John is the Founding Principal of SvN with over four decades of architecture, planning and urban design practice. He has extensive experience leading large, multi-disciplinary consulting teams on complex regional planning and rural and urban development projects across Canada and internationally, spanning projects across North America, Africa and Latin America. John has worked in a wide range of developed and developing countries on the planning, design and construction of new communities ranging in size from 150 to 150,000 persons. He is recognized worldwide for his expertise in the planning and design of affordable housing and community infrastructure, as well as transportation and transit infrastructure, having received numerous national and international awards, including the World Leadership Award for Town Planning, Daniel Burnham Award from the American Planning Association, World Habitat Award from UN-Habitat, numerous Awards of Excellence from the OAA, RAIC, CIP and OPPI, and several City of Toronto Urban Design Awards.