 Furlong first visited Canada as a physical education teacher and missionary from 1969 to 1972 in the Canadian province of British Columbia in the communities of Burns Lake and Prince George.At the conclusion of his teaching term he returned home to Ireland and served as a sports administrator at Newpark Comprehensive School before emigrating to Canada in 1975.He was also president of the Arbutus Club, a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, and head of the BC Summer Games, BC Winter Games and Sport B.C.