[1] He attended high school in Walkerton, Ontario before he moved out west.

He worked at various jobs including ranching, prospecting and as a school teacher.

[4] In 1914, he enlisted in the army and was sent to fight in France with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

He organised fundraising for people in need in Spain and China where both countries were involved in wars against fascist related forces.

His first book was a volume of poetry called The Rosary of Pan which was published in 1923.