Intramurals have a long and storied history at the University of Toronto. Informal competitions between the colleges and faculties began in the late 1800s, with games between University College (then synonymous with “Arts”), Medicine, Trinity, the School of Practical Science and other divisions. This spirit of competition prompted a more formal organization and led to the formation of the first men’s athletic directorate in 1893. The Directorate was an immediate success, and donated the Mulock Cup in 1894 to recognize the champions in rugby.
The women’s Toronto University Athletic League was soon to follow. It was formed in 1905, with the founding members being Victoria, Trinity, and University Colleges. The sports contested were to be tennis, a paper chase, and basketball, and ice hockey was quickly added. The men’s and women’s organizations continued to evolve with the university, adding more colleges and faculties to their leagues as these divisions came into being. Most of the divisions created in the 20th century are with us to this day, such as Pharmacy, Dentistry, St. Mike’s, and New, but a few, such as Osgoode Hall, York University (1960-61) and the Veterinary College, have moved on. In the 1960s the program expanded to include our suburban campuses, as first Scarborough (now UTSC) joined in 1966, followed by Erindale (now UTM) in 1968.
Many outstanding people have been involved in the evolution of intramurals. A.E. Marie Parkes, Warren Stevens, Zerada Slack, and J.E. “Mac” McCutcheon were among the early leaders who saw the value of the intramural program. Their contributions are still evident in various ways throughout the Athletic Centre today. Yet for all the staff work, it has been the commitment and enthusiasm of the student leaders who have made the program a huge success for more than a century. Today there are 26 recognized units from the three campuses, and this year an expected 10,000 students will compete in 78 leagues and 20 tournaments.
