John Sylvester

John Sylvester was best known as an award-winning landscape, nature and travel photographer. He moved to PEI in 1982 to attend Holland College’s Photography program, became smitten with the Island, and proudly called PEI home until his passing in 2025.

John’s more than 30-year career took him to all 10 provinces and three territories as well as to international destinations such as Iceland and New Zealand. His photographs and articles appear in leading publications throughout the world including Time magazine and Canadian Geographic Travel.

He was a four-time winner of The Canadian Tourism Commission’s Northern Lights Award for Excellence in Travel Journalism and Photography, and has been featured on Canada Post stamps.  Most recently, his work was featured on a $10 commemorative coin celebrating Canada 150. 

John and his wife, Dianne, lived in Greenvale, PEI, and have three adult children. Their daughters, Katelyn and Alissa, live in Ottawa and work for the federal government, and their son, Eric, lives in Alberta, where he works as a wildfire fighter. They spent their free time traveling, photographing, and enjoyed as much time as possible with their granddaughter, Fiona. 

John received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017.