Welcome to Camrose Founders Days Festival Website

Celebrations at Camrose Founders Days Festival August 13th - 15th will mark 100 year milestones for many Camrose organizations. Daily activities take place Downtown on Main Street, Camrose Centennial Museum and the Camrose Railway Station Museum & Park. See the schedule for details. At Founders Square we will honour several Founders with plaques added to the walls of the fountain.

Celebrating 100 years since:

First water lines were installed
Alberta Norwegian Lutheran College association organized with intent to build a school for their young people. First classes held Oct 2, 1911.
Contract awarded for public hospital
First Grand Truck Pacific (G.T.P.) train arrived. A special train made up of engine No 75, the sleeper “Ireland”, a coach caboose, and water car. Premier Rutherford rode the train which was the first one run on the first track built under the provincial government guarantee
Canadian Northern track reached Camrose on April 23rd and continued on to Calgary
G.T.P. laid steel across Duhamel bridge
Citizens Band organized, with Charlie Cameron as manager
A. J. Ofrim, noted blacksmith came to Camrose
Stoney Creek Collieries mine opened
Camrose Brick Company was organized, with C. G. Correille as president
Horse and buggy was still the main means of transportation
Local light company was being promoted
21 new businesses were built and 79 residences
Town Council fixed first water rates for the citizens at 18 cents per KWH
Numbering system of streets and houses developed
Grain elevator was built
First organized hockey event
First circus came to town
New Fairgrounds were complete

Honouring

Duncan Sampson

Duncan Sampson, the first merchant in Camrose had the honor of purchasing the first town site lot and built the first business, arriving in Stoney Creek from Ontario in 1904. He remained in business here until 1926, when he moved to New Westminster. He sat on the Town Council from 1910 until 1913, on the School Board, and was also instrumental in helping to organize the Camrose Agricultural Society. He was born May 1, 1859 in Ontario and died in May 5, 1930 in New Westminster, BC.

Dr. P. F. Smith Dr PF Smith

Perhaps no single person in the history of Camrose has left a deep influence upon general population as did the late Dr. P. F. Smith. Born in Prince Edward Island March 25th, 1873, he studied at John Hopkins University and graduated as a gold medalist. He practiced for a short time in Birmingham, Alabama, but the call of Canada was so strong within him, that he returned to Canada, moving to Camrose in 1912. However, he had to write his Canadian Medical License after coming here, associating himself with the Dr. G. G. Stewart. Besides being official Doctor for the C.N.R., he won the hearts of thousands of patients by his sheer merit and his understanding of human frailty and of those enduring suffering. Besides these commendable traits, he was also a keen horticulturist. He died in 1949 in Camrose.

Walter William Assheton-Smith - "Blue" Smith Walter William Asshton-Smith - Blue Smith

"Blue" Smith was awarded "The Imperial Service Order Medal" which was presented to him in Camrose on September 23rd, 1910. This award had been instituted by King Edward VII in 1902 as a means of rewarding meritorious service in unhealthy places abroad. As far as can be determined, Blue Smith was the only member of the Canadian Mounted police force to ever receive this particular medal. He was known for his faithful attention to detail, was also an artist/poet and was diligent in paying attention to his homestead at Edberg. He was born in London, England, November 27, 1864 and died October 25, 1944 in Ferintosh, AB.