We are a collaborative team of professionals, working across our various offices to support you
Leadership
Bennett Banting, Ph.D., P.Eng
Director of Technical Services
Bennett R. Banting is the current Director of Technical Services for the Canada Masonry Design Centre in the Ottawa, ON office.
He began as a graduate student with a NSERC industrial postgraduate scholarship visiting the CMDC office back in 2007 and started to work full-time for CMDC in 2012 as a NSERC industrial research and development post-doctoral fellow. His Ph.D. dissertation from McMaster University was instrumental in the introduction of masonry boundary elements and the ductile shear walls SFRS category to the 2014 edition of the CSA S304 design standard. For his work he was the recipient of the TMS Ph.D. Thesis award in 2015.
Over the years he has overseen 40+ grant-leveraged masonry research programs at 15 Universities across Canada, taught numerous full masonry design courses for professional engineers, undergraduate and graduate students at various venues, presented and spoken at numerous conferences and seminars, and has published dozens of peer-reviewed journal papers, conference papers, and other industry literature and research reports on behalf of the masonry industry. He is the current Vice Chair of CSA S304 and serves as a voting or non-voting member of several other CSA, ACI and ULC committees as well as various committees and working groups at the National Buildings Code of Canada. He has served as the technical committee chair for the 13th and 14th Canadian Masonry Symposium and is a regular reviewer of masonry publications for 7 different journals, receiving the ASCE award for outstanding reviewer twice. He is the current lead author of the Masonry Structures: Behaviour and Design, 2nd Canadian Edition masonry design textbook.
David Stubbs, P.Eng
Executive Director
David is the Director of the CMDC. He is a graduate of McMaster University and started his career with OMCA in 1998. When the OMCA’s technical services expanded to a national level in January of 2003, the CMDC was formed. David’s background in engineering, in combination with his strong working relationship with masonry contractors, has facilitated the development of numerous seminars, advanced engineering courses and hands-on workshops for the effective design and construction of masonry structures. David was heavily involved with the development of the 2004 & 2014 CSA Standards. Under David’s direction and extensive involvement, CMDC published the most comprehensive textbook available for Canadian designers, “Masonry Structures – Behaviour and Design”. Most recently, David was involved with the development and launch of the MASS™ structural design software. David also continues to be involved with many masonry research programs across Canada
Meet the rest of the Team
Working together, across the country
CMDC head office operates within the Canada Masonry Centre, located in the Greater Toronto Area just West of Toronto Pearson Airport. Conveniently right next door is the Ontario Masonry Training Centre, where apprentices across Ontario can train to become certified, red-seal masons. Engineers, architects and contractor members in the area are always welcome to stop by and say hello (and maybe ask us a masonry question or two!).
Brad Crumb, P.Eng.
Masonry Design Engineer
Brad has been part of the CMDC team since graduating from McMaster in 2011 and was initally overseeing development and providing technical support for the MASS software (Masonry Analysis Structural Systems). Brad now spends much of his time providing general technical support to designers and masonry contractor members concerning all things masonry design and construction, as well as helping run design courses, seminars, and lunch-and-learns for engineering and architecture firms.
Luisa Carrillo
Technical Administrative Assistant
Luisa joined the CMDC in May 2013 as the Technical Administrative Assistant after graduating from Humber College with a diploma in Architectural Technology. Luisa’s responsibilities include providing assistance to MASS™ users with software sales, license renewals and activations. She also produces technical drawings with Revit and AutoCAD, adding to what the rest of the CMDC can offer in technical services.
Gurparam Kang, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Masonry Design Engineer
Gurparam studied Civil Engineering and completed his B.Eng. from Carleton University and his M.A.Sc. from the University of Waterloo. He has experience working in the consulting field as a Structural Designer at Morrison Hershfield. Since joining the team at CMDC, his duties now include providing engineering technical support to designers, as well as working to help develop the MASS design software.
Ottawa Office
The Ottawa office, established in 2022, boasts a premier downtown location. It marks CMDC’s second office in Ontario and was strategically created to establish a presence in the national capital region. This location aligns with our goal to be in proximity to notable entities such as NRC, the Federal Government, and numerous other technical and construction-focused associations and groups.
Bennett Banting, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Director of Technical Services
Outside of his leadership role with CMDC (more details available here), Bennett also oversees the national research initiatives at CMDC and provides technical and educational support for designers and students in the Ottawa region as well as across Canada. He is the current vice-chair of CSA S304 and the lead author of the Masonry Structures: Behaviour and Design, 2nd Canadian Edition masonry design textbook.
Alberta Office - Calgary
The CMDC Western Office is based within the Calgary Construction Centre (home of the Calgary Construction Association – CCA). The Calgary Construction Centre is located in the Northeast just off Deerfoot Trail.
Monica Guzman, M.Sc., P.Eng.
Masonry Design Engineer
Monica studied civil engineering in her home country of Venezuela before coming to Canada and completing her Master of Science Degree in Structures and Solid Mechanics at the University of Calgary. She works at the CMDC Calgary office and her duties involve providing technical assistance to contractors, architects and engineers, supporting CMDC with courses and seminars, participating in the development of the CSA masonry standards, and supporting in the development of the MASS™ design software.
Atlantic Office - Dartmouth
The Atlantic Masonry Institute (AMI) is an organization of masonry contractors, manufacturers and suppliers dedicated to the promotion of quality masonry construction through training, support, and workforce development. AMI was founded in 2016, was a driving force behind the opening of the CMDC Atlantic office in Nova Scotia, and manages a high school masonry program in high schools throughout the Atlantic Provinces.
Andrew Smith, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Masonry Design Engineer
Andrew completed his B.Sc. and M.A.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Dalhousie University and he works at the CMDC-Atlantic Office. He is the author of the Atlantic Canada Multi-Residential Construction Cost Comparison Study, he provides technical assistance to engineers and architects from Atlantic Canada, he supports the development of MASS Software, and is a member of Technical Committees for the CSA masonry standards as well as for Z797 and B354 for Access Scaffolding and Mast Climbing Work Platforms respectively. Andrew also works with the Atlantic Masonry Institute to assist in the development of the future masonry workforce.
Québec Office - Montréal
The Association des entrepreneurs en maçonnerie du Québec (AEMQ) is a non-for-profit association representing masonry contractors, producers and suppliers as well as professionals and academics. AEMQ’S mission is to promote, protect, develop, and defend the masonry industry in Quebec. The Board of directors is composed of representatives of the different contractor sectors (ICI, restauration and residential) and our academic and associate members. We are very focused on the development of the competencies of our contractor members to support high quality masonry throughout the province. AEMQ’s vision is that through our expertise and innovative actions, we are determined to be leaders in the mobilization of our partners at the service of our members so that masonry can shine throughout Quebec.
Adrien Sparling, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Masonry Design Engineer
Adrien grew up in Winnipeg where he completed his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Civil Engineering at the University of Manitoba. He continued his studies at York University in Toronto where he earned his Ph.D. in 2022. Adrien was a recipient of the NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Post-Graduate Doctoral scholarship from 2016 to 2018 as well as the Queen Elisabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology in 2019. Since 2022, he is part of the technical design team at the Canada Masonry Design Centre and works in close collaboration with the Association des entrepreneurs en maçonnerie du Québec (AEMQ) from the Québec regional office. Although Adrien’s technical education has been in English, his francophone background is an asset as he brings the resources of the Canada Masonry Design Centre to La Belle Province with the establishment of an office in Montreal.
Saskatchewan Office - Saskatoon
Established in 1980, the Saskatchewan Masonry Institute (SMI) has deep historical roots in the province, with skilled bricklayers and stone masons contributing to many iconic buildings. Today, SMI is the official voice of the masonry industry in the province, promoting quality masonry wall systems to various stakeholders. SMI also plays a vital role in apprenticeship training and is a founding Venture Partner of the Canada Masonry Design Centre (CMDC), supporting local and national technical initiatives. SMI is comprised of professional masonry contractors, producers, and suppliers who are dedicated to the promotion of quality masonry wall systems
Maysoun Ismaiel, Ph.D., EIT
Masonry Design Coordinator
Maysoun Ismaiel obtained her B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in structural engineering at Cairo University in Egypt before coming to Canada and completing her Ph.D. degree at the University of Alberta in Building Engineering. Maysoun’s research was related to the thermal performance of concrete masonry cavity walls, for which she has earned several scholarships and awards. Maysoun’s multi-discipline engineering background is an asset as the evaluation of the thermal resistance of building envelope elements is essential for a reliable assessment of the thermal behaviour and energy efficiency of masonry buildings as well as for improving the sustainability of masonry buildings. Through her work with other masonry contractor associations, she brings a unique understanding of the needs and vision of the masonry industry.
British Columbia Office - Vancouver
CMDC is excited to be supported by the local masonry contractor associations of British Columbia (Masonry Contractors Association of British Columbia and Canadian Masonry Contractors Association of British Columbia and Yukon) to offer technical services to designers and contractor members across the west coast, in an effort to partner with the Masonry Institute of British Columbia (MIBC) to complement their existing suite of technical resources.
Jawdat Alfarra, M.ASc., EIT
Masonry Design Coordinator
Jawdat Alfarra holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Jubail University College in Saudi Arabia. He furthered his academic pursuits by earning a M.Sc. in Structural Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. His research focused on the mechanical behavior of masonry assemblages, particularly examining the impact of anti-freeze admixtures under sub-freezing curing temperatures. Currently contributing to the CMDC team, Jawdat provides technical assistance to contractors, architects, and engineers, supporting courses, seminars, and actively participating in the development of CSA masonry standards. His commitment to advancing the field aligns with CMDC’s vision for innovation and sustainability in masonry construction, making him a valuable asset in the pursuit of excellence.
Get in touch with our team
The Canada Masonry Design Centre helps members of the design community across the country by connecting them to the resources and supports they need. Contact us today and get the conversation started!
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