dʒˈɑːn wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn kˈɑːlɪŋwˌʊd, nˈoʊvə skˈoʊʃə, hiː ɹᵻsˈiːvd ɐ bˈætʃəlɚɹ ʌv kˈɑːmɜːs dᵻɡɹˈiː ænd ɐ bˈætʃəlɚɹ ʌv ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən dᵻɡɹˈiː fɹʌm mˈaʊnt ˈælɪsən jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi.
John was born in Collingwood, Nova Scotia, he received a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Bachelor of Education degree from Mount Allison University.