eight sons played in local amateur leagues, and his daughter Isabel formed a ladies’ team. As a result, Lord Stanley and his wife became a staunch hockey fan. To show his respect for the sport, he donated what would become a treasured national icon—The Stanley Cup—in 1892.

I have for some time been thinking that it would be a good thing if there were a challenge cup which should be held from year to year by the champion hockey team in the Dominion of Canada. There does not appear to be any such outward sign of a championship at present, and considering the general interest which matches now elicit, and the importance of having the game played fairly and under rules generally recognized, I am willing to give a cup which shall be held from year to year by the winning team.*

The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy competed for by professional athletes in North America. It is known as La Coupe Stanley in French. It also has several more casual monikers, including Lord Stanley’s Cup, The Holy Grail, simply ‘The Cup,’ or more facetiously “Lord Stanley’s Mug.”

TRIVIA:

In 1915, Stanley Park was united with the Stanley Cup for the first time when the Vancouver Millionaires hockey club won Cup Final, beating the Ottawa Senators three games to zero in a best-of-five series in 1915. They were led by on of the first hockey superstars: Fred ‘Cyclone’ Taylor.

 

Vancouver is already home to two of Lord Stanley’s legacies. Here’s hoping it can be reunited with a third!

 

FOUR MORE WINS!!!!