Robert Stanfield Lawyer, politician and grandson of founder of Stanfield Underwear
Discovering Robert Stanfield and the Legacy of Stanfield’s Woolens at Camp Hill Cemetery, Halifax
On my enjoyable walk through Camp Hill Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I came upon the grave of Robert Stanfield—a man whose family name is synonymous with Canadian woolen goods and political leadership.
Camp Hill Cemetery in Halifax was founded in 1844 and across the street from the beautiful Public Gardens.
The story begins in 1896, when Charles Stanfield, Robert’s grandfather, sold his business to his two sons, John and Frank—Robert’s father. With their own vision, John and Frank refocused the company on knitted merchandise, renaming it Truro Knitting Mills Limited.
Photos from my recent visit Truro, Nova Scotia (February 2026). Home of Stanfield’s.
Together, the brothers developed the famous “Shrink-proof Process,” a breakthrough that would propel the small Truro underwear company to national fame.
Their timing couldn’t have been better. The 1897 Klondike Gold Rush sent roughly 100,000 hopeful prospectors northward into the harsh Yukon wilderness. Stanfield’s “Unshrinkable” underwear became essential gear for these adventurers, providing warmth and durability in a climate where few alternatives existed.
Beyond outfitting gold rush miners, the Stanfield brothers contributed significantly to the World War I effort, supplying wool blankets, knitting yarn, and cloth. This wartime expansion cemented the company’s name recognition across Canada.
Robert Stanfield carried forward the family legacy of service—not just in business but in politics—serving as Premier of Nova Scotia for over a decade and twice narrowly missing the Prime Ministership of Canada to Pierre Trudeau.
Robert (Bob) Stanfield died in Ottawa on December 16, 2003. He was 89.
1914-2003
