 He was elected the first president of the Edmonton Board of Trade upon its founding in 1889 . He served until 1894 . He also played a vital role in the development of the school system in Edmonton , involving himself in education @-@ related affairs as early as 1881 , and serving on the public school board from 1886 – 87 and 1889 until 1897 . In 1881 , he was part of a group that provided funds for the first school teacher in the city . In 1886 , with the school board , Cameron was responsible for introducing a fee for the parents of students attending schools in the Edmonton Public School District who did not live within the district , as district residents were taxed for the school 's services . He would serve as secretary @-@ treasurer from 1882 to 1884 and later as chairman of the school board from 1890 to 1892 and 1894 . 
