Harold Baker was born in Merrickville, Ontario, on June 29, 1927. He received a BSA from the Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph (1950); a M.Sc. from the University of Wisconsin (1956); and a PhD. from Cornell (1959). Prior to taking graduate studies, Baker had worked in agricultural extension for the Ontario Department of Agriculture. In 1958, he joined the Centre for Community Studies in Saskatoon and, in 1962, was named Research Specialist in Extension. From 1963-1973, Baker served as Director of Extension Division. His resignation as Director enabled his return to more direct involvement in community education and development and allowed him to research social indicators and their relation to life-long learning and planned development. Baker served on the Community Planning Association of Canada, Canadian Association for Adult Education, Canadian Council on Rural Development, and was a board member of the Canadian Association for Adult Education, Canadian Council on Rural Development, and Canada World Youth. Baker died in Saskatoon on March 18, 2011.