Dr. Atkins attended the University of Guelph and received an Honours B.A. in 1977, and an M.A. in 1979. Upon graduation, Dr. Atkins spent two years at the Bank of Canada as an Economic Analyst. In 1981, Dr. Atkins left the Bank of Canada to further his studies in economics at Queen's University at Kingston. Dr. Atkins graduated in 1985, with a Ph.D. in economics, and joined the faculty at the University of Calgary.