Lee was born in 1938 in Wadena, Sask., and grew up in a log cabin without electricity or running water.
[1] He received a diploma in civil engineering from Royal Roads Military College and a Bachelor of Economics degree in 1963 from Queen's University.
[1] He worked for the federal government for sixteen years as a topographical surveyor, member of the Canadian Foreign Service and civil servant in the Department of Industry.
[2] In 1998, with his son Robin running Lee Valley Tools, Lee started a new business, Canica Design, a medical/surgical instrument company, headquartered in Almonte, Ontario.
"[3] In 2007, he was granted an honorary degree from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario.