James Taylor is Professor Emeritus in Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph in Canada. He holds degrees from Iowa State University (1964) and University of California at Berkeley (1964). In the 1960s Jim was greatly influenced by Lawrence Halprin and Robert Royston while studying and working in the San Francisco Bay Area. He joined Cameron Man in practice in Winnipeg in 1967 and later established the office of Lombard North Group in Calgary. The award-winning firm was responsible for the planning and development of Fish Creek Provincial Park and other significant design and environmental planning projects in Western Canada.
Taylor was active in the profession serving as president of the CSLA from 1978-80. He joined the faculty of Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph in 1984 and was Chair from 1993-99.
He is a fellow of the CSLA, the ASLA and CELA. Jim has been active internationally as a member of the IFLA Executive Committee and as chair of a task force for developing the IFLA African Region remains active in capacity building programmes in Africa and Latin America. In 2008, Jim was recipient of the ASLA Presidents Medal for his contribution to the profession in Africa and Latin America. His book, The Practice of Landscape Architecture in Canada, is widely used as a resource for students and practitioners. He currently is active as a volunteer in his community including as founder and current president of Trees for Guelph.
Publications:
Taylor, James R. 2006, 2010. The Practice of Landscape Architecture in Canada. Landscape Architecture Foundation.
Fabos, J.G. and J. Ahern editors. 1996. Greenways: The Beginning of an International Movement. Chapter in book. Elsevier. Holland.
Taylor, James R. Editor. 2008. The Africa Forum: Landscape Architecture in Africa. International Federation of Landscape Architects.
Taylor, James R. and Paul Pellegrino. Editors. 2005. Brazilian Capacity Building Programme for Landscape Architecture. UNESCO and IFLA.
Arcadia Studios completed a series of interviews with Canadian landscape architect pioneers. View the episode on James Taylor here.
