2023
Vol. LXXIII, No. 6
40 Pages December 31, 2024
Camrose's oldest operating business
As usual, this year-end edition of The Camrose Booster features a compelling read –
our annual Year in Review feature. See pages 21 to 36 for a look back at this year’s leading news stories, plus a fascinating view of the relative longevity of the Camrose business community.
The law firm of Knaut Johnson Francoeur tops the list of businesses which have survived and thrived. At 119 years young, this esteemed law firm has roots dating back to 1905, when an enterprising young lawyer James Kennedy Burgess, who had graduated from Osgoode Hall in Toronto, moved out west to begin his practice. Several name adjustments to the corporation have occurred over the years. One of the changes occurred in 1969, when Rod Knaut purchased the firm. A son of the original founder, Sandy Burgess (who graduated from law school despite being paralyzed from the neck down after a diving accident) joined Mr. Knaut and helped grow the full-service law firm through 1970. David R. Francoeur, a fifth generation Camrosian and one of the firm’s current partners, has been practicing law in the Camrose office of KJF since 2005.
Inside Who Can I Count On? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Seniors' Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Out and About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 and 11 City of Camrose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 On the Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 and 17 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 to 20 Year in Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 to 36 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 and 38 Central Agencies Realty Inc. . . . . . . . . . 40
This Week's Flyers *partial coverage
To Camrose Homes Tuesday
Brick Warehouse Canada Safeway Canadian Tire Hauser Home Hardware Giant Tiger M & M Food Market McDonald's Shoppers Drug Mart Walmart Wild Rose Co-op
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To Rural Homes With Booster ✔* ✔* ✔* ✔* ✔* ✔* ✔* ✔* ✔
A sidebar relating to ownership of Camrose’s oldest active business: it is of interest to note that the Francoeur name is extremely synonymous to the Camrose corporate scene. Francoeur Cleaners, is in its fourth generation of same family ownership and is also currently owned by David Francoeur. Agriterra Equipment (originally Alberta Machinery), which you will see in the top ten list of Camrose’s oldest businesses, has changed ownership, but was founded by David’s great-grandfather.
News Features Ringing in 2025 with fireworks . . . . . . . . . 4 Reflections by Bonnie Hutchinson . . . . . . 4 St. Mary's Hospital receives a TruMonitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Walters wants to inspire resilience through her art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Viking Cup to make a comeback next winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Photo by Ron Pilger
David Francoeur, with items respective to the firm from decades gone by, including legal literature from the early 1900s.