As a second-generation publisher, Duff has been around newspapers all his life. He started as a carrier and inserter and made his way through photography, advertising make-up and advertising sales. After attending the University of Alberta, he returned to the Gazette as a reporter and later became the newspaper’s editor. In 1987 Duff took on the publisher’s role

Duff served many years on the boards of Alberta and Canadian community newspapers associations. He was president of AWNA in 1987 and CCNA in 1995. He remains active in both provincial and national associations working in government affairs and is currently a director of News Media Canada, the national voice of Canada’s news media industry.

His many years with the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce include a year as president in 1995. He is a founding director and currently Treasurer of the St. Albert Community Foundation, and is a past director of the Arts & Heritage Foundation and the Rotary Music Festival Society.