[4] Jackie spent most of his elementary school years in Special Education classes while he gradually normalized his academic and developmental abilities.

At the 1994 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Halifax, his Team Nova Scotia Swimming Coaches took him to a Powerlifting competition and was amazed as how much weight they lifted.

Jackie has a Grade 12 Academic Diploma from J. L. Ilsley High School, and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Saint Mary's University.

In 2019, Jackie was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame, becoming the first Special Olympic Athlete in its history to receive this honour.

[6] On September 1, 2021, Jackie was invested into Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, the first Special Olympian to receive that province's highest civilian honour.