Meet Our Pod

Cory has over 10 years’ experience in the masonry industry. A Certified Chimney Inspector and WETT Inspector, Cory has been on more roofs and in more backyards than he can count.

Cory branched out on his own to fill a need that he saw in the industry: reliable, professional people to complete small to midsize masonry and concrete projects. Orca Masonry was launched and is now a recognized brand in the south Vancouver Island marketplace.

Cory has incorporated the PPP Theory in his approach to business, where the People and Planet should come before Profit; as a result, Orca Masonry has experienced amazing growth, attracting experienced and qualified team members. Or ‘pod members’ if you will!

Elnore is a keen multi-tasker and is frequently found special ordering products, arranging for permits while doing a bit of bookkeeping and looking after HR matters.

She has a strong interest in technology and spearheaded the use of a new integrated project management software at Orca Masonry. This led to a (mostly!) paper free process, reducing Orca’s impact on the environment and allows Cory and Joshua to provide the most polished and professional customer service right there on site.

Elnore was enticed to work with Orca Masonry because of a shared vision for a company that believes in working honestly, fairly and efficiently, and having fun doing it. Orca Masonry’s values are more than words, they are a lifestyle.

Victoria born, in her spare time Elnore can be found walking her dog and cheering on her nephew at various sporting events, or even cheering on the Shamrocks! Elnore holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting & IT.

Originally from the UK, Sid has bricklaying and stonemasonry in his DNA. A Red Seal Journeyman, he can install, and problem solve all day long! What’s more, his son is now working with Orca Masonry as a 2nd-year apprentice. You could say we are growing our own Masons…

After working on his own for several years, Sid fully appreciates the value of a team with a diverse set of skills. He joined Orca Masonry with the vision of leveraging his strength in the field with the front end and operational support to build a successful business.

Sid is well known in the construction industry for his incomparable knowledge and skill. He has built everything from incredible outdoor living spaces to problem-solving technical issues related to the function and/or leaking chimneys, and done commercial installations. Sid has well-rounded construction skills that complement his technical knowledge of bricklaying and masonry – we look to him for guidance on our most challenging installations.

Close to Sid’s heart is work/life balance – he is an avid sailor who can be found sailing the Salish Sea with his wife and dogs in his free time.

Joshua is a Certified Chimney Inspector who is not only able to identify current problems with your chimney, but provide solutions.

Top Value: Work Ethic
Joshua holds the belief that a strong work ethic will get you far in life. The strong family orientation of Orca Masonry, along with trust, honesty, respect and kindness, resonate with him on a daily basis and inspires him to work hard and learn more every day.

With an enthusiasm for learning and a strong conviction that with knowledge comes responsibility, Joshua makes it his mission to ensure he is clearly communicating all options and solutions to his clients.

Joshua attended John Abbott College in Montreal, and was a practice player for the Montreal Alouettes. He was also part of the coaching team at Mt Doug Secondary School (Go Rams!) for 6 years before retiring from football to enjoy raising his daughters.

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Having grown up in Cowichan Valley, Jesse is a fan of the rain! One might say he is the ‘rain-ing’ king of all things waterproofing. But seriously, Jesse’s technical knowledge of waterproofing and drainage solutions is unparalleled on Vancouver Island. Even better, Jesse is unafraid to go where no others have before in order to find the source of the problem.

With almost two decades of experience under his belt, Jesse joined Orca Masonry with the anticipation of participating in a fun team environment that appreciates his work ethic, drive for perfection, and giggly sense of humor.

Orca Masonry is proud to be the chosen employer for candidates seeking a forever home!

Conner started his career in Masonry under the tutelage of Sid Branch more than 15 years ago. Life changes, people grow on and this year, he found himself with the opportunity to work with his mentor once again. A certified WETT Inspector and skilled mason, Conner came to Orca Masonry to continue growing his skill and learning from the best in a fun team environment. A true prankster, Conner loves April Fool's Day - in fact, any day can be April Fool's Day in Conner's world...

As a new father, Conner’s greatest joy is his baby boy! His extended family is on the island, and he enjoys his work and life balance by camping, exploring the island, and golfing.

Orca Masonry is proud to be the chosen employer for candidates seeking a forever home!

Iva Lopes is the Operations & Projects Assistant for Orca Masonry. She fills her time with permit applications, account reconciliations and being a social media guru!

New to the construction industry, Iva joined in February of 2021 and has quickly learned the processes necessary to support the Project Consultants and Field Crew members, becoming a valuable contributor to the success of Orca Masonry. Her bright personality makes it easy to have her as part of the team as she learns to navigate the sea of construction knowledge.

Originally from Brazil, Iva came to Canada just under two years ago with her family. Her eight years of work experience at the United Nations changed her personal and professional beliefs into putting the global movement towards sustainable, inclusive and resilient development as her priority. This experience, along with a Masters in Project Management laid an excellent foundation for working with Orca (see what we did there?!). Iva enjoys being creative and spending time with her family and her cat when she is not hard at work supporting the Orca team.

Anthony is a Project Consultant who fulfills masonry dreams and solves concrete problems! He specializes in both residential and commercial concrete and crack injections while also working towards becoming a Certified Chimney Inspector.

With an enthusiasm for construction, having been on the tools in his early career, combined with 20+ years in sales and marketing, a transition into project consulting seemed like a logical step. Excited by the opportunity to be part of a rapidly growing local company and to work with a group of like-minded people, Anthony joined Orca Masonry’s fun and professional office in February of 2021.

Originally from New Zealand, Anthony came to Canada 20 some odd years ago to play rugby as the start of a world tour and found that he couldn’t leave the amazing west coast lifestyle. He has completed a Diploma in Business & Management and has nearly completed his Certificate in Advanced Management from UBC’s Sauder School of Business. Since ending his rugby playing days, he has found a new passion for jiu jitsu and trains regularly.