John started his planning career with the City of Edmonton in 1976 and has been a consultant since 1979, first with his own firm, then with integrated consulting firms in Alberta and British Columbia—primarily as a Principal in Stantec’s Vancouver office.  His career includes experience in community planning and design projects across Western and Northern Canada, from planning entire communities through regional and municipal policy planning to site specific design and implementation.  John's planning work has proven his ability to marry community, planning, environmental, development, and engineering concerns in a way that instills confidence.  He believes that great plans come from the integration of expertise, collaboration, fresh perspectives, and the search for creative solutions.
A graduate of the Universities of Alberta and Toronto, he is a member of PIBC, APPI, SPPI and the American Institute of Certified Planners.  John is a Past President of CIP and APPI and has been Chair of the National Membership Committee, Chair of the Fellows Selection Committee and Chair of CIP’s College of Fellows.  He is a longstanding member of PIBC’s Professional Practice Review Committee.  He has presented at conferences and universities and led workshops on ethics for planners, creativity, and other aspects of professional planning.  He taught recreation at the University of Alberta.  He published many times in Plan Canada as well as provincial periodicals.  John has received numerous planning awards from CIP, APPI, City of Edmonton, Alberta Municipal Affairs and other organizations. 
Early in his career while flying over the Makenzie Delta, John had an epiphany:  “I have the best damn job in the world.”  He still says the same thing decades later as he continues his diverse consulting practice. John is also a painter, poet, printmaker, Big Brother, and plays defence at Saturday morning hockey.  He is co-author of Public Art in Vancouver:  Angels Among Lions and has published numerous chap books featuring haiku, linocuts, and photography.