EDMONTON – Pioneer Press Ltd. — a company that’s older than Alberta itself — is celebrating its 120th birthday this month.
The Edmonton business “prints just about everything” from letterheads, envelopes, business cards, folders and brochures.
Owner Jim Edgar has been with Pioneer Press for more than half its lifespan. The 80-year-old started as a teen, when there were only three people involved in the operations.
One of his employees, Bob Grimstead, has been with him for 32 years. Grimstead says his boss has been like a second father to him at times. That may be because Edgar treats his business like family, joking that the ink now runs in his blood.
Both his wife and business partner have since passed away, but Edgar isn’t ready to say goodbye to his baby.
He admits that “there isn’t much money made in printing nowadays,” and staying current in a digital age has been a challenge.
However, despite the move towards paperless, the world still needs print, he says. One of the presses the company still uses on a daily basis dates back to the year 1900.
He admits it may be a little slow and awkward to use, but if you know how to use it, the machine can work wonders and do what newer ones can’t.
A symbol, perhaps, of his own company’s survival.
With files from Kendra Slugoski, Global News
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