John was admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Geography at the Queen's University of Belfast in 1993 and to the degree of Master of Philosophy in Environmental Planning at the University of Reading in 1995.  He further received a postgraduate diploma in Urban Design from Oxford Brookes University in 1997.  A herald of arms by inclination and a city planner by occupation, John has taken the first two levels of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada's proficiency course and is working on his Licentiate.  He was President of the BC/Yukon Branch of the RHSC from 2010 to 2016 and has been editor of the Society's national newsletter Gonfanon since 2012.  He also edits the Branch newsletter The Blazon and since 2018 has been Editor of the Society's national journal Heraldry in Canada. 

For his services to heraldry at the Provincial level, John was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.  He was further honoured for his services at the National level with the RHSC Meritorious Service Award in 2015.  In 2018, he was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada and, five years later, became a full Fellow.

John's other interests include the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem (Grand Priory in Canada) where he holds the rank of Knight Commander of Justice (KCLJ), the position of Principal Armorist to the Grand Prior and is the Order's Provincial Commander for British Columbia.  He is also a Member of the Companionate of Merit (MMLJ).  The armiger is honorary shenachie of the 78th Fraser's Highlanders (Fort Victoria Garrison).  He is a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, the Canadian Institute of Planners, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, to whose Journal he has contributed on heraldic matters.  He operates a ham radio as part of the Strathcona Regional District Emergency Communications Team.