EDMONTON - An article in the Edmonton Journal this week highlighted the demise of the full-service gas station from the Alberta city??s retail landscape.

In 2000, only 37 percent of Edmonton??s 296 gas stations were full service, according to The Journal by The Kent Group, an industry consultant. By 2010, only 15 percent of the city??s 303 stations pumped gas for its customers ?" 31 outlets were completely full service, and another 15 offered a self service option.

"It??s very similar to national trends. Full service, for much of Canada, has fallen out of favor," said Kent Group senior associate Jason Parent. "I think it just has to do with people??s tolerance for paying an additional amount."

Some Canadian chains, such as Domo and Fas Gas, promote their full service status, while others have abandoned the field. Petro Canada said it??s difficult for the company to sustain full-service stations in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

"It??s not something that we??re looking to get rid of completely, not at all, but we certainly appreciate that the market is changing," said spokesperson Victoria Barrington of parent company Suncor.

Ken Dawson has been pumping gas for 66 years (not continuously, but you get the idea), and he said he has no plans to transition to self-service at his station, Dawson Motors.

"Some people don??t want to do their own. They want to be served. It??s like going to a restaurant. Not everybody wants the buffet."

Today, Dawson still runs out to his station??s two pumps when drivers pull up for gas, cleaning their windows and looking under the hood.

His son Dale is general manager of the company, and he said he intends to continue the full service tradition that has nearly disappeared from the business.

"What was part of service stations years ago ?" washing windows, checking oil ?" it??s basically gone ?? For our generation, it??s something you might read in the history books."