Public has taken notice of CMAs, says winner

The Canadian Mortgage Awards have become a time-honoured tradition in the mortgage industry, and when the 12th annual gala kicks off April 20 in Toronto, expect to hear a lot about giving back

Public has taken notice of CMAs, says winner
The Canadian Mortgage Awards have become a time-honoured tradition in the mortgage industry, and when the 12th annual gala kicks off April 20 in Toronto, expect to hear a lot about giving back.

This year’s impressive roster of award sponsors is a testament to the event’s reputation and standing among Canadian mortgage professionals. Some of the biggest players in the industry are sponsoring this year’s prestigious awards.

Steve Walters, senior vice president of First Source Mortgage Corporation, called the Canadian Mortgage Awards the most anticipated event of the year for industry professionals, but added that there’s a close second.

“I can say, with authority, that people wait with anticipation for the magazine to come out to see the finalists list and then the winners,” said Walters. “There’s an anticipatory feeling just prior to the awards to see who won the best broker, the new rookie, everything.”

First Source is sponsoring the Commercial Mortgage Broker of the Year Award, and Walters believes that it is important to bestow recognition upon the industry’s various players because it pushes everyone to maintain their exceptional level of hard work.

We at First Source are a big player in the Toronto commercial bridge financing market, and we wanted to give back and support the brokers who have worked diligently to bring us loan opportunities,” said Walters.

He also lauds the process through which Canadian Mortgage Award winners are chosen, adding that it’s trusted industry-wide.

“It’s important to honour individuals who have excelled in our industry,” he said. “I think it’s really important to have an absolutely unbiased, nonpartisan awards ceremony where winners are truly picked based on their achievements.”

As it turns out, winning a CMA is trusted outside of the industry, too.

Shane Bruce has won a couple of CMAs, including Marketing Campaign of the Year in 2015, and says business noticeable surged after marketing his wins.

“The local precedent from getting a national nod helped because it shows your business acumen as a business operator, as opposed to a broker only,” said the founder of the ACME Group of Companies. “(The CMA wins) helped build our independent brand in Newfoundland, and it certainly helps having more credentials, especially being an independent and not a franchise.”

Bruce runs ACME out of St. John’s, Newfoundland, and says the CMAs are an excellent networking opportunity for his company because he gets to rub shoulders with peers he seldom sees.

“When you network with your peers from across the country, it’s nice to see what they’re doing to be successful. If we have the same problems, we can share notes on how to come up with solutions.”

To submit nominations for this year’s Canadian Mortgage Awards, please click here


Related stories:
How I got my phone ringing off the hook with new business
Women in industry looking forward to 2018 CMAs