He was born in Fort William, Ontario, but his family soon moved to the town of Ignace, a small railway community.
[1] He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and served overseas as an officer during World War II.
After the war he worked as the town clerk in Sioux Lookout until he was elected as an MPP.
He placed second in 1954 with 162 votes when he lost to Farquhar Oliver (a former United Farmers of Ontario MPP).
[5] Wren ran, placing last with only seven votes on the first ballot and then threw his support to John Wintermeyer who ultimately came from behind to win the convention.