The association is gearing up to welcome mortgage professionals from across Ontario at the March 26-27 event in Vaughan
As an eventful year gathers pace across Canada’s mortgage market, industry members will convene in March for the annual Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association – Ontario (CMBA-ON) with plenty of food for thought.
Brokers, lenders and mortgage professionals of all stripes are navigating challenging and uncertain times – and there’s sure to be no shortage of talking points at the two-day event, which kicks off with a gala and awards evening on March 26 at Vaughan’s Universal Event Space before the conference and trade show at the same venue on March 27.
For Michelle Campbell (pictured top), CMBA-ON’s vice president, the event will offer brokers an opportune moment to cultivate new relationships and workshop approaches toward a market that’s presenting plenty of opportunity even amid the challenges facing borrowers and buyers.
“This conference is designed to empower mortgage agents and brokers with the latest industry knowledge,” Campbell told Canadian Mortgage Professional. “We want them to foster meaningful connections and inspire an innovative approach this year.
“We have 70 exhibitors that the attendees will be able to engage with and I’m confident, based on our agenda, that they’ll be able to gain actual insights on how to navigate the current housing landscape.”
Important updates in a time of upheaval
The goal for the conference, Campbell said, is for every participant to leave feeling more connected and informed, with the association putting together a lineup of industry heavy hitters to deliver insights and updates throughout.
As economic uncertainty continues to swirl amid the threat of US tariffs and a potential recession in Canada, the fate of the spring housing market is up in the air – while there’s also little clarity on the path ahead for the Bank of Canada on interest rates and the inflation outlook.
Bank of Montreal (BMO) chief economist and managing director Doug Porter will be on hand at the March event to deliver a morning update on how the industry should expect the economy to play out in the months ahead.
BoC Governor Tiff Macklem rules out changing the 2% inflation target, citing stability amid volatility. He warns a US-Canada tariff war could shrink Canada’s economy by nearly 3% over two years, with no quick rebound. https://t.co/ne8Tmz4TBe
— Canadian Mortgage Professional Magazine (@CMPmagazine) February 24, 2025
Prominent lending executives including Andrew Gilmour (CMLS), Devon Ajram (TD), Elena Robinson (First National), and Nick Kyprianou (RiverRock) will partake in a panel discussion on what brokers need to keep top of mind about the current lending outlook, while Questrade Financial Group head of government and regulatory affairs Tanya Woods is set to lead a session on the next steps on the political front.
Mentalist Kevin Hamdan is scheduled to deliver tips on leveraging psychological techniques to improve and enhance relationships with clients and elevate brokers’ business, before Ron Butler and John Webster – familiar faces in Ontario’s mortgage industry – go head-to-head in a “Mortgage Titans” debate moderated by CMBA-ON president Leah Zlatkin.
‘The brokers who stay proactive will win’
As always, the trade show component will provide attendees the opportunity to gain valuable facetime with exhibitors and for brokers to speak directly to lending partners and service providers about their pressing concerns and industry issues.
That agenda has been devised, Campbell said, with the success of brokers firmly in mind and a clear eye on the trends that are set to dominate the agent and broker space this year. “I’m a broker myself and a lot of the board of directors are brokers,” she noted.
“Renewals are the big deal this year – lots of homeowners are coming off super-low rates, and I think brokers need to step up and help clients understand their options, find the best solutions and stay ahead of those market changes. We believe that the brokers who stay proactive and keep clients informed will win.”
A memorable night is also in store before the conference at the gala and awards, which will feature a cocktail hour, dinner and speeches, awards presentation, and post-awards DJ and dancing capped off by late-night pizza to end the celebrations.
CMBA will also be raising money for SickKids during that gala, an annual pursuit in support of a worthwhile cause. “We’re very much looking forward to that,” Campbell said, “and celebrating the achievements made within our community.”
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