Two days, two stages, 2,000+ brokers — here's everything you need to know before Toronto
MortgageFest Canada arrives in Toronto on September 23 and 24, and the Canadian mortgage industry's flagship event is bigger than it has ever been.
Held at the International Centre, the two-day festival replaces the former Canadian Mortgage Summit with a format built around two dedicated stages, a buzzing expo floor, and programming that spans rate strategy, artificial intelligence, compliance, private lending, and broker growth. Registration is free.
If you have not yet confirmed your place, consider this your reminder, and your guide to making the most of what is on offer.
What the format looks like
MortgageFest Canada runs across two full days at the International Centre in Toronto, drawing 2,000 or more brokers, lenders, executives, and innovators. The event operates across two streams — the Summit Stage, which hosts the main-stage keynotes and panel sessions, and the Insights Stage, which is designed for smaller, hands-on sessions where attendees leave with a framework or a decision rather than a slide deck.
Running alongside Day 2 is Women in Mortgage Summit Canada, a dedicated one-day event bringing together more than 500 women across the industry. The two events share the venue but operate independently, giving attendees the option of attending both.
The event has been pre-approved by Mortgage Professionals Canada for a total of 6.5 continuing education units in the Professional Development category and 0.50 CE units in the Compulsory category for 2026.
Day 1: rates, compliance, and the AI reality check
Day 1 of the Summit Stage opens with what is likely the most consequential session of the two days for brokers managing client pipelines right now.
Derek Burleton, Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist at TD Bank Group, will deliver the opening keynote, mapping where rates, housing activity, and credit quality are actually heading and what the looming renewal crunch means for broker positioning.
From there, the programme moves into territory brokers are grappling with daily.
A panel titled "The Prime Lending Reality Check: Where Deals Are Getting Done in 2026" brings together senior representatives from TD Bank, BMO BrokerEdge, First National Financial, and National Bank to break down where prime lenders are approving deals, where they are pulling back, and how brokers can package submissions more effectively.
The compliance thread runs through multiple sessions. "Lessons from the Trenches — When Compliance Fails: Real Cases, Real Consequences" features a compliance expert and experienced brokers unpacking real-world situations where anti-money laundering, know-your-client, and disclosure processes broke down, and the practical changes that followed.
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On artificial intelligence, the day does not shy away from the harder questions.
Joe White, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of REMIC, presents findings from a national survey of 1,910 Canadians examining how many are already turning to AI for mortgage advice and how few understand that this advice is unregulated, with direct implications for how licensed brokers manage client expectations and protect their files.
The afternoon closes with a straight-talk roundtable featuring Ron Butler of Butler Mortgage Inc., Vince Gaetano of OwlMortgage Inc., and Tracy Valko of Valko Financial, three of Canada's most recognisable mortgage voices discussing market trends, lender priorities, and where the biggest opportunities lie heading into 2027.
Day 2: private lending, newcomer borrowers, and fraud risk
Day 2 opens on the Summit Stage with keynote speaker Jessica Holmes, a comedian and motivational speaker who has opened for Ellen DeGeneres, Jerry Seinfeld, and Oprah Winfrey, and who will address resilience, mental wellness, and staying productive under pressure — themes the mortgage industry has rarely heard addressed this directly at a national event.
The Insights Stage on Day 2 carries some of the most practical content of the two days.
A panel on private and Mortgage Investment Corporation lending — "Private & MIC Lending: Pricing, Paperwork & Deal Structure" — takes a deep dive into how sophisticated MICs actually price risk, what audit-ready documentation looks like, and how brokers can structure sustainable outcomes for borrowers.
Newcomer lending gets its own panel. "Serving the First Time & New Canadian Borrower — Complex Clients & New Lending Opportunities" explores qualification timelines, lender expectations, and alternative lending pathways for new-to-Canada borrowers, a segment that continues to drive mortgage demand in Canada's major urban markets.
Fraud closes the day's Insights Stage programming with urgency. "How to Protect Your License When Deals Go Wrong" features Gina Stephens, Director of Mortgage Brokering Conduct at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA), alongside legal and compliance professionals examining real fraud cases, AI-generated documentation risks, and broker liability exposure. This will be followed by a live Q&A on grey-area situations brokers are facing today.
On the expo floor
The expo floor runs across both days and features experiences described by organisers as purpose-built for the 2,000-plus attendees. This includes interactive surprise experiences, an F1 simulator, and an ICONic Game Zone, with sponsors including HomeEquity Bank, MCAN, REMIC, and Haventree Bank.
For brokers who want a deeper look at the full programme before arriving, the complete MortgageFest Canada agenda is available on the event website. The full speaker lineup, venue details, and registration link are also accessible at mortgagefest.ca.
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