Five specialists in housing economics, regulation, and lending will determine this year's winners
The judges who will determine Canada's top mortgage honours this November have been confirmed, bringing credentials that span academic research, regulatory law, federal housing policy, and 25 years of industry leadership.
The 2026 Canadian Mortgage Awards (CMA) are scheduled for November 25 at Rebel Toronto, marking the programme's 20th anniversary.
The ceremony spans 26 categories judged through a five-stage process, and the judging panel sits at the centre of a methodology designed to make the outcome as defensible as it is distinguished.
A panel built on independence
All judges are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement to prevent the unauthorised disclosure of confidential information, including details within submission forms.
Any judge with a conflict of interest in a category is required to recuse themselves from voting in that category.
The five confirmed judges bring expertise across disciplines that touch nearly every corner of the Canadian mortgage market.
Dr. Kiana Basiri, Assistant Professor at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University, brings an academic lens grounded in applied economics.
Her research focuses on using econometrics tools to understand the relationship between housing and credit markets, with a focus on real estate economics, housing policy, household finance, consumer bankruptcies, and default. She previously served as a Senior Specialist at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
Samantha Gale, Chief Executive Officer of Veracite Trust Company Ltd. and the Canadian Private Lenders Association (CPLA), arrives with 15 years of frontline regulatory experience.
A former CEO of the Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association – British Columbia and the Mortgage Brokers Institute of BC, she holds a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School specialising in banking and financial law and played a prominent role in the Cullen Commission.
Much of her expertise stems from her 15-year tenure with the BC Financial Institutions Commission (FICOM, now the BC Financial Services Authority, or BCFSA).
Andrey Pavlov, Professor of Finance at the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, contributes a research profile that cuts across risk management, mortgage securitisation, and financial derivatives.
He has consulted for organisations including Fannie Mae in the United States, Canada's federal government, the Government of British Columbia, and CMHC, and has served on the editorial boards of Real Estate Economics and the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics.
Caroline Sanfaçon, Senior Vice-President of Insurance and Securitisation at CMHC, brings more than two decades of direct experience in Canada's federal housing agency.
She leads the delivery of CMHC's commercial products, including mortgage loan insurance and securitisation, with extensive experience in retail and commercial real estate credit risk and lending, and prior experience in CMHC offices in Montréal, Ottawa, and Vancouver.
Rounding out the panel is Steven Ranson, the retired President and Chief Executive Officer of HomeEquity Bank, who spent almost 25 years leading the institution and helped transform reverse mortgages from a largely unknown product into a trusted financial tool for older Canadians.
He is the co-author of HomeRun: The Reverse Mortgage Advantage.
How the winners are chosen
The judging panel is the final stage in a five-step process that begins well before the November gala. Nominations were open from June 8 to August 14 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and were open to all mortgage professionals and organisations across Canada, including brokers, brokerages, lenders, business development managers (BDMs), underwriters, agents, and service providers. There was no fee to submit a nomination.
Following the close of nominations, the CMA team conducts its own research, drawing on knowledge gained through Canadian Mortgage Professional magazine, to ensure no deserving candidate is missed.
Excellence awardees — the final shortlist in each category — will be officially announced in September.
Judging is set to commence in October and November, with winners determined by a points-based system that aggregates each judge's votes.
The methodology is built specifically to guard against the risk of strong networks simply outrunning strong performance.
For practitioners, recognition carries tangible professional value beyond the gala night itself.
Excellence awardees and winners will be announced in CMP magazine and online channels, profiled in online content, and featured in industry events throughout the year.
The 2026 edition also expands the category roster, with new classifications reflecting how the broker's role continues to evolve. Two additions — Mortgage Tech Innovator of the Year and The REMIC Award for Finfluencer of the Year — signal that the industry's definition of excellence is broadening.
Full details on all 26 categories and how to get involved are available at canadianmortgageawards.com.
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