Mortgage Broker

MAE Photos N early 2,000 nominations have poured in for the 2019 Mortgage Awards of Excellence (MAE), and Albert Collu couldn't be happier with the response. About three years ago, Collu was asked to chair the process that launched the awards, with the goal of creating professional recognition "by the mortgage industry, for the mortgage industry." Collu, a 20-year mortgage professional and current president of M3 Mortgage Operations, said it took about 18 months to develop the initial MAE concept into the first awards gala in May 2018. Held at the impressive Paramount Event Venue in Woodbridge, Ont., the event attracted just over 500 people who came to celebrate excellence in the Canadian mortgage market. "We engaged the mortgage associations across the country to help with organization, marketing and awareness," Collu says of last year's inaugural awards gala. "A real tip of the hat has to go to the supply side – namely the lenders, banks and insurers. ey were approached in advance and asked if they'd be willing to sponsor, and they all stepped up to an overwhelming degree. I can't think of a major industry participant who hasn't sponsored." Run as a not-for-profit organization, the MAE gala is attended by mortgage industry members from across Canada. It is a classy, professional evening that embodies everything the profession should be, notes Collu. When it comes to pulling that unforgettable night together, he and MAE co-chair Hali Strandlund-Noble (who will take over as chair next year) are backed by strong committees that handle awards, nomination and selection, marketing and communications and event planning. Nominations for each of the MAE's 18 award categories are accepted over about a four-month period, typically wrapping up in February. Among others, recognition categories include Lender of the Year (bank, credit union and private), Product of the Year, Lifetime Achievement and Community Service. Categories are determined by industry feedback. Upon closing, the field is whittled down to a list of top contenders that is then sent to an independent industry panel. "One of the things we're proud of is that we've learned from the previous year," says Collu. "is year, we reduced the number of finalists down to three to five people to help streamline the process." So far, attendance for this year's event on May 2, 2019, looks like it will be similar to the inaugural gala in 2018. "Last year, it was a lot of work getting it up and running. ere was no operational infrastructure, just a notion," he says. "is year it was a lot easier to put it in motion. at experience gave us more time to focus on operational aspects, such as categories we may have overlooked." So why should mortgage professionals attend? Aside from being a priceless networking opportunity, Collu says that being recognized as a finalist by one's industry peers is an honour that is well worth the price of admission. For more information on the Mortgage Awards of Excellence, visit mortgageawards.org. An Evening of Distinction On May 2, the Mortgage Awards of Excellence will honour the best and brightest stars in Canada's mortgage industry BY LISA GORDON ABOVE LEFT: The 2018 awards ceremony was a huge success. Here, Michael Wolfe of Equitable Bank presents Grace Reynolds from Northwood Mortgage with the award for Best Newcomer, Individual. ABOVE RIGHT: Colin Dreyer of Verico Canada presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Debbie Thomas, TMG The Mortgage Group. BELOW: Last year, Premiere Mortgage Centre accepted the award for 2018 Regional Brokerage of the Year – Atlantic Canada. CMB MAGAZINE cmba-achc.ca spring 2019 | 11 2019MAEgala

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