Albert Garner was born in Warwickshire, England, in 1878. He came with his parents to Wapella, Assiniboia, N.W.T. in 1888. He joined the Saskatchewan Public Service as a student engineer in 1902. After two years in private business Garner returned to organize the Surveys Branch of the Saskatchewan Land Titles Office. He held the post of Chief Surveyor for the Province of Saskatchewan until his retirement in 1943. Garner served as a special scout in Lord Strathcona's Horse in the South African War.
During the First World War Garner was a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and served in a number of capacities. He was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian Army Service Corps. He was a prominent member of the Canadian Militia. He died in Victoria on May 11, 1961.