He studied law at Dalhousie University and graduated from there in 1979. One year later he moved to Calgary, Alberta, and in 1983 he was elected to city council in Ward 7, where he served for six years while continuing to work as a lawyer.
He pursued a degree in jurisprudence at Dalhousie University and graduated in 1979. He then relocated to Calgary, Alberta, one year later, and was elected to city council in Ward 7 in 1983, where he served for six years while maintaining his career as a lawyer.