John has an undergrad degree in Honours Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario and a post grad degree in Law, (LL.B) from Osgoode Hall.
He practised as a lawyer for 16 years then took up teaching law at Sir Sandford College in Peterborough for a number of years.
He then moved to Bracebridge in 1988. He first was a freelance conveyancer searching titles and closing real estate deals for lawyers at the Land Registry Office.