He tutored other students to raise money to attend McGill College in Montreal, Quebec, graduating with a B.Sc. in 1880. He is first noted playing hockey for the 1883 Montreal Winter Carnival Tournament winners McGill, where he was studying engineering. After completing his studies in Montreal, he moved to Ottawa, Ontario seeking work with the Canadian federal government. He succeeded only in receiving temporary work with the Dominion Land Survey, his hiring to a permanent position blocked by A. M. Burgess, the deputy minister of the Interior, although he was recommended by Prime Minister John A. Macdonald.
