Developed in partnership by the OBOA and George Brown College Continuing Education, graduates of this program are fast-tracked to the OBOA Building Code Qualified (BCQ)-Housing certification, a first step in securing a path to becoming a building official.
2021 Graduates:
Aaron Darius Vaz
Aaron has a Master’s Degree in Engineering with a specialization in Structural Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Hyderabad Campus. He has over three years of experience in structural design, a few months of construction experience and is a registered Engineer in training (E.I.T) with E.G.B.C.
Aaron was an assistant professor in the department of Civil Engineering where he was in charge of the development and teaching of the structural analysis curriculum. Currently, his application for E.I.T is under process with EGBC. He is proficient in many software such as ETABS, STAAD.Pro, AutoCAD, Robot Structural Analysis, and REVIT. He has also completed a course on the building code which gives him an insight on projects to ensure compliance with the building code.
Alexander Salmon
Alexander has 10+ years of experience in the construction industry as a custom builder from framing to finishing. Building homes, not houses. The scope of his work experience extends beyond residential into commercial, institutional, and industrial formations. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in General Arts from Wilfred Laurier University. Alexander is a skilled problem solver and key communicator amongst the various trades that intersect during any given project. Completing the Building Officials Fundamentals Program provides him with institutional knowledge of the Ontario Building Code with the goal of becoming a Building Official.
“The Building Officials Fundamentals Program at George Brown has given me a new perspective on all of my building projects since taking the course. I now have more confidence in making code-compliant decisions for current projects and know how to search the code for anything I’m unsure of. The building science part of the course has totally changed my perspective on common practice and I believe anyone in the trades should start with at least this one course to just build better and smarter.” Alexander Salmon
Amer Chamoun Barbar
Amer has over 20 years of Architectural engineering experience in interior design and construction fit-out in Dubai and Canada. He has a bachelor’s degree in Architect and City Planning from Damascus University of Syria.
Amer started his career in the UAE with construction companies, as construction coordinator working on projects for five-star hotels, boutiques and retail brands all around Gulf countries. Amer had the opportunity to work with the largest interior contractor in Dubai as project coordinator for the Burj Khalifa, known as the world’s tallest building. On his last assignment, he worked as project manager for the AMAZON warehouse construction project in Canada.
Anas Hamdoun
Anas believes in the important role that building codes, training, and education play in providing safer and more efficient buildings in the community. After graduating from the Building Officials Fundamentals Certificate program, Anas received a position in an architectural consultancy firm in Mississauga where he works on residential and commercial projects.
Anas’s experience includes working as a designer and a project coordinator in an architectural and planning consultancy in Dubai. He has experience dealing with diverse projects scale and types, law, medium and high-rise buildings with specialization in commercial and residential projects. He accumulated significant experience in liaising with developers, contractors, owners, approval agencies and major vendors.
He also has a bachelor’s degree in architectural design and has successfully completed MMAH exam for General Legal/Process.
“It is my honor to graduate from George Brown College and I’m pleased to apply the principles I learned in the real-world environment, to contribute to better and safer buildings.”
Anoush El-Dik
Since 2013, Anoush has worked as a customer service coordinator for Amvic Building System, a manufacturing company that designs and distributes building materials that enhances the performance of the building envelope. Her experience includes 12 years as an administrative assistant, document controller, supply chain and customer service coordinator in engineering, architectural and building industry.
“The Building Officials Fundamentals Program at George Brown College gave me the opportunity to learn about the building code, technical aspects of construction, building science, plans examination, health and safety within buildings, and the building envelope.”
Anoush has also taken several courses in the Construction Estimator Program at Seneca College and currently studying to write several BCIN exams.
Arash Asef
Arash believes in the important role that the Ontario Building Code (OBC), training and education play in providing safer and more efficient buildings in the community.
Arash has worked as Construction Assistant Project Manager, and Construction Project Coordinator for over ten years in architectural design and construction in Iran and Canada. He handled industrial construction and medium to high-rise residential condominium projects from planning and development to construction and closing. He gained significant experience in liaising with design professionals, developers, contractors, owners and approval agencies.
Arash is a member and volunteer of Project Management Institute (PMI) Toronto Chapter. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Project Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Technology.
“By becoming a Building Official, I want to contribute to building better and safer communities.”
Chinyere Johnson 
Chinyere joined EllisDon in early 2021 as an Assistant Project Manager within the Toronto Building Group department. She has over eight years of Industrial, Commercial, Institutional (ICI) construction project management experience. In her previous roles, she managed construction project delivery from initiating to closing for new construction and rehabilitation works. She was responsible for directing project activities which included quality, scheduling, budgeting, takeoffs, cost estimating, risk management, and sustainability reviews.
With the integration of an architectural and construction management background, Chinyere has over 10 years of experience using Revit and AutoCAD software. At the Ministry of Community Development in Trinidad and Tobago she produced 100% of the department’s architectural and civil drawings, coordinated procurement activities, chaired bid meetings, and spearheaded bid evaluations.
Kavoos Nejat
I had already challenged myself through a number of various types of residential, and ICI projects for 12 years. However I have been closely watching Building Officials through their inspections. As a new chapter in my life and after completion of the Civil Engineering Program at Seneca College, I felt determined that being a Building Official is what I have always had passion for to pursue. As a result, I enrolled in the “Building Official Fundamentals” joint certification program of OBOA and George Brown College and grasped lots of valuable and practical information and experiences from the facilitators who have served in the industry for a long time.
In the meantime, I passed MMAH provincial exams for “General Legal/Process”, “Small Buildings”, “Building Structural”, “Building Services”, and “Plumbing-All Buildings” in only 5 months. I am currently a Building Inspector/Plans Examiner at the City of Thorold.
2020 Graduates:
Crystal Lee Abainza
Crystal Lee Abainza is a graduate of Building Officials Fundamentals Certificate program at George Brown College and a certified Building Code Qualified (BCQ) in Housing. Crystal believes in the important role that building codes, training and education play in providing safer and more efficient buildings in the community.
Crystal has worked as an Architectural Assistant for eight years in architectural design and planning consultants in Singapore. She handled medium to high-rise residential condominium projects from planning development to construction phase and accumulated significant experience in liaising with design professionals, developers, contractors, owners and approval agencies.
Crystal is a Registered Building Technician and a member of Association of Architectural Technologists of Ontario (AATO). She is also a Registered Architect in the Philippines and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture. “By becoming a Building Official, I want to contribute to better and safer buildings.” – Crystal Lee Abanzina
Jordan Ashley
Jordan Ashley has a broad range of experience and a diverse skill-set. An energetic, committed Business Owner, Licensed Plumber, Gas Technician and recent graduate of the Building Official Fundamentals program at George Brown College, Jordan has successfully completed MMAH exams for: General Legal/Process, Plumbing – All Buildings, Small Buildings, HVAC-House and Building Services. He is described by others as a “skilled communicator”, “problem solver”, and “highly recommended”.
Jordan has consistently carried his reputation and success in the construction industry in residential, commercial, institutional and industrial applications. In addition, he has extensive experience in the installation of mechanical systems in medical facilities, working with medical gases.
“I look forward to working as a Building Official where I can help designers and builders realize their goals while also working with the community to provide safe and efficient buildings.” – Jordan Ashley
John Brekelmans
Since high school, John has been in the residential construction field since high school as a hands-on contractor. A desire for continuing education and promoting better building practices led him to George Browns, Building Officials Fundamentals Certificate Program, to obtain the Building Code Qualified designation with the OBOA. The program provided both on-line and in-class learning which prepared John for the municipal work setting. He quickly found an opportunity in a contract position which he hopes will give him the work experience to gain employment in a full-time position.
Richard N. Edwards
Richard is a graduate from Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, with a diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology. He has worked in this field for over twenty years and has a solid background in Research and Development, as well as chemical process manufacturing. Richard enrolled in the Home Inspection Training Program at Sheridan College through Carson Dunlop and has a certificate from both institutions.
This achievement sparked Richard’s interest in becoming a building official, which led him to enrol in the George Brown Building Officials Fundamentals program. Currently, he is enrolled in additional George Brown programs, and is pursuing his Building Code Qualified (BCQ) certificate through the Ontario Building Officials Association (OBOA). He has already completed one of his BCIN exams and is currently studying for subsequent examinations. He is committed to writing several BCIN exams in order to acquire a broad Building Code knowledge-base and in doing so, become a versatile and effective building official.
Elma Kucanin
Elma recognizes that a career as a building official offers unlimited work opportunities, rewards as well as great challenges. She is extremely excited about having taken the initiative to complete the Building Official Fundamentals Certificate at George Brown College and to belong to the first graduating class.
Coming from a diverse background in the construction industry along with her education would enable her to contribute toward exciting initiatives and build a promising career as a building official.
Aleem Khan
Aleem Khan has a demonstrated history of working in the architecture, architectural visualization and planning, and building construction sectors. In addition to his Certification in Building Official Fundamentals Certificate Program he also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture.
Aleem wants to combine his career skills with his education to become a Building Official.
“As an immigrant professional, this certification program gave me an in-depth knowledge of construction technology and trends in Ontario. It also helped me understand legal and official requirements to successfully integrate my education and experience in the Ontario construction industry.” – Aleem Khan
Mark McLachlan
Mark McLachlan has been involved in numerous areas within the construction sector, including framing, plumbing, welding inspection and heavy equipment operation in demolition, road construction and water, sewer and storm pipe installation. Mark’s education involves Architectural Engineering Technology from Georgian College, and various welding inspection courses from The College of Oceaneering which led to an inspector role in the United States and various BCIN’s in House, General Legal and Part 8 On site sewage courses, in addition to the Building Officials Fundamentals Certificate from George Brown College.
Mark completed the Building Officials Fundamentals Certificate to expand his knowledge of the Ontario Building Code and with a goal of becoming a Building Official. He wants to ensure that construction projects are completed accurately and enjoys navigating through the complexity that some construction projects involve.
“The culmination of my construction experience combined with formal education has led to what I feel is a natural progression into a Building Official ole, blending office and field work.” – Mark McLachlan
Viet Pham
“I’ve had the opportunity to learn and try several career paths in my adult life. But many of the life goals have always been connected to the construction of buildings. Being able to learn the legal and regulatory side of building construction is empowering, I’m very excited to serve my community with what I have learned so far.”
Benison Siu
Ben is very passionate in promoting 
fire and health safety within buildings. He understands that as technology advances, so do our buildings. That’s why he believes that continuing education is the key factor to success in this industry.
Through his ten years of experience working as a structural technologist in design and drafting, he wants to take on greater responsibilities to safeguard buildings in his community. His experience also includes performing inspections on the erection of steel and concrete structures, with a strong perception that construction must be executed according to the design.
Ben is also a graduate from Seneca College in Civil Engineering Technology program with a specialty in buildings. This training has given him a great understanding of how building assemblies works coherently with each other. His recent achievement was passing eight (8) BCIN exams within four (4) months and is now qualified to inspect in all 12 classes of registrations. Ben recently received a position as a building inspector with the East Gwillimbury.
Frederick Oscar Villarete
Frederick graduated from the three-year Humber College program in Architectural Technology in 2015. Since then he has worked in a variety of positions including residential architectural design, commercial and institutional design, and custom cabinetry. Frederick also has experience working on drawings to presentation drawings, using both CADD and BIM.
Initially he chose to study the Ontario Building Officials program at George Brown College out of interest. But as he progressed through the different courses on building code enforcement and different areas of the code, he discovered that an interest in the workings of the code.
“I like to apply the principles he learned at George Brown College in the real world environment, in order to contribute to the construction of safer and higher quality buildings.” Frederick Oscar Villarete
Hanna Zolotavina
Hanna 
Zolotavina is an Architectural Technologist for RN Design, an architectural design company specializing in low-rise residential construction. She obtained an Architectural Technology
diploma from Humber College. She has worked in construction industry for the past seven years, where she was able to gain extensive knowledge of building systems and experience in developing architectural designs.
Hanna enrolled in Building Officials Fundamentals Program at George Brown College to help her transition in her career. The program has helped her develop communication and technical skills required for a position at municipal level and she successfully passed Legal and House exams after completing the program.
“I want to become a Building Official so I can be part of city building and contribute to the development industry.” – Hanna Zolotavina
Additional graduates include: