Repeat performances mark Canadian Mortgage Awards

The success of the annual CMP Canadian Mortgage Awards roared across Toronto’s Liberty Grand Friday with over 600 attendees recognizing the industry’s top players – among them an unprecedented number of repeat winners.

The success of the annual CMP Canadian Mortgage Awards roared across Toronto’s Liberty Grand Friday with over 600 attendees recognizing the industry’s top players – among them an unprecedented number of repeat winners.
 
The awards cut a wide swath across the broker channel, with winners in 21 categories drawn from Vancouver and Toronto, but also smaller markets such as London, Ont. Produced by KMI Publishing and Events – the organization behind CMP magazine – the awards were audited by PwC, with FDS Broker Services acting as Platinum Sponsor.

The awards also speak to the industry’s perseverance and victory over increasingly challenging market conditions.
 
“It’s a team effort,” said Anthony Contento of Sherwood Mortgages – Your Mortgage Architects, after claiming the trophy for Mortgage Broker of the Year (25 Employees or More), sponsored by Bridgewater Bank. “I didn’t do it by myself; to get to where I am today is due to the great agents I have and my great business partner, Athena Constantinou.”
 
That same team also took home the First Canadian Title Award for Mortgage Brokerage of the Year (25 employees or more). Contento is one of several to reclaim awards won in previous years.

Toronto’s Calum Ross was one of them, taking home not only the Street Capital Financial Corporation Award for Mortgage Broker of the Year (fewer than 25 employees) but also the Safebridge Financial Group for Best Customer Service from an individual office.

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A first-time winner in its category was Alberta-based Jayman Financial, with Lorne Rackel accepting the Score-Up Award For Mortgage Brokerage Of The Year (Fewer Than 25 Employees) on behalf of the company.

“It’s been a long journey; we started off doing about $110 million in mortgages and last year we finished up with $296 million,” Rackel said. “We have the right people who really care and we treat the customer right.”
 
The Disco-themed gala is known for bringing together an increasingly diverse industry as brokers focus on niche markets and employ new business strategies to make up for a falling number of home sales and refinances.
 
Breaking the tie from last year, Verico – which shared honours with Dominion Lending Centres in 2013 – took home the final award of the night: the D+H Award for National Broker Network of the Year.

While the night of awards focuses on acknowledging excellence, it also provides a pat on the back for the industry as a whole, said KMI Publishing and Events President and CEO Tim Duce.
 
“This year’s awards are more inclusive than they have ever been, with brokers, lenders and other key industry players honouring the successes of its leaders,” he said.

2014 CMA Winners
The Marlborough Stirling Award For Best Internet Presence --  Dominion Lending Centres

The CMP Magazine Award For Best Branding --   First Foundation Residential Mortgages

The CFF Bank Award For Best Newcomer (Mortgage Broker Firm)   -- Mortgage Intelligence, L A Mortgage Team

The FDS Broker Services Award For Best Newcomer, Individual Agent / Broker  --  Jennifer Huynh, First Foundation Residential Mortgages

The B2B Bank Award For Employer Of Choice  -- First National Financial LP

The FDS Broker Services Award For Best Community Service Effort Of The Year   -- Carmen Alpaerts, Invis / Any Mortgage For You

The Safebridge Financial Group Award For Best Customer Service From An Individual Office -- Verico
The Mortgage Management Group Inc. / Calum Ross Mortgage

The Wealth Professional Magazine Award For Best Advertising  -- Mortgage Architects

The National Bank Award For Lifetime Achievement In The Mortgage Industry  -- Frances Blau, Abacus Mortgage

The Home Trust Company Award For Best Alternative Lending Mortgage Broker Of The Year  -- Graeme Moss, VERICO Fair Mortgage Solutions

The Vector Financial Award For Best Commercial Mortgage Broker Of The Year -- Sandy Harrington, IC Funding Financial

The Centum Financial Award For Best Industry Service Provider  -- MortgageMarketingCoach.Com

The MortgageBrokerNews.Ca Award For Newcomer, Lender Underwriter  -- Tyler  Trompetter, Home Trust Company

The Dominion Lending Centres Award For Best Lender Underwriter Of The Year   -- Cailin Phillips, Equitable Bank

The Sherwood Mortgage Group Award For Best Newcomer, Lender BDM  -- Cristina Minatel, Home Trust Company

The Invis/MI Award For Best Lender BDM OF The Year  -- Sam Rizzo, CMLS Financial

The Street Capital Financial Corp Award For Mortgage Broker Of The Year (Fewer Than 25 Employees)   -- Calum Ross, VERICO Calum Ross Mortgage

The Bridgewater Bank Award For Mortgage Broker Of The Year (25 Employees Or More)  -- Anthony Contento, Sherwood Mortgages - Your Mortgage Architects

The Score-Up Award For Mortgage Brokerage Of The Year (Fewer Than 25 Employees)  -- Jayman Financial

The First Canadian Title Award For Mortgage Brokerage Of The Year (25 Employees Or More)   -- Sherwood Mortgages - Your Mortgage Architects

The D+H Award For National Broker Network of The Year  --  Verico Financial Group Inc.