Photo Credit : Alex Dworkin Canadian Jewish Archives
Photograph of a ticket for one of Louis Rubenstein’s ice skating shows (1890s).
Photo Credit : Jewish Public Library - Archives
Lazarus and Louis Rubenstein standing on the stone steps of a Montreal building, ca. 1920.
Photo Credit : Jewish Public Library - Archives
Ice skates of Louis Rubenstein, 1891 figure skating champion.
Photo Credit : Jewish Public Library - Archives
Rubenstein Bros. Co. with childhood home of Louis above on Craig Street (now St. Antoine). Unknown year. From an article by Marven Selicson in Canadian Clothing Journal.
Photo Credit : Jewish Public Library - Archives
Poster for Louis Rubenstein fancy skating event in 1884.
Photo Credit : Jewish Public Library - Archives
Portrait of younger Louis Rubenstein as ice skater.
Photo Credit : Jewish Public Library - Archives
1861 - 1931
Louis Rubenstein
Louis Rubenstein was Canada’s first international figure skating champion.
Rubenstein was born and raised in Montreal, by a family that owned Rubenstein Bros. Co. Inc. – a successful machinery business. The company’s success gave them the financial means to allow Rubinstein to devote his time to skating. He won the Championship of Montreal in 1878, but it was his performance in 1890 in St. Petersburg, Russia, for which he is most remembered. There, he was confronted with anti-Semitic police harassment and pressure to leave the competition. Despite this discrimination, he won the gold medal and became the first world champion of figure skating, as no other North American figure skater had competed overseas until this time.
In 1887, to remedy worldwide inconsistencies in judges and rules for figure skating competitions, Rubenstein formed the Amateur Skating Association of Canada (ASAC). He remained President of the organization until 1930. Figure skating was not Rubenstein’s only sporting interest; he also enjoyed hockey, curling, bowling and bicycling. He was later named the “Father of Bowling in Canada” by the Montreal Star. He was also referred to as the “Father of North American Figure Skating.” And as a cycling enthusiast, he founded the Canadian Wheelmans’ Association and served as President for 18 years.
Rubenstein eventually retired from professional sports and became involved in city politics, serving as an alderman from 1914 to 1931. During his time in office, the Rubenstein Public Bath was built in his name on Jeanne-Mance Street (now the site of Complexe Desjardins). It served Montreal’s poor, who often lacked running or hot water. Rubenstein was also active in the Jewish community, presiding over the Young Men’s Hebrew Association from 1917 until his death in 1931.
Rubenstein is remembered fondly in Montreal for his athletic career, as well as for his support of labour, and his commitment to the city. He 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 memorial dedicated to him in Fletcher’s Field (now Parc Jeanne-Mance).
