Categories and definitions

1. Mortgage Brokerage of the Year (25 employees or more) *New Criteria
Award of excellence to the outstanding mortgage brokerage, with the criteria being the total number of staff (or full-time equivalents) is more than or equal to 25, nationally. This figure includes all loan writers and support staff across all company offices/branches.CMP and its various sister publications, CRE and Buying Your First Home, will ask their readers to nominate any brokerage that has provided them with excellent service. We will give extra credence to those in a position to objectively assess brokers' performance. Finalists will be able to provide supporting documentation for the submission to the judges.

2. Mortgage Brokerage of the Year (less than 25 employees) *New Criteria-SOLD
Award of excellence to the outstanding mortgage brokerage, with the criteria being the total number of staff (or full-time equivalents) is less than or equal to 25, nationally. This figure includes all loan writers and support staff across all company offices/branches. CMP and its various sister publications, CRE and Buying Your First Home, will ask their readers to nominate any brokerage that has provided them with excellent service. We will give extra credence to those in a position to objectively assess brokers' performance. Finalists will be able to provide supporting documentation for the submission to the judges.

3. Mortgage Broker of the Year (25 employees or more) *New Criteria -SOLD
Award of excellence to the outstanding mortgage broker from a company with the total number of staff (or full-time equivalents) being more than 25, nationally. This figure includes all loan writers and support staff across all company offices/branches. Brokerages and brokers will be polled to find out who deserves to be on our finalists' list. In addition, CMP and its various sister publications, CRE and Buying Your First Home, will ask their readers to nominate any broker that has provided them with excellent service. We will give extra credence to those in a position to objectively assess brokers' performance. Finalists will be able to provide supporting documentation for the submission to the judges.

4. Mortgage Broker of the Year (less than 25 employees) *New Criteria
Award of excellence to the outstanding mortgage broker from a company with the total number of staff (or full-time equivalents) less than or equal to 25, nationally. This figure includes all loan writers and support staff across all company offices/branches. Operations and brokers at franchises are invited to nominate for this category. Anyone can nominate as long as it is not themselves or their own organization. In addition, CMP and its various sister publications, CRE and Buying Your First Home, will ask their readers to nominate any broker that has provided them with excellent service. We will give extra credence to those in a position to objectively assess brokers' performance. The nominations of the network operators themselves will be given extra importance, given that they will provide a more objective view of how a particular broker is performing. Finalists will be able to provide supporting documentation for the submission to the judges.

5. Lifetime Achievement in the Mortgage Industry-SOLD
Award of excellence in honour of outstanding achievement by an individual within the mortgage brokering industry. Each year, the CMP editorial team chooses a worthy figure from the industry based on nominations and soliciting suggestions from our judges and various leaders in the industry. This award recognizes lifetime achievement or efforts to help the Canadian mortgage brokering industry progress.

6. Employer of Choice
Award of excellence for an outstanding employer in any facet of the industry. This employer will understand the importance of keeping its employees happy, and will demonstrate its willingness to go above and beyond to do so.

7. Best Customer Service from an Individual Office SOLD
Award of excellence for outstanding customer service by a mortgage brokerage office. Customer service is an incredibly important measure of any brokerage's long-term success. The finalists from this selection process will be invited to provide further details on the extra mile they go to give customers the perfect 10 of service.

8. Best Newcomer (Mortgage Brokerage Firm)
Award of excellence for an outstanding new mortgage brokerage company established within the industry within the last three years.

9. Best Newcomer (Individual) -SOLD

Award of excellence for an outstanding newcomer within the industry with less than three years' experience.

10. Best Advertising 
Award of excellence for the best advertising campaign geared to brokers by brokerages, lenders or suppliers. This award recognizes the best individual ad campaign. Which campaign and message are most memorable over the past year? As a change this year, the winner of this category will be picked through a combination of a reader poll and judge deliberation.

11. Best Branding
Award of excellence for the best branding by a brokerage only. This award recognizes the company that has a powerful brand message to convey to its target customers, and reinforces that brand in all marketing and advertising initiatives throughout the year. As a change this year, the winner of this category will be picked through a combination of a reader poll and judge deliberation.

12. Best Internet Presence
Award of excellence for the best Internet presence. The Internet is important medium for communication, and this category recognizes brokers who have harnessed this medium to provide consumers with practical, effective and easily accessible facilities to help streamline the mortgage process. As a change this year, the winner of this category will be picked through a combination of a reader poll and judge deliberation.

13. Best Industry Service Provider
Readers tell us who that company (lender or supplier) is that always goes the extra mile to give them the service that keeps them coming back. Once we have compiled a list of finalists, we will invite them to submit details that they believe show their commitment to service. These submissions will then be provided to the judging panel. As a change this year, the winner of this category will be picked through a combination of a reader poll and judge deliberation.

14. Commercial Mortgage Broker of the Year
Award of excellence that recognizes the standout mortgage brokers who specialize in the commercial realm, or who have substantial success in funding commercial real estate purchases. Brokers can nominate themselves, but our researchers will be directly contacting commercial lenders to find out who the real stars are before giving their findings to the panel. Finalists will be invited to provide references from managers and, if possible, clients for us to give to the judging panel.

15. Alternative Lending Mortgage Broker of the Year-SOLD
Award of excellence recognizing the standout performers in the non-conforming or private sectors. Although brokers can put themselves forward as contenders for this category, special attention will be paid to nominations made by non-conforming or private lenders, who are best placed to judge brokers' performance objectively. Finalists will be invited to submit any documentation that may support their nomination, which will be provided to the judging panel.

16. Best Lender BDM of the Year 
Award of excellence for the lender business development manager (BDM) who offers superb service to brokers, ensuring their deals are funded as quickly and efficiently as possible, as well as being proactive in educating brokers on products and lender requirements. As a change this year, the winner of this category will be picked through a combination of a reader poll and judge deliberation.

17. Best Newcomer, Lender BDM *New Category
Award of excellence for the lender business development manager (BDM) with three years or less experience in the industry who offers superb service to brokers, ensuring their deals are funded as quickly and efficiently as possible, as well as being proactive in educating brokers on products and lender requirements. As a change this year, the winner of this category will be picked through a combination of a reader poll and judge deliberation.

18. Best Lender Underwriter of the Year 
Award of excellence for the lender underwriter whose expertise and outstanding service to brokers helps ensure their deals are funded as quickly and efficiently as possible, and guides them in the right direction of improving the chances of their deals being accepted and funded in a timely manner.

19. Best Newcomer, Lender Underwriter *New Category
Award of excellence for the lender underwriter with three years or less experience in the industry whose expertise and outstanding service to brokers helps ensure their deals are funded as quickly and efficiently as possible, and guides them in the right direction of improving the chances of their deals being accepted and funded in a timely manner.

20. Best Community Service Effort
Award of excellence that recognizes an individual from any facet of the mortgage industry who has great presence in their local community - through initiatives such as sponsorship and volunteer work - displaying a desire to give back. As a change this year, the winner of this category will be picked through a combination of a reader poll and judge deliberation.