Walter Gage began his career at the University of British Columbia as a student, graduating with a B.A. in 1925. In 1926, he earned an M.A. with a mathematics major and physics minor. Gage taught mathematics at Victoria college (1927 - 1933) and also served as registrar for the institution (1929 - 1933). In 1933, he returned to UBC's Dept. of Mathematics, rising to professor in 1943. Gage served as Dean of Administrative and Inter-Faculty Affairs in 1948 and later as Dean of Inter-Faculty and Student Affairs. After serving as acting president for two years, Gage became UBC President in 1969, a position he held until his retirement in 1975.