An economist, a broker relations VP, and a lender walk into a room — and get honest about what's happening
On September 24, one of the most closely watched sessions at the Women in Mortgage Summit Canada will put four industry voices in the same room to answer the question Canadian mortgage brokers keep asking each other: what is actually happening in this market, and why are so many clients still not moving?
The Power Panel — titled "What's Actually Happening in This Market — and What the Women Winning in It Are Doing Differently" — opens the main programming block at the International Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
It is designed to cut through the noise surrounding rate uncertainty, the 2026 renewal wave, and a buyer hesitation that has less to do with economics than with fear.
Moderating the session is Amanda Deveaux, partner at Grechi Carter Professional Corporation and a deputy judge in small claims court in Ontario, who acts for lenders on real estate and lending matters.
A market shaped by fear, not just figures
The numbers tell part of the story. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), drawing on Equifax data, has flagged growing vulnerabilities in high-priced markets including Toronto and Vancouver, and among pandemic-era, highly leveraged buyers.
Regions with heavy tariff exposure face compounding risks, with job losses already evident in targeted industries.
The Bank of Canada has held its overnight rate at 2.25% since October 2025, and economists at RBC Economics, CIBC, and Scotiabank expect no further cuts through 2026, with some flagging the possibility of an upward move if US tariff pressures push inflation beyond current forecasts.
That paralysis is the practical reality the panel will address. Sherry Cooper, chief economist at Dominion Lending Centres (DLC), a national mortgage brokerage network headquartered in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, has emerged as one of the most prominent voices on the question of whether and when buyers re-engage.
Joining Cooper on the panel are Michele Steko, vice president of national broker relations at Sherwood Mortgage Group, and Jen Watts, regional sales manager for mortgages at Questbank. Both bring a transactional lens to questions that can otherwise stay abstract, what to say to a client who is waiting, and how to build a business when conditions invite caution.
#WomenInMortgageCA Summit 2026 is proud to welcome Leah Zlatkin of Mortgage Outlet Inc. as this year's Event Chairperson!
— Canadian Mortgage Professional Magazine (@CMPmagazine) August 7, 2026
Don't miss out on a dedicated event celebrating and empowering women across the industry, secure your spot today!
Register: https://t.co/Awv6GyPMt7 pic.twitter.com/5cCoR7FNDb
Turning uncertainty into competitive ground
The session's third thread may be the most counterintuitive: that uncertainty, managed well, can function as a competitive advantage rather than a drag.
The Ownright Operators Report found that 40% of respondents identified broader economic anxiety — including recession fears — as the primary reason buyers and sellers were holding back, compared with 17% who cited employment or income concerns.
The Women in Mortgage Summit Canada, now in its fourth consecutive year, is hosted by Canadian Mortgage Professional and chaired by Leah Zlatkin, chief operating officer of Mortgage Outlet Inc. in Toronto.
The summit runs as a dedicated one-day event on September 24, and registration includes full access to MortgageFest Canada on both September 23 and 24 at the International Centre. The combined programme is expected to draw more than 600 mortgage professionals.
Registration is open at womeninmortgage.ca.
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