Brecken completed high school in 1908 and went on to the University of Toronto in 1909 where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Science.
He married Jessie Copeland from Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1910 and they moved to Calgary before the outbreak of World War I, where he became general secretary of the YMCA.
Brecken left to fight overseas as an officer for the Canadian Expeditionary Force 4th Brigade in 1914.
He returned home after being wounded in action in 1918; he became a longtime member of the Royal Canadian Legion after his military career.
During his teaching years, he became a member and later General Secretary of the Kiwanis Capital District, and was also involved with the Canadian Club.