James H. Melvin's education includes an Hon. B.A. Degree from York University (1975) and an MLA Degree from the University of Manitoba (1979). He has been a member of CSLA, OALA and MALA since 1983 and served as CSLA President in 1993-94. Jim participated on and chaired OALA committees continuously since 1982. Of special significance to our profession has been Jim's Involvement as the OALA representative with the Canadian National Exhibition Association, of which he has been a member since 1981. In 1988 he was elected Editor and since 1996 he has served as Vice President of this Canadian cultural institution. Jim authored the 1980 C.M.H.C. publication Play Spam to Accommodate Disabled Children Since 1982. He has been a founding member of the firm PMA Landscape Architects Ltd. in Etobicoke and has been responsible for many projects of major Open space development, urban infill Parks, condominium design and residential design. These include the award winning village of Sherwood, major community parks of Fallingbrook and Lisgar Fields in Mississauga, the award winning urban Plaza and Fountain at Mississauga Executive Centre and the World Heritage Centre in Durham, England.
Jim has been a guest critic at the University of Guelph. University of Toronto and Ryerson Polytechnic University since 1988. For the past six years he has taught professional practice and design studio at Ryerson and assisted in the site engineering course at the University of Toronto.