bˈɔːɹn ɪn tɚɹˈɑːntoʊ, ɑːntˈæɹɪˌoʊ, hiː stˈɑːɹɾᵻd wɪððə tɚɹˈɑːntoʊ tˈɛlᵻɡɹˌæm æt ðɪ ˈeɪdʒ ʌv sˈɪkstiːn, ᵻvˈɛntʃuːəli bᵻkˈʌmɪŋ ɐ dʒˈɛnɚɹəl ɹᵻpˈoːɹɾɚ ænd sˈɪɾi hˈɔːl ɹᵻpˈoːɹɾɚ.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, he started with the Toronto Telegram at the age of sixteen, eventually becoming a general reporter and City Hall reporter.