Fitted with the latest appliances and technology at the time, it soon became the centre of the town, serving as an ice rink and tennis court, and hosting events, including auctions.

Two years later, Day moved to Edmonton, where he served as a major in the Army Reserve until his death from a long illness in 1919.

[5] After "always longing to go to the west",[3] Day came to the area that would become Daysland in 1888 while he was with the Massey-Harris company, but moved back to Ontario shortly after.

[1] When the Canadian Pacific Railway gained entitlement to the land in 1901, Day became interested in purchasing a large section of it.

[6] Day, along with about 30 other businessmen walked or drove from Wetaskiwin to survey the homesteads in preparation for the construction of Daysland.

[6] After Alberta became a province, Day registered plans for the future site of Daysland in the Land Department office of the Canadian Pacific Railway in September 1905.

[7] Day and his wife, Ina lived in a "cold shack" from March to June 1906, when their own house was completed.

[7] The yard was enclosed and used as a skating rink during winters beginning in 1907, a tennis court was installed in 1909 and it was the home for and auctions were hosted by Day.

[9] A post office opened in September 1906, and Daysland was officially incorporated as a town on April 2, 1907, with Day acclaimed as the first mayor, and the first council was elected, consisting of C. A. MacLoed, James Stacey Orr, H. Bentley, S. V. B. Crowell, G. Wardstrom, J. E. Vanderburgh, and E. H. Dawson as secretary and treasurer.

This caused Day, on behalf of the Board of Trade to travel to Kingston, Ontario[11] and extend an invitation to the members of the Sisters of Providence to settle in the town.

[13] In a 1907 article, Day was quoted as saying about Daysland, "I have no hesitation in recommending this part of the country for young men to locate in.

They had 4 children, Elsie Margaret, Ina Ansley, George Sutherland, and Edgerton Winnett "Ted" Day.

[17] The elder son, George Sutherland, born 1894, attended college in Toronto, and served in World War I overseas for four and a half years.

The youngest son, Edgerton Winnett, Jr. "Ted", born 1901, worked as a lawyer and served as a colonel with the 49th Battalion, CEF.

[16][18] Edgerton W. Day died at 9:15 a.m. on February 11, 1919, at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton after an illness of several months.