Halifax Mortgage Symposium

Fresh Start Breakfast and Trade Show

Get a head start on the day with a light breakfast, freshly brewed coffee, and first access to the trade show floor. It’s the perfect opportunity to mingle, explore, and begin those valuable conversations bright and early.

Max Stencer and Lauren van den Berg, MPC
Opening Remarks & Association Update

Brian Hutton, M3 Financial Group
The Death of SEO – How To Optimize Your Business for AI

The speaker will explore why traditional SEO as we know it is rapidly becoming obsolete and how the rise of AI-driven search is transforming the way customers discover businesses. This presentation will break down the major shifts happening in search behaviour, what AI models prioritize instead of keywords, and how businesses can adapt by optimizing content, branding, and customer experience for AI-generated answers. Attendees will walk away with clear, actionable strategies to future-proof their online presence in a world where AI—not algorithms—determines visibility and what AI tools you can use to optimize your digital presence.

About the speaker: As VP Marketing, Brian Hutton oversees all the digital marketing efforts for the M3 Financial Group. As the digital marketing lead for the largest brokerage network in Canada, he is a passionate believer in applying new-age technology to his brokers' marketing efforts. His in-depth knowledge of SEO, website optimization, AI applications, social media engagement and marketing strategy has helped brokers enhance and streamline their online presence. Brian’s experience and hands-on approach with brokers have made him a fan favourite across the country. Brian has over 20 years of marketing experience, notably having worked at HBC for 10 years before joining M3 in 2017.

Matt Imhoff and Hugo Dos Reis, Prepayment Penalty Mentor
The 2026 Mortgage Penalty Playbook: How Top Brokers Win Deals Others Walk Away From - The Hidden Leverage Inside Every Mortgage Penalty

Minister David Hickey (New Brunswick) and Minister John White (Nova Scotia)  
Fireside Chat with Minister David Hickey (New Brunswick) and Minister John White (Nova Scotia)

Join us for an engaging fireside chat featuring Minister Cory Deagle (Prince Edward Island), Minister David Hickey (New Brunswick), and Minister John White (Nova Scotia), moderated by MPC President and CEO, Lauren van den Berg. This timely discussion will explore regional priorities, economic growth, workforce development, and opportunities for collaboration across Atlantic Canada. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear directly from provincial leaders shaping the future of our region.

Sharon Davis, Davis Mortgages  
Be the Better Broker … Partner

Showing up with intention, presence, respect, and a willingness to participate can transform not only your business — but your relationships. In this insightful session, Sharon Davis shares what it truly means to be more than just a broker, but a trusted partner to clients, colleagues, and industry professionals. Drawing on two decades of experience, Sharon will explore how mindset, professionalism, and community involvement elevate your impact and long-term success. Sharon Davis has been a licensed mortgage planner since 2005. She became a founding partner in Innovative Mortgage Solutions, a Mortgage Centre franchise, in 2011, moved to DLC in 2013, and in 2017 returned to focusing solely on her role as a broker following the merger with DLC BlueTree Mortgages West. In 2024, she joined DLC Producers West with her son, Matthew Davis, under their brand, Davis Mortgages. Sharon has been recognized as a CMP Women of Influence in 2016, is a two-time recipient of the CMBABC Community Spirit Award, and a member of the DLC Hall of Fame. She also serves as a Director for The Spirit Foundation, helping raise funds through industry and community events to support smaller local charities. She currently sits on the Mortgage Professionals Canada BC Advisory committee and is a member of CMBABC.

Sylvia Hoyt, FCT
Renewals, Readiness & Results: Strategies to Thrive in 2026’s High-Stakes Market

The Canadian mortgage landscape is changing quickly shaped by shifting consumer expectations, digitization, regulatory updates, and evolving risk dynamics. Mortgage professionals are being asked to do more with less, deliver faster with greater accuracy, and maintain trust in a competitive, compliance-driven environment.

This session will provide attendees with practical, actionable strategies to navigate these pressures while improving operational performance, customer experience, and long-term business resilience. Drawing on real-world examples and emerging industry trends, the presentation will give participants a clear sense of where the industry is heading and how to position themselves for success.

Minister of Finance John Lohr

Leanne Conroy, MCAN
Alternative Lending 101: The Broker’s Edge

48% of Canadian homebuyers used a mortgage broker in 2024—up 5% from 2023. Why? Because brokers unlock lending options banks won’t touch (or even admit exist).

But if you don’t get alt lending, your clients won’t either. And that means:

🚫 Missed deals (hello, unnecessary declines!)
🚫 Lost commissions (why refer when you can keep the business?)
🚫 Clients stuck in "bank-only" thinking (yawn—time to shake things up!)

This is a power session that’ll help you:

✅ Flip declines into approvals (and doubts into "where do I sign?")
✅ Debunk alt-lending myths (spoiler: it’s not just for "risky" clients)
✅ Turn YOU into the go-to broker (the one clients rave about)

The future of lending isn’t at the bank—it’s with YOU. Let’s make sure clients (and your business) don’t miss out.

About the speaker: Leanne Conroy is an award-winning mortgage brokering industry leader and recognized expert in alternative lending. With 20+ years in financial services – and over a decade dedicated to alternative lending – she’s a trusted voice for market trends, broker education and strategic growth.

A three-time Woman of Influence and a member of the Global Top 100 Mortgage Professionals list, Leanne is known for driving results through collaboration, leadership and relationship-building. As Regional Director of Sales at MCAN Home, she’s also a passionate advocate for women in mortgage finance, championing diversity, inclusion and a balanced approach to success.

Alaina Nicholson, Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick and Kelly Wyer, Service Nova Scotia
Fireside Chat with Alaina Nicholson, Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick and Kelly Wyer. Service Nova Scotia hosted by Clinton Wilkins

Join Alaina Nicholson of the Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick and Kelly Wyer of Service Nova Scotia for a fireside chat on the evolving regulatory landscape. The discussion will touch on key priorities, emerging challenges, and how regulators are responding to changing consumer expectations and market dynamics.

Jill Moellering, Mortgage Architects 
Getting Your Business Together

Jill will go through the key areas you need to focus on as a business owner to help your mortgage business run efficiently, evaluate your ROI and give you a clear overview of your book. Actionable, pointed details with instructions on exactly what you need to do to take back control, so you are running your business, not your business running you. 

About the speaker: Jill Moellering is an award-winning broker, team leader and underwriting training coach. CMP magazine awarded her as one of their Young Guns in 2019, a Woman of Influence in 2022 and 2023, as well as a finalist for the Canadian Mortgage Awards for Woman of Influence in 2023 and industry service provider in 2024 for her Mortgage Nerd Underwriting training courses. She has also been awarded with President's Club Volume awards for the last 5 years with Mortgage Architects. Jill is on the co-founding organizing committee of the Elevate Women's symposium in Edmonton and is a regular presenter at MPC, AMBA, CMBA and other events across the country. She is a former AMBA Director, an author for Canadian Mortgage Professionals magazine and is also a cofounder and admin of the Newbie Mortgage Professionals Facebook group, assisting new brokers find support and their voice in our industry.