This work investigates how the development of organized sport in Canada prior to the First World War functioned as a reflection of the nation's evolving social structures. Professor Alan Metcalfe, a scholar from the University of Windsor, utilizes historical records to argue that the trajectory of Canadian athletics was primarily dictated by the anglophone ruling class in major urban centers like Montreal and Toronto. The text examines the tension between amateurism and professionalism as a primary driver for the institutionalization of various sporting activities across the country.

Experts recognize this text as a foundational study for understanding the intersection of Canadian social history and the formalization of athletics. Readers frequently note the academic rigor and the depth of the historical research provided by the author.