Robert Dack Son of legendary shoe-maker Matthew Dack

R. Dack & Son: A Legacy in Leather

On my walk through Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, I came across the grave of Robert Dack — son of Irish cobbler Matthew Dack, the man who built a luxury footwear empire from humble beginnings. Matthew is buried not far away, at St. James-the-Less Cemetery.

In 1834 — the very year Toronto was incorporated — Matthew Dack opened his first shop at 71 King Street. There, he introduced what would become the classic Dack’s shoe: elegant, durable, and handmade with unmatched attention to detail.

What made Toronto-based Dack’s shoes so revered was the time and craftsmanship that went into each pair. It’s said that a single pair took up to eight weeks to produce, passing through 200 individual steps — from leather selection and cutting to the final polish and packing. That level of care made Dack’s shoes not just a luxury item, but a legacy — often passed down through families, from father to son.

Robert Dack took the reins of the company under the name R. Dack & Son, continuing the family tradition and expanding the brand’s reputation internationally.

Sadly, on December 9, 2009 — after 175 years in business — Dack’s filed for bankruptcy. Declining market share and rising overhead costs ultimately brought an end to one of Canada’s most iconic brands.

Robert Dack died in Toronto on October 31, 1932. He was 83.

His name, and the soles he helped craft, walked across generations and continents. A true mark of quality — and of Toronto’s industrious past.