Agenda

Pre-approved by Mortgage Professionals Canada for 4 CE Units in the Professional Development category for the year 2026.

9:00 AM PDT
Expo hall opens

 

9:30 AM PDT
Welcome and opening remarks from chairperson

 

Rebecca Casey
President, Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association - British Columbia (CMBA-BC)
9:45 – 10:15 AM PDT
Panel: Western Canada reality check - markets, appraisals & economic certainty 

Gain a sharper understanding of what’s driving Western Canada’s market in the coming year as industry leaders break down evolving trends across the Lower Mainland, greater BC and Alberta markets. Hear candid insights on appraisal pressure, valuation uncertainty, and the economic developments shaping lender and broker confidence in 2026. 

  • Explore unique market conditions in BC and Alberta — from valuation pressures to affordability trends 
  • How to manage appraisal volatility and shifting valuation expectations 
  • Gain economic updates impacting financing and long-term lending confidence 
Inram Thaver
Director, National Sales & Marketing, National Bank Optimum Mortgage
10:20 – 11:00 AM PDT
Panel: Tech is reshaping the mortgage industry - Staying competitive in the next era of automation

Technology adoption is no longer optional—it defines which brokerages grow and which ones fall behind. This strategic discussion explores how AI, automation, and workflow technology are reshaping competitive advantage. Leaders and brokers will learn how to prioritize the right tools, avoid common decision-making traps, and build a strategic roadmap that strengthens operational performance in 2026 and beyond. 

  • Explore high-impact AI use cases lenders and brokerages are scaling now
  • Choosing the right tech that drives speed, accuracy & client trust 
  • How to create a competitive roadmap for your 2026 technology plan
  • Q&A: bring your toughest tech questions to the panel 
Dan MacDonald
Co-Founder and CEO, Ownwell
Ryan Spence
Principal, Broker Channel Development, Filogix
Jared Stanley
Senior Director of Originations, Neighbourhood Holdings
11:05 – 11:35 AM PDT
Growing Your Business Starts Here: Mastering the 55+ Opportunity

With competitive pressures rising, brokers must deliver value that stretches far beyond the rate conversation. Learn how leading advisors build loyalty through education, strategic guidance, and personalized financial insights that clients can’t get from online sources or banks to build foundational long-term relationships. 

  • How to shift clients from rate-focused to long-term decision making 
  • Using education & literacy to strengthen trust and authority 
  • How to turn client history into actionable, personalized recommendations 
Rene Quercia
SVP, Broker Channel, HomeEquity Bank
11:35 – 12:05 PM PDT
Networking break with sponsors & exhibitors 
12:05 – 12:45 PDT
Panel: Private & MIC lending - Risk, returns & real-world case studies

Private and MIC deals are becoming essential tools, but they also come with increased scrutiny and complexity. This panel dives into real lending scenarios to help brokers navigate suitability, manage expectations, and structure resilient deals in a tighter regulatory environment. 

  • Identifying when private/MIC lending is suitable—or unsuitable 
  • Understanding lender expectations for documentation & borrower profiles 
  • Explore case studies highlighting pitfalls, red flags & successful structures 
Norman Holmes
Vice President / Managing Director, Drake Financial Ltd.
12:45 – 1:15 PM PDT
From Broker to Authority: Building Trust-Based Influence in a Regulated Market

Many mortgage professionals are active online, yet see little impact on trust, referrals, or inbound opportunity. This session breaks down why posting more content doesn’t automatically create influence—especially in a regulated industry where credibility matters more than visibility. It will outline how top professionals position themselves as trusted authorities in their networks, using influence as a business asset rather than a marketing tactic. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how trust is built online and how influence translates into real-world business conversations.

 

  • Why visibility alone fails to create trust in financial services
  • How regulated professionals build authority without hype or compliance risk
  • The difference between content that entertains and content that influences decisions
  • How influence functions as a long-term business asset, not a social media tactic
Joe White
President and CEO, Real Estate Institute of Canada Inc (REMIC)
1:20 – 2:00 PM PDT
Panel: Alt lending deep dive - Structuring non-traditional deals

Alt lending is expanding fast, and deal success depends heavily on packaging, suitability, and communication. In this hands-on session, experts walk through real case files, giving brokers inside perspective that dramatically increases approval odds and improves client outcomes. 

  • How alt lenders evaluate risk factors across income and credit profiles 
  • Scenario walkthroughs: self-employed, bruised credit and unique borrowers 
  • Importance of documenting suitability to protect both client and broker relationships 
Evanka Grant
Regional Business Director for Western Canada, EQ Bank
Susan Thomas
Vice-President, National Sales, Haventree Bank
Ryan White
Regional Sales Director, MCAN Financial
2:00 – 2:25 PM PDT
Networking Break with Sponsors & Exhibitors

 

2:25 – 3:05 PM PDT
Panel: Balancing prime growth and risk in a volatile rate environment

Prime lending isn’t the easy, low-risk engine it used to be. In a rate environment where the only certainty is uncertainty, lenders and brokers are rethinking how they define “prime,” price risk, compete for quality borrowers, and protect portfolio performance. This panel will explore practical strategies to grow prime business while keeping a close eye on credit quality, renewals, and regulatory expectations in a volatile market. 

  • Redefining “prime” for lenders and brokers in an uncertain, shifting rate environment 
  • Balancing aggressive origination growth with disciplined underwriting and portfolio risk management 
  • How to align lender and broker strategies on pricing, structuring, and renewals to protect and grow prime business 
3:10 – 3:40 PM PDT
Mining the gold in your database - Retention, referrals & always-on pipelines

Your database is your most reliable path to predictable, high-quality deal flow when you treat it like an asset, not an address book. In this session, top mortgage brokers share how they segment clients, stay in touch without feeling “salesy,” and use simple tools and automation to stay front-of-mind at renewal, refinance, and referral moments. Walk away with practical ideas to turn past clients into a steady stream of repeat and referred business. 

  • Explore segmentation strategies that boost relevance, timing, and client response 
  • How to blend genuine human touch with simple, scalable automation 
  • Get real examples of AI-powered follow-up and personalization that spark referrals and re-engagement 
3:40 – 3:45 PM PDT
Closing remarks from the chairperson 
3:45 PM EDT
Extra time in the expo hall