 Born in Canada West ( later Ontario ) , Cameron worked as a merchant in his birth province and Manitoba before coming to Edmonton in 1881 . In Edmonton he continued as a merchant , owning and operating a store for 15 years . In Edmonton he quickly established himself as a prominent citizen , serving on the inaugural Edmonton Board of Trade as president , which he would remain for five years . Cameron also was involved in the development of the Edmonton Public School Board , serving on the board in the 1890s . He was also involved in the town 's politics , winning election to Edmonton 's first town council in 1892 and serving an additional term when elected in 1895 . After this retirement from politics , he worked in the coal and real estate business until his death in 1919 , at the age of 73 . Upon his death , he was lauded as one of the pioneer citizens of Edmonton ; a street , neighbourhood and ravine were named for him . 
