Mr. Campbell attended public school in Vancouver. After graduating he received a scholarship to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. He worked his way through university in the dining hall and as the associate to the Secretary of the College. He later received an MBA from Simon Fraser University.

He was an educator and basketball coach in Nigeria for Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO). He was an assistant to former Vancouver mayor Art Phillips. He left city hall to start his own business.

He was elected city councillor in 1984, then won three successive terms as mayor of Vancouver.

He entered provincial politics in 1993. He was elected to the B.C. Legislature in 1994 and led his party to 33 seats in 1996.

Gordon and Nancy, a school teacher, have two sons.