He was an early pioneer and settler in Fort Edmonton and made contributions to its development from a fur trade post to a major city in Western Canada.

As his family had some connection to Canada through the Hudson's Bay Company, he signed a five-year contract as a York boat builder and carpenter with HBC and arrived at Fort Edmonton on December 24, 1870.

Walter continued to expand his business by opening a blacksmith and carriage shop in 1886, a small coal mine in 1887, and a sawmill in 1893, all in relation to the rapidly growing settlements of Edmonton and Strathcona.

Outside the business realm, John Walter was also an active participant in the local community affairs, serving as the chairman of the first South Edmonton School Board, sitting on the first Strathcona Town Council, and contributing money for recreational facilities and hospitals.

John Walter's business started to decline on June 7, 1907, when an accident occurred in his coal mine that killed 5 of his employees.