Philip Ross

Philip Dansken Ross (January 1 1858 - July 5, 1949) was a Canadian journalist, newspaper publisher, sportsman and ice hockey pioneer builder.

He was born in Montreal, the son of Christina Chalmers Dansken and Montreal accountant Philip Simpson Ross (1827-1907) who was the founder of the Order of Chartered Accountants of Quebec and a member of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. Philip Dansken Ross studied at McGill University and Queen's University. He joined the staff at the Montreal Star in 1880, worked as a journalist in Toronto and then was managing editor of the Montreal Star from 1885 to 1886.

In 1886, Ross became co-owner of the near-bankrupt Ottawa Evening Journal newspaper. In 1891 he bought out his partner and made it inro a highly successful and respected paper. He served as its president for 60 years during which time he helped found the Canadian Press.

Philip Dansken Ross was a member of Ottawa City Council from 1902 to 1903.

Ross had maintained an interest in sports, playing football and hockey while at McGill and was provincial single sculling champion twice. A founder of the Ontario Hockey Association, it was Ross who persuaded Lord Stanley to offer the Stanley Cup as a prize for hockey and Earl Grey to offer the Grey Cup for Canadian football. He was also one of the first trustees of the Stanley Cup.

A historical plaque commemorating Ross was erected by the Ontario Heritage Foundation on Kent Street in downtown Ottawa.