From Olympic champions to top economists, this year’s MPC National Mortgage Conference delivered two packed days of insights and connection at Ottawa’s Rogers Centre.
“This year’s conference reflected the strength and adaptability of Canada’s mortgage community,” said MPC CEO Lauren van den Berg. “Our goal is always to create space for meaningful dialogue, new ideas, and collaboration that continues long after the sessions end — and none of it would be possible without the dedication and hard work of the rockstar MPC team who bring it all together behind the scenes.”
Held last week in Ottawa, the conference brought together more than 1,400 mortgage professionals for two days of learning and inspiration, featuring keynote speakers, packed panels and a bustling expo floor.
Shawn Kanungo opened the mainstage with a jolt of energy, urging brokers to lean into the coming “agentic” AI era while doubling down on human value. He reminded the room that “trust is the ultimate currency,” challenged attendees to “work scared until you become scary,” and argued that in an AI world, “the in-person experience is the brand”—the guided friction that makes complex financing feel clear and personal.
He was followed by luncheon keynote Tessa Virtue, who drew from her Olympic career to explore leadership, resilience and performing under pressure. She spoke about the importance of focusing on excellence rather than perfection, connecting effort to purpose, and cultivating trust within teams, ideas that resonated with mortgage professionals navigating constant change.
The learning continued Monday with an economic outlook from CIBC Deputy Chief Economist Benjamin Tal, who told attendees that Canada is already in a “per-capita recession” and that the Bank of Canada must move quickly to cut rates.
He described the slowdown as “the biggest test to your industry since the 1990s,” saying policy-makers are now trying to “normalize the abnormal” after years of extraordinary economic conditions. Tal warned that the housing market remains “frozen — houses are too expensive to buy and not expensive enough to build,” particularly in Ontario and B.C., where the condo sector is already in recession.
Throughout the two days, there was also a full slate of concurrent sessions tackling timely topics like technology, compliance, and business growth. The lender and broker panels drew standing-room crowds, while the ByWard Market Expo buzzed with 72 exhibitors showcasing products and partnerships that power the broker channel.
n the closing session, veteran journalist Lisa LaFlamme, who spoke about leadership, change and resilience drawn from her decades in broadcasting. She reminded attendees that while technical knowledge matters, success ultimately depends on emotional intelligence — the ability to connect, listen and build trust. LaFlamme urged professionals to “listen more and talk less,” noting that while technology and AI may transform processes, “it will always take a human to explain why it matters.”
The evening concluded with the Canadian Mortgage Hall of Fame Gala, celebrating this year’s inductees — Gord Wintrup, Frank Napolitano and Joe Pinheiro — who have each helped shape the values, standards and spirit of Canada’s mortgage community.
National conference by the numbers
- 72 exhibitors
- 1,425 total attendees
- 6 main-stage events (keynotes + lender & broker panels)
- 28 concurrent session speakers
- 24 sponsors making it happen
- 1,000+ lunches serves during Tessa Virtue’s keynote address
- 3: The number of consecutive years the conference has sold out
- 2026: When the conference heads west to Calgary
Maxime Stencer named new MPC board chair
Mortgage Professionals Canada welcomed Maxime Stencer as its new board chair at this year’s National Mortgage Conference in Ottawa, succeeding Barbara Cook, who now serves as past chair.
In his address to attendees, Stencer emphasized that MPC’s strength lies in its people, describing the association as “a rich, vibrant, and passionate network of more than 15,000 professionals.” He added that as chair, his commitment is to ensure “our members will be at the heart of every decision we make — your voice will guide us.”
Stencer told members that what unites the mortgage community is a shared purpose and the impact brokers have every day. “Because of your work, a young couple proudly opens the door to their first home. Because of your expertise, retirees can restructure their finances with confidence. And because of your guidance, families can step into the next chapter of their lives with peace in mind,” he said. “That doesn’t just happen. It takes long hours, sharp judgment, and a drive to deliver the best service that keeps Canadians confident in our industry.”
To reinforce that message, he announced a symbolic new tradition: an empty chair will be placed at every board meeting to represent MPC’s members and serve as a visual reminder of the association’s mission to serve the broker community and advance homeownership in Canada.
Outgoing chair Barbara Cook reflected on a year marked by progress in advocacy and member engagement. She said the industry’s collective voice “has never been stronger,” pointing to advances on bringing digital income verification to the forefront policy conversations in Ottawa, expanded 30-year amortizations, and efforts to keep housing affordability front and centre in government policy discussions. “It takes all 15,000 of us to build a strong association,” Cook said. “If we want to keep moving our industry forward, we have to do it together.”
Lender panel: borrowers are proving resilient as renewals roll in
At Mortgage Professionals Canada’s National Conference, senior executives from major lenders said the housing market has proven far stronger than many expected this year, with arrears still near record lows and borrowers adjusting to higher rates.
“There’s been no renewals cliff,” said Jason Ellis, President and CEO of First National. “None of us up here have seen any evidence of a collapse. The housing market has held together, and arrears are less than 15 basis points.”
Brian Carey, Executive Vice-President and COO of MCAP, noted that overall mortgage activity remains solid, supported by long-term growth in Canada’s market. “The residential mortgage market in Canada is $2.7 trillion today,” he said. “If we go back 10 years, it was about $1.7 trillion — it’s grown quite nicely.”
Tracy Gomes, Senior Vice-President of Real Estate Secured Lending at Scotiabank, added that borrowers have shown discipline through the renewal cycle. “Aside from housing itself, the mortgage market was great,” she said. “We had a lot of renewals coming up for our borrowers this year, and so that was a very healthy switch and refinance market for anybody who’s in the mortgage lending business.”
Andrew Gilmour, Executive Vice-President at CMLS Financial, said even borrowers renewing from ultra-low pandemic rates are managing the transition. “With the renewal wave… clients that were at 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, going into stuff that’s 250 basis points higher… the Canadian consumer continues to meet their debt obligations.”
Overall, panelists agreed 2025 has been “a year of resilience, not retreat,” with borrowers adapting and confidence returning as policy changes improve affordability.
Read the full CMT article for more highlights from MPC’s lender panel.
30-year amortizations helping more buyers qualify, says Canada Guaranty
New federal mortgage rules are giving first-time buyers more flexibility and improving affordability. Mary Putnam, Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Canada Guaranty, shared the update during MPC’s National Mortgage Conference.
She said 56% of new high-ratio originations this year used a 30-year amortization, and 46% of those borrowers wouldn’t have qualified under a 25-year term. The new $1.5-million cap has also expanded access, with 3.5% of insured volume now exceeding $1 million, and 64% of new insured business coming through brokers.
“These changes gave first-time homebuyers an opportunity to buy in a rational process where for many years it was very hard,” Putnam said. “It’s made a big, big difference.”
Habitat for Humanity and MPC partnership helping more Canadians into homes
A growing partnership between Habitat for Humanity Canada and Mortgage Professionals Canada is helping more families gain access to homeownership.
MPC has pledged $200,000 and volunteer support to help build homes across the country, offering mortgage professionals a hands-on way to give back to their communities.
“The support of MPC and our other partners make a real difference in the lives of Canadian families who would otherwise have no opportunity to own their home,” said Alana Lavoie, National Senior Director of Public Policy at Habitat for Humanity Canada.
She added that Habitat is also expanding beyond traditional detached homes to include townhomes, stacked units and modular builds, new models designed to meet affordability challenges and make better use of limited land.
Next Steps: Mortgage industry career moves
Gord Dahlen joins Highclere Capital as director of sales, Canada West
Highclere Capital has welcomed Gord Dahlen as director of sales for Canada West.
With over three decades of experience across the Canadian mortgage and financial services industry, Dahlen brings a wealth of leadership in sales, business development, and broker relations. He’s built his career at organizations such as Axiom Innovations, MCAN Financial Group, Equitable Bank, Bridgewater Bank, and First National, where he’s known for empowering teams, fostering broker success, and helping drive sustained growth.
Highclere said Dahlen’s focus on building strong relationships and driving meaningful results makes him a natural fit for the company as they expand their presence into Western Canada.
Cara Shulman joins Community Trust as manager of national sales support and events
Community Trust has appointed Cara Shulman as manager of national sales support and events. An award-winning executive with more than 25 years of experience in event management and sponsorship growth, Shulman has led large-scale conferences, trade shows, and corporate programs across the mortgage and financial sectors.
She previously served as vice-president of membership and events at Mortgage Professionals Canada and, more recently, as vice-president of programs and partnerships at the Hotel Association of Canada. Shulman has earned multiple national awards for conference and event excellence, including recognition from BizBash and the Canadian Event Industry Awards.
Sébastien Bonnerot named senior vice-president of strategic growth at Century 21 Canada
Century 21 Canada has promoted Sébastien Bonnerot to senior vice-president of strategic growth. With more than 15 years in the Century 21 system, Bonnerot has held roles as agent, team leader, and broker-owner of Century 21 Élite, one of the network’s top-performing offices.
In his new role, Bonnerot will focus on expanding Century 21’s commercial real estate offering and supporting brokers in developing new revenue streams through tools such as Mortgage Monitor and Home Hub. His appointment reflects the brand’s broader growth strategy and commitment to strengthening its presence across Canada, particularly in Quebec.
Ali Nihal joins CIBC as director of funding and liquidity management
Ali Nihal has joined CIBC as director of funding and liquidity management. He brings more than 15 years of experience in treasury, funding strategy, and capital markets, with prior roles at Wealthsimple, George Weston Limited, Street Capital Bank of Canada, and Laurentian Bank.
Nihal has extensive expertise in securitization, liquidity risk management, and regulatory reporting, having led funding programs and relationships with rating agencies, investors, and OSFI.
“Next Steps” is a feature in our Mortgage Digests that highlights notable job changes and career advancements within the mortgage industry. If you have a job update to share, we welcome your submissions to keep the community in the loop.
The latest headlines
Visited 64 times, 37 visit(s) today
Last modified: October 28, 2025