Basil holds an MD from University of Alberta where he also studied internal medicine and neurology from 1977 to 1980. He was a research fellow at the Jerry Lewis Muscle Research Centre,Hammersmith Hospital,DuCane Road,London, England 1980-1982. He retired from practice in 1994. His interests include computers, collecting art and depression glass and the study of tropical medicine. He lives with his wife Victoria Ewert and his step son Timothy Ewert.