It’s not just sports milestones measured in three – with one broker clinching the industry’s triple crown at this year’s Canadian Mortgage Awards.
It’s not just sports milestones measured in three – with one broker clinching the industry’s triple crown at this year’s Canadian Mortgage Awards.
“What do you say? I really love what I do and I work with great people,” said Edmonton mortgage broker Collin Bruce, with Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Mentors. “I don’t have a secret – work hard and love what you do.”
Bruce was among the 600 industry professionals gathered for the ninth-annual CMA gala at Toronto’s Liberty Grand, with Home Trust as title sponsor.
Bruce would take home the Bridgewater Bank Award for Mortgage Broker of the Year, 25 Employees or More, but also The Canadian Mortgage App Award for Mortgage Brokerage of the Year, 25 Employees or More. Earlier this year, the industry vet earned top spot for the CMP Top 75 Brokers, with a personal mortgage volume of $331 million. The triple honours represent an industry first.
Overall, the awards cut a wide swath across the broker channel, with winners in 20 categories drawn from Vancouver and Toronto, but also smaller markets. It was produced by KMI Publishing and Events – the organization behind CMP magazine – with PwC returning once again as the official ballot accountants.
The celebration also speaks to the industry’s perseverance and victory over increasingly competitive forces. Brokers have been quickest to adapt, with a shift to alternative lending to help borrowers struggling to qualify under stricter underwriting guidelines.
“I’ve been in the industry for 15 years and I’m so proud to be a part of its growth over that 15 years,” GTA broker Christine Xu of Mortgage Architects said, with her win as Alternative Lending Broker of the Year.
Today’s challenging market recommended the addition of a new award for the ceremony, now in its 9th year.
First Foundation Residential Mortgages took home that honour, Diversifier of the Year, for a business model embracing insurance and other service offerings building on a core mortgage operation.
Last year featured a tie between two networks for the National Broker Network of the Year award but there was no sharing this year, with Invis Mortgage Intelligence taking home top honours.
“This is extremely gratifying as this is our 15th anniversary,” Cameron Strong, CEO of Invis Mortgage Intelligence said. “Congratulations to our team and to the finalists.”
And the winners are ...
| Award Category | Winner Name |
| The Kanetix Award For Best Internet Presence | Mortgage Architects |
| The Dominion Lending Centres Award For Best Lender Underwriter Of The Year | Patrick Delaney, Radius Financial |
| The Award For Best Marketing Effort Of The Year | Invis Mortgage Intelligence |
| The WeCanLend.Com Award For Best Newcomer, Individual Agent Or Broker | Brian Hogben, Mortgage Financial Corporation |
| The CFF Bank Award For Best Newcomer, Mortgage Broker Firm | Verico Xeva Mortgage |
| The Award For Employer Of Choice | VERICO Safebridge Financial Group |
| The Canadian Mortgage App Award For Mortgage Brokerage Of The Year, 25 Employees Or More | DLC Mortgage Mentors |
| The Bridgewater Bank Award For Mortgage Broker Of The Year, 25 Employees Or More | Collin Bruce, DLC Mortgage Mentors |
| The Canadiana Financial Award For Mortgage Brokerage Of The Year, Fewer Than 25 Employees | VERICO My Better Mortgage |
| The Centum Financial Group Award For Best Industry Service Provider | MCAP |
| The D + H Award For National Broker Network Of The Year | Invis Mortgage Intelligence |
| The Alt Mortgages Award For Best Newcomer, Lender Underwriter | Kim Weishuhn, Street Capital Financial Corporation |
| The Home Trust Company Award For Alternative Lender Broker of the Year | Christine Xu, Mortgage Architects - Money Broker |
| The Invis / Mortgage Intelligence Award For Best Lender BDM Of The Year | Eden Simari, First National Financial LP |
| The Manulife Mortgage Protection Plan Award For Best Community Service Effort Of The Year | DLC Regional Mortgage Group |
| The Safebridge Financial Group Award For Best Customer Service From An Individual Office | Champion Mortgage Inc. |
| The Sherwood Mortgage Group Award For Best Newcomer, Lender BDM | Reaza Ali, Home Trust Company |
| The Street Capital Financial Corporation Award For Mortgage Broker Of The Year, Fewer Than 25 Employees | James Loewen, Loewen Group Mortgages |
| The Award For Diversifier Of The Year | First Foundation Residential Mortgages |
| The Vector Financial Award For Best Commercial Mortgage Broker Of The Year | Michel Durand, Mortgage Alliance Commercial Capital |
