Yakabuski was born in Barry's Bay, Ontario, where his family had lived for more than a century after emigrating from the Kashub area of Poland.
Fellow Progressive Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Norm Sterling once joked that Yakabuski "thought in terms of campaign organization" in his family planning.
[1] Yakabuski served overseas in World War II as an infantry officer with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders.
On returning to Canada, he joined his father in managing the family's hardware, building supply and furniture business.
His son Konrad Yakabuski is a columnist for the Globe and Mail.Yakabuski was also the cousin-in-law of prominent Liberal politician Sean Conway.