Samuel Matthew Robins: Father of Harewood

August 20, 2025

Few individuals have shaped Harewood’s identity as indelibly as Samuel Matthew Robins.

Known to locals as both a guiding hand and a community builder, Robins served as Superintendent of the Vancouver Coal Mining and Land Company beginning in 1884, a role that made him one of Harewood's foremost pioneers and advocates.

From England to the Coalfields of Nanaimo

Robins arrived in Nanaimo in 1884, assuming supervisory duties for the coal company when the region was far from industrially prosperous. His leadership proved transformative: by 1888, under his direction, production rivalled – and even surpassed – that of R. Dunsmuir & Sons. He ushered in peace and productivity in an era when labor unrest was common, earning him deep trust from miners: "there was practically no strife" on his watch, even as tensions were rising in neighbouring operations.

Cultivating Community: Homes, Parks, and Heritage

Robins believed that fostering a sense of place required more than wages – it required land and belonging. He acquired Harewood Estates, a vast tract between Nanaimo and Mount Benson, and began subdividing it into five-acre lots, offering affordable terms to mining families and effectively steering the birth of a self-sufficient residential neighbourhood.

Robins wasn't only practical, he was visionary. He planted Lombardy poplars along Wakesiah Avenue and the Esplanade, landscaped walking trails through forests, and created communal spaces that became the backbone of neighbourhood culture.

One of his most enduring legacies is Robins Park, once the "Cricket Field," which hosted soccer matches, horse races, and community events. Renamed Robins Park in his honour in the early 1900s, it remains a cherished green space in Harewood.

Guardian of Peace and Progress

Longtime residents remember Robins as a compassionate, paternal figure. As anecdotal accounts recall him: "He could see their point of view – and they could see his … great peace prevailed." When he retired and returned to England, the entire community made a heartfelt farewell – cementing his status not just as a manager, but as a beloved neighbour.

Why "Father of Harewood"?

Robins was more than an industrial steward – he was a community architect. He oversaw the creation of settlement patterns, the establishment of essential lifestyle infrastructure. He helped keep a rare harmony with mining employees in a turbulent era. His legacy includes a park, a street, and community spirit bearing his mark.

A Lasting Influence

Today, Harewood's orderly streets, early farmhouses, and enduring public spaces reflect Robins' optimistic and equitable blueprint for development. While coal shaped the land, it was Robins' human-centred vision that nurtured its transformation into a neighbourhood resilient in both heritage and heart.