Social Class In 19th Century Canada

Social class is a term used in the social sciences to refer to “a group of individuals who occupy a similar position in the economic system of production” (1). In 19th century Canada, there were three main social classes: the capitalists, comprised of wealthy businessmen and investors that usually owned the means of production, the professional middle class comprised of doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc that charged a fee for their services but did not necessarily own significant capital, and the working class comprised of wage laborers (2).

Sport connected to social class in two main ways, serving different purposes for the middle class (mostly British) and the working class. According to Colin Howell, the British middle class used sport

The article describes a working class group that held their own sporting events separate from the mostly middle class organized sports. In July 1917, a sports day and picnic was held in Cordova Bay almost exclusively involving munitions workers, their wives, and children. The event was a bonding experience for this group as it featured a full day of food, drinks, and friendly competition, including sack races, running races, walking races, and three legged races, with many prizes donated by munitions workers themselves. “It was a great success with 200 people attending”, including munitions department employer Mr. Spratt, who, upon arrival, “was lifted shoulder high amid applause” (4). A capitalist employer being praised, participating in races, and being entertained at dinner suggests a bond between all within the VMD, a shared pride in the occupation and a common identity. The same theme is illustrated by the picnickers singing their song “we make munitions at the VMD to kill old fritz” upon return from the sporting

Middle class men formed the Montreal Lacrosse Club in 1856 in effort to keep the sport gentlemanly (8). This club, like the other sporting clubs being formed during this time, was meant to be exclusive to the middle class and often excluded those thought to be rowdy and disreputable (9). The Montreal Shamrocks, a lacrosse team of Irish Catholics from a working class community along the Lichine Canal, were considered opponents to this truly amateur and respectable Lacrosse Club (10). Fearful that the spreading of sport into the working classes would upset the social order, middle class media outlets often commented on the poor behavior and language of Shamrocks fans and the ungentlemanly play of the team. The men valued winning and were known for their violent playing style (11). Some Toronto teams refused to play the Shamrocks because of their perceived lack of self-discipline (12). Shamrock fans were extremely loyal like modern sports spectators and, like the team, “were willing to push the (limits of) respectable behavior beyond what bourgeois sportsmen considered appropriate”