Vern was raised on a dairy farm in Northumberland County and graduated from veterinary college in Guelph in 1975. Vern and Pat purchased Pine Ridge Veterinary Clinic in 1976 when it was located on Division Street. In the beginning they looked after farm animals as well as domestic pets. the clinic has been at the current location since 1982. Ver and Pat's three children, Andrea, Vanessa and Jordan range in age from 24 to 30. Vern's spare time is taken up with volunteering as a board member for the Northumberland United Way, running, hiking, snow shoeing, working out at the Y, dragon boating and traveling.