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Canadian Mortgage Hall of Fame

Join us for a red carpet affair as we honour the Canadian Mortgage Hall of Fame inductees. This promises to be a memorable night with friends and colleagues so don’t miss out.

 

The Canadian Mortgage Hall of Fame honours mortgage industry leaders who's achievements and service has contributed to the success of the Canadian mortgage industry. Inductees to the Mortgage Hall of Fame have provided leadership, vision, and inspiration in their profession and strive to make a difference to enhance industry standards. 

 

We're excited to announce that the 2024 Canadian Mortgage Hall of Fame awards Gala will take place in Montréal. Inductees will be celebrated October 28, during the 2024 National Mortgage Conference. 

 

The 2024 Inductees are...

 

Registration Fees


Single Ticket 
$325
Table of 10 $3,250


This is a separate ticketed event.


Register Now

Registration Fees


Single Ticket 
$325
Table of 10 $3,250


This is a separate ticketed event.


Register Now

2024 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
Gilles Bouillon

Gilles is a financial industry pioneer of 25+ years who has spent the last 18 founding and running Planiprêt/MP Mortgages. He started this mortgage brokerage with a vision of being fully independent and providing professional advice to clients. Rather than joining a network or pooling under another brokerage to achieve volume bonuses, Gilles relied on his own skills and relationships to grow the business – which currently funds $3 billion+ in annual mortgage originations. Gilles invested in technology and training to reduce administrative work, helping his team of 320 brokers achieve their goals and provide the best client service. As the industry evolved and technology requirements increased, he formed a strategic partnership with TMG The Mortgage Group to share in this capital expenditure and help further grow both businesses.

As a proactive professional in the mortgage sector in Quebec, Gilles has successfully navigated several industry challenges, including:

  • As Quebec’s regulatory oversight transitioned from OACIQ to AMF, the new regulations prohibited mortgage brokers from incorporating – a practice permitted under the previous regime. Gilles played a pivotal role in devising a workaround that respected the new law while allowing brokers to receive payments through their corporations
  • The enactment of Bill 34 presented a significant hurdle as firms like FCT and FNF were restricted from preparing mortgage transactions. To address this, Gilles spearheaded a startup and developed a new model that enabled notaries to efficiently handle mortgage switches and transfers, and then got lenders onboard across Quebec
  • In response to Bill 25 concerning the protection of personal data, Gilles led the initiative to develop a solution that would enable brokers to transition between brokerages without compromising personal data security, which was adopted industrywide

Gilles has a reputation for being humble and transparent, and always willing to find creative solutions. As such, he guides his team towards recognizing the advantages of embracing change and integrating new technologies. He uses a variety of methods and tools to mentor, coach and further develop agents and staff within Planiprêt, and the industry as a whole, which includes:

  • Conducting regular performance reviews and career development conversations with direct reports, where he provides constructive feedback, recognition and guidance
  • Organizing training sessions and workshops on topics such as new technologies, best practices, customer service, communication skills and personal development
  • Inviting external experts and speakers to share their insights and experiences with his team, inspiring them to innovate and excel
  • Participating in industry initiatives, events and conferences, where he networks with other leaders and professionals, sharing his vision and ideas

Generous of his time, Gilles’ leadership style and mentoring approach are based on his true passion for the mortgage industry and his desire to help others succeed. He believes that, by adapting to change and focusing on relationships, his team can create a positive impact for their clients, company and the mortgage brokering industry as a whole.

 

Gilles Bouillon

2024 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
Steven Ranson

Steven Ranson, the recently retired President and CEO of HomeEquity Bank, is a deserving candidate for the Canadian Mortgage Hall of Fame. His remarkable achievement in transforming reverse mortgages into a significant business in Canada has made them a respected option for older Canadians. He has forever changed the mortgage industry in Canada, positively impacting the lives of over 60,000 Canadians.

Steve Ranson joined the predecessor to HomeEquity Bank, the Canadian Home Income Plan Corporation, in March 1997. Recognizing the demographic wave of Canadians approaching retirement, Steve realized that reverse mortgages offered unparalleled benefits to assist older Canadians with retirement planning. At that time, the company was a licensed mortgage broker operating in only two provinces, with $100 million in assets, 36 employees, and just $36 million in new mortgage originations. Reverse mortgages were not well understood, and product awareness was low.

Steve’s ambition was to eliminate the stigma surrounding reverse mortgages and make them a mainstream financial product. For the past 27 years, as President and CEO of HomeEquity Bank, he has been the driving force behind Canada’s leading reverse mortgage provider, significantly contributing to the acceptance and growth of the reverse mortgage market. His strategy for growth included improving the product’s perception, expanding distribution, introducing innovative product features—some unique globally—and hiring more qualified employees. Over the next 15 years, Steve expanded mortgage originations to all ten provinces and secured referral partnerships with all major banks and mortgage brokerage firms.

In 2009, during the financial crisis, he successfully transformed the company into a Schedule 1 chartered bank. Becoming a bank was a pivotal moment, as it provided HomeEquity Bank access to CDIC-insured retail deposits, dramatically increasing its funding capacity and reducing costs passed on to customers through lower lending rates. This enabled HomeEquity Bank to grow its annual mortgage originations from $110 million in 2008 to over $1 billion in 2023, marking the third consecutive year of originations exceeding $1 billion.

HomeEquity Bank is dedicated to helping older Canadians enjoy a more rewarding retirement. Since 1997, the company has originated over 60,000 loans, resulting in a dominant position in the reverse mortgage industry. Today, the bank manages an $8 billion balance sheet.

In the late 2000s, mortgage brokers contributed a small portion of the bank’s business. While many viewed mortgage brokers as primarily serving younger borrowers, Steve recognized the untapped potential of the mortgage brokerage industry. He also realized that brokers did not fully understand how reverse mortgages could help older Canadians manage their retirement. To address this, the company developed a training program to equip brokers with the knowledge and confidence to discuss the product with this demographic. Steven’s strategy worked as over 18,000 brokers have initiated a deal with the company. Steve also created a specialized sales force and underwriting process focused exclusively on mortgage brokers. As a result, mortgage brokers now account for approximately 35% of new originations.

Steve is a well-known commentator on not just reverse mortgages, but also broader topics such as the residential real estate market, interest rate trends, and the financial health of Canadian consumers. He has appeared numerous times on BNN and Bloomberg TV and been interviewed and quoted in The Globe and Mail, National Post, and specialty financial publications. In 2021, he co-authored HomeRun: The Reverse Mortgage Advantage, which covers Canadian real estate, aging in place, financial options for retirees, and ageism. The book dispels myths about reverse mortgages and explains how they can be an essential part of retirement planning for Canadians. In the spring and summer of 2020, during COVID-19, Steve led HomeEquity Bank’s “Operation Warm Hug,” where he and colleagues personally phoned about 15% of the bank’s customers to check in on them. Steven called customers to ask if they needed anything and how he could help. Many clients were isolated due to lockdown measures, and these calls brightened their days, giving them someone new to talk to and listen to their challenges and fears.

Beyond his work in the reverse mortgage industry, Steve is committed to supporting his community. Since 2017, he has been actively involved with the YMCA of Greater Toronto, the largest YMCA in the world, with an operating budget of over $250 million. For over 170 years, the YMCA of Greater Toronto has provided opportunities for people through various programs. Steve began his involvement as a member of the fundraising Campaign Cabinet in 2017, joined the Audit Committee of the Board in 2019, and was elected to the Board in September 2020.

He also raised $50,000 for Wellspring Cancer Support Centres by completing two long-distance, 24-hour cycling relays: one from Toronto to New Orleans in 2015 and another from Toronto to Austin, Texas in 2017.

Steven Ranson is the reason the reverse mortgage market exists in Canada. His drive, focus, and determination built this industry, benefiting older Canadians and their trusted mortgage brokers by providing a unique solution to their financial needs.

 

Steven Ranson

2024 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
Scott McKenzie

Scott has dedicated his more than 40-year career to supporting the Canadian mortgage broker community and Canadian homebuyers from coast to coast. His career, reputation for integrity and professionalism and his enduring commitment to innovation and mentorship form the basis for this hearty endorsement.

Scott’s long-term contributions to the growth of First National Financial LP are evidence of the far-reaching effects of his leadership. After progressing rapidly in a national full-service Trust company, Scott joined the small First National team in 1989, 11 months after its inception. He grew the single-family underwriting department from a team of three to almost 1,000 today. In his role as Executive Vice President, he is responsible for residential mortgage sales and credit-one of the only leaders in the industry accountable for both - as well as the company’s third-party business of adjudicating submissions from the broker channel divisions of TD Bank, Manulife Bank and now BMO Broker Edge. These ventures have been a tremendous success under Scott’s direction and further evidence of a legacy of leadership and invention.

In support of credit-challenged borrowers, Scott also brought First National into the Alt-A mortgage space with the industry-leading Excalibur program. First National now touches over 33% of all mortgage transactions in the broker channel across Canada and our residential mortgage book stands at a record $94.8 billion (total MUA $143.5 Dec 31, 2023). Knowing Scott as I do, I can attest to the fact that he feels privileged to have had the opportunity to witness and participate in the rise of the channel, and First National with it, over the last four decades.

Scott takes pride in the growth and development of people in his ever-widening circle and has always taken great care to mentor and empower newcomers and veterans alike. Many of us owe Scott a debt of gratitude for helping us blossom in our current roles, and in my case, finding long-term career success without ever leaving Calgary. He believes in a team-based, service-first culture and has led the development of that culture in the best way possible: by example. Many First National employees who got started under Scott’s tutelage are now in leadership roles themselves. Similarly, many people in our industry turn to Scott as a leading mortgage expert and consult with him for his knowledge and vast experience. He is always willing to share his time freely and his deep insight generously. Under Scott’s direction, First National has given back to the industry in many ways, including through regular and meaningful broker professional development seminars. He also tirelessly advocates for mortgage brokers and Canadian borrowers with policymakers and influencers.

 

Scott McKenzie