In 1967, he began working as a child care worker and then enrolled at the University of Victoria from which he obtained a BA.
He proceeded to Yale University from which he obtained an MS and then a PhD in clinical-community psychology.
He returned in Canada in 1974 to a post in Acadia University where he worked for the next 29 years when he retired as emeritus professor.
He was for nine years a member of the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, including a term as chair.
He was appointed to two of the Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics (PRE) committees: the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Ethics Special Working Committee (SSHWC) and the SubGroup on Procedural Issues for the TCPS (ProGroup).