Est.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Melissa is a trailblazer with over four decades of experience in the pool and spa industry. Following in her father Bob Brown’s footsteps, Melissa’s engineering passion, crystallized at the tender age of eight, laid the foundation for her illustrious career. Her academic journey led her to the University of Ottawa, where she earned a BASc in Civil Engineering, subsequently enhancing her business acumen with an MBA from the Ivey Business School in 2000. Under her father’s mentorship, Melissa rapidly ascended to become a Professional Engineer, taking the helm of the service department before ultimately steering the company through a pivotal generational transition after her father’s untimely death in 2002.
Melissa’s leadership philosophy is anchored in the belief that continuous learning and innovation are paramount. This ethos has not only propelled her personal growth but has also been instilled across BonaVista Pools Limited. Her initiative to enroll staff in annual learning courses underscores her commitment to elevating service standards and fostering an environment of perpetual improvement. Moreover, Melissa’s pioneering spirit is evident in her foray into the thermal spa sector, aiming to revolutionize Ontario’s wellness landscape. A fixture at international pool and spa conferences, Melissa’s quest for knowledge and excellence is relentless. Her dedication to exploring new products and industry advancements has kept BonaVista at the industry’s cutting edge. As she gradually shifts her focus towards the design and development of thermal spas, Melissa’s visionary approach and trust in her team’s capabilities promise to further cement BonaVista Pools Limited’s status as a leader in the field. Melissa Brown, with a career adorned with achievements and a future brimming with potential, embodies the essence of leadership, innovation, and the enduring value of education in driving growth and success.
St.Anne’s Spa
GOLD – Pool & Hot Tub Council 2022 Awards and 2022 Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence
This collection of meditative hydrotherapy pools was built to increase this spa’s therapy options and services. There is the plunge pool that brings your body temperature down drastically and four warmer pools below that offer a warmer relaxing soak. These hydrotherapy pools meld perfectly into the grandiose stone architecture of the spa’s exterior while also keeping a modern feel. The blue of the water is an eye-catching focal point that compliments the serenity of the spa’s main building- drawing the viewer in and allowing them to imagine their own spa weekend.
Mountain House
GOLD – Pool & Hot Tub Council 2021 Awards
This freeform hot tub and swimming pool combination serve the happy condominium owners very well after a day spent skiing the slopes, or hitting the golf course. The massive natural stone waterfall in the hot tub is a popular feature for those looking for a little extra aquatic therapy.
GoPlace Spa
GOLD – Pool & Hot Tub Council 2021 Awards
This Health Spa was built on the fourth floor of an old movie theatre, and in order to include the hot tub and chiller pools, we needed to find a lightweight solution that would still provide the luxurious feel and finish that the owners were after. After much research, we decided to utilize custom moulded styrofoam structures, on top of which our skilled tile setters installed 1″x1″ mosaic glass tile. The results are stunning.
LakeSide Motel
SILVER – Pool & Hot Tub Council 2021 Awards
This large swimming pool is the perfect addition to this trend-setting motel in a busy tourist area. Although it is perched atop a plateau next to beautiful Lake Ontario, the adjacent Beach Bar might be the feature that draws even more people poolside.
Deerhurst Resort
GOLD – Pool & Hot Tub Council 2022 Awards and 2022 Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence
This 1503 sq/ft commercial pool and 190 sq/ft hot tub bring more family space to the Deerhurst resort in Huntsville, Muskoka. The location and design of the pool allow it to be a main meeting point for the surrounding Lakeside Lodge, bringing people together to swim and relax, or meet up on their way down to the docks. The large poolside deck offers ample space for families to gather and enjoy the poolside views. The oversized hot tub allows more guests to soak with comfortable space. Creating a large outdoor pool area makes every square foot of the resort functional.
