 Greenfield entered public life on a local level soon after moving to his new farm . He was elected to the local school board , where he spent twelve years , including stints as chair , secretary , and treasurer . He also served as Vice President of the Alberta Educational Association , as President of the Westlock Agricultural Society , and as co @-@ founder and President of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts . Greenfield also was an officer of the province @-@ wide Association of Local Improvement Districts , which advocated for reforms such as a change from a ten @-@ hour to an eight @-@ hour work day , on the grounds that many Local Improvement Districts ( <unk> ) were having trouble competing with railways for labour . John E. Brownlee later said of Greenfield 's involvement in the <unk> that it was there " that he was first initiated into the discussion of public subjects , and it became the training ground for his subsequent success . " 
