On August 27th, bright and early, golf enthusiasts from across Calgary gathered at the stunning Hamptons Golf Course, a private gem that provided the perfect backdrop for a day of swings, slices, and plenty of laughs. 
​
The tournament was packed with excitement, from long drives to precision putts. A huge congratulations to all the contest winners of the day:

• Men's Longest Drive: Jonathan Nameth
• Ladies' Longest Drive: Desiree O'Doherty
• Closest to the Pin: Tony Zhang
• Winning Team: Brett Lovegrove, Steven Gross, Bryan Baker, Greg Mills

Each of these competitors showcased remarkable skill and sportsmanship, making the event truly unforgettable! Be sure to check out the photo gallery below (stay tuned for the full gallery!) and share your favourites on social media using the hashtag #TeeOffWithAMBA.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our participants and sponsors we raised an impressive $2,381 for the Calgary Food Bank. Your contributions are helping to support families in need across the city.

Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and cheered us on. We can’t wait to see you all again next year for another fantastic day of golf and giving back!

​Bright and early (maybe a little too early for some of us), golf enthusiasts rolled out of bed, grabbed their clubs, and headed to The Quarry for a day packed with swings, slices, and plenty of laughs. But hey, who needs sleep when you’ve got a golf cart and a whole lot of friendly competition?

The tournament was packed with excitement, from long drives to precision putts. A huge congratulations to all the contest winners of the day:
​

• Men's Longest Drive: Rick Visscher
• Ladies Longest Drive: Sandra Forscutt
• Closest to the Pin: Keith Crosland
• Winning Team: Steve Haggard, Sandy Fisher, Mike Brandsma, Casey Struck

​Each of these competitors showed remarkable skill and sportsmanship, making the event a memorable one! Check out the photo gallery below, and feel free to download and share on your socials using the hashtag #TeeOffWithAMBA.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our participants and sponsors, alongside a $2,000 donation from Mortgage Connection, we raised $3,739 for the Edmonton Food Bank as well as 2 baskets full of the food bank's most needed items, helping to support families in need across the city.

​Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and cheered us on. We can’t wait to see you all again next year for another fantastic day of golf and giving back!

June 13, 2024

​The Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA) announces the departure of Mary Swaffield, who has served as CEO for the past five years. Mary has been an exemplary leader and a driving force behind AMBA’s renewed success and growth, and though we are sad that she’s decided to pursue new opportunities, we are grateful for her unwavering dedication to AMBA throughout her time as CEO, and during this period of transition.

It would be impossible to list all her accomplishments, as they are numerous, but we would nonetheless like to highlight some of the impact that Mary has had on our organization. During her tenure, Mary spearheaded the establishment of an entirely new governance structure, policies, and processes that have greatly enhanced the effectiveness and efficiency of our organization. She played a pivotal role in the development and launch of AMBA’s pre-licensing education and strategic events programs, which have become cornerstones of our service offerings.

Mary’s strategic vision and leadership set a high standard for our organization. She developed a modernized organizational structure that has been instrumental in our increased adaptability and capacity, reflected by a marked increase in member satisfaction since implementation. Her efforts also resulted in a remarkable 130% increase in AMBA’s membership, and under her leadership, AMBA’s net assets have increased tenfold, effectively ensuring our sustainability into the future.

Mary’s departure marks the end of an era of extraordinary growth and development for AMBA. We are deeply grateful for her dedication, vision, and tireless efforts on behalf of our members. On behalf of the Board of Directors, our Committees, our Staff and our Members, we wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
 
The Board has appointed Ms. Emily St.Pierre to the role of Interim CEO, effective June 29th. Ms. St.Pierre will assume the responsibilities of this critical role while we begin our search for a permanent CEO, a process that may take several months.
 
We thank our members for their continued support and look forward to building on the strong foundation that Mary has established.
 
For further information, please contact:

Faiz Khaku
Chair, Board of Directors
Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA)
[email protected]  
403-615-4343

A Farewell Gathering
We invite you to join us in celebrating the end of an era and the beginning of new adventures at our Farewell Gathering event for our departing CEO. Drop by anytime to share your well-wishes. A complimentary beverage and light appetizers will be provided to all attendees.  
 
Date: Thursday, June 27th
Venue: The Baron Venue - 4216A 12 St NE, Calgary
Time: 3 – 6 p.m.
RSVP: Click HERE

Kristy's vision for the association centers around three core pillars: professionalism, inclusivity, and engagement. Professionalism is fundamental to the success and credibility of the industry. As a board member, she will advocate for high ethical standards, transparency, and accountability among members. By promoting a culture of professionalism, trust, and confidence in the mortgage brokering profession can be enhanced, benefiting both consumers and industry stakeholders alike. Inclusivity is essential for creating a diverse and representative association that reflects the breadth of talent and perspectives within the industry. As a board member, she will champion initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that all members feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to collective success. By fostering a culture of inclusivity, the full potential of membership can be harnessed to drive innovation and excellence across the association. Finally, community engagement is crucial for building strong connections and fostering collaboration among brokers, lenders, and other industry stakeholders. As a board member, she will seek to cultivate a culture of engagement, creating initiatives to bring the community together and propel toward shared success.

Kristy is deeply passionate about the mortgage industry and the vital role it plays in the lives of Albertans. She believes that together, a stronger, more vibrant future for the industry can be built—one that empowers brokers, serves consumers, and contributes to the prosperity of the province.

​example for those around her. Her vision for AMBA during her term is to increase AMBA’s visibility in our industry. The best way to accomplish this is to increase engagement by providing value. Anyone who knows Tracy knows that you can almost always find her with a great, big smile on her face.

​Tracy intends to make a purposeful commitment. She became an AMBA member to find a connection and a safe space for personal growth. She now recognizes that AMBA is much more, with the potential to impact change in the industry.
As a mortgage professional with almost four years of experience, she will bring a fresh outlook to the Board. Since becoming a mortgage broker in 2020, she has witnessed the immense support AMBA provides to Alberta Mortgage Professionals. 

brokers, enhance transparency, and elevate professionalism across the industry.
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Ultimately, Sarah's goal is to be a proactive voice for mortgage brokers within Alberta, advocating for fair practices, regulatory clarity, and opportunities for professional growth. She is committed to working collaboratively with fellow board members and industry stakeholders to shape a future where brokers are respected, supported, and equipped to excel in their vital role of helping individuals achieve their homeownership dreams.

Alongside Canadians, she has worked tirelessly to assist them in achieving their dream of homeownership. Quickly realizing her profound love for the industry and the significance of being part of a larger community of caring industry professionals who share the same dreams and goals, she understands the strength found in unity. She firmly believes that together, they form a dynamic force, capable of bringing about significant change and growth.
​
Recognizing the power of a shared vision and passion for the industry, Naomi knows that collaboration on a larger scale can lead to transformative outcomes. By combining their visions and working together as a cohesive team, industry professionals can bring a wealth of knowledge to everyone, regardless of their position. She believes that AMBA embodies this collaborative spirit, serving as a driving force for growth and improvement within the industry year after year.

It is this belief in the potential of collective effort that fuels her strong desire to be part of the AMBA Board of Directors.  Naomi is confident that her developed skills will greatly benefit the AMBA Board of Directors, allowing her to contribute to the realization of their shared vision through effective collaboration with others.

We look forward to the perspectives, ideas, and energy these new Board Directors will bring to our association. They join a group of esteemed leaders, who ensure effective decision-making, set strategic priorities, and contribute to the sustainability of the association.

Our returning Board members, Russ Mendonca, Faiz Khaku, Terry Synyshyn, Anu Reddy, and Robert M. Schuett, are eager to collaborate with them and carry our 2024-2025 strategic plan forward.​

Earlier this year, the Board approved the establishment of a new senior-level role at AMBA, in response to our continued growth. This role will is all about the member experience, and will include a diverse set of responsibilities and accountabilities. We sat down with our new CXO to get her perspective on the role and what it means for AMBA and the industry. 

1. What is a CXO, exactly?
 
As Chief Experience Officer, I am responsible for optimizing and transforming the member experience through strategizing and oversight of our events, sponsorship, and membership programs. My role is to continue to elevate the value of an AMBA membership though by ensuring we're responding to member needs, offering high-value events, meaningful opportunities for relationship building, providing members opportunities to volunteer and engage with us, and by  expanding our Affinity program.  In addition, I'll be supporting the CEO in some of the day-to-day operations, including managing our performance management program and spearheading our recruiting and hiring processes. 
 
2.What interested you in this role?
 
In previously managing and executing AMBA’s events calendar, I have had the privilege of talking to hundreds of members, learning more about the day to day challenges of our industry, and also, hearing what their priorities are for AMBA. When the position was announced, I knew it was the logical next step for me; I was excited at the opportunity to move into a role that further supports the member experience and the Association. I am looking forward to visiting more of our Brokerages and really listening to how we can better serve our members.
 
 
3.How will this new role help support our members?
 
With this role, members will be top of mind. I will be relying on our membership survey from this spring combined with member outreach to further understand how we fill identified gaps. We want to continue to enhance the AMBA experience and better communicate those membership benefits to bring clarity to members on what we offer as well as how we support them. My goal is to be a resource to members whether they have questions, concerns or ideas for the future. I will also be focusing on our industry partner relationships and how we can expand those partnerships to further support the industry and our initiatives for members.
 
4.You’ve been the AMBA with several years now. What are some of the highlights of your tenure here so far?
 
My biggest highlight so far was the 2022 Conference. It was an amazing experience to bring everyone back together for the first conference post-Covid. I’ve also really enjoyed supporting the re-launch of the Awards & Recognition program earlier this year. A special moment from that evening was watching the expression on Ryan Spence’s face when he realized an award was being named after him. The Alberta Mortgage Conference and AMBACelebrates are my two favourite events - I can’t wait to bring both events to the membership again in 2024, this time in Edmonton!
 
 
5.What are you most looking forward to in your new role? I am looking forward to hitting the ground running with the membership side of my role. We have a lot of great ideas on how to continue to build relationships with our members and add more value to their membership.  The challenge we've had up until this point is that we didn't have a role that was primarily focused on the member experience. Of course, this is the lens we look through in all of the existing roles, but as we've grown, we came to realize that it was really important to have someone responsible for developing a strategy and being hyper-focused on the members.  I am excited to put some of the many, many ideas our team has come up with over the years into action! 
 
 
6.When you’re not busy supporting our members, how do you spend your time?
 
When not at AMBA you’ll find me at home with my family! I have been married for 13 years and have two children, Reagan (6) and Jack (3). We love being outside for walks or hikes, especially with our two big dogs.
 
7.What’s something about you that most members likely don’t know?
 
I grew up in the Boston area and went to Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. I ran a wedding planning business for several years. I am also wildly competitive and will watch any sport as long as I can yell at the TV- hockey and football are my favourites!

8.How can our members get in touch with you? 
Our members can always call the main office line at (587) 774-9828 to chat with any of our incredible team - but if you want to speak to me directly, just call and ask for me! You can also email me at [email protected]. I'm happy to come do a brokerage visit, attend any industry events, or connect with members at the office over a coffee or at one of our many awesome events! 
 

A rainy start to the day didn’t dampen golfer’s spirits at the YEG Real Estate Industry Golf Tournament on Wednesday, Aug. 2! Our first-ever sold-out tournament in Edmonton saw 144 golfers cruising the greens at The Quarry, playing games and chatting with our wonderful sponsors, before convening at the clubhouse for prizes and a delicious steak banquet lunch to celebrate the day.
 
Here are our top five favourite moments from the tournament:
 
1. You teed up for the Edmonton Food Bank! 
Our lovely attendees raised an incredible $1,625 for the Edmonton Food Bank from the sale of mulligan and raffle tickets alone! We also received plenty of food donations – our donation table was overflowing! Thank you for your generosity, you truly showed the community spirit of the Alberta real estate industry.
 
2. The winners take it all! 
Congratulations to all of our tournament and raffle draw winners! There were eleven raffle prizes up for grabs; the grand prize draw ticket took home an adventure prize pack that included a Coulee Go smokeless firepit, grill pack and two luxury camp chairs.
 
Tournament winners:
 

• First Place (with bragging rights for a whole YEAR) - Shawn Jewers, Shawn Thompson,
  ​Mike Thompson and Sandy Fisher
• Second Place – Brian Worsdall, Justin Vion, Carlo Caputo and Michael Wong
• Men’s Longest Drive – Rob Lamb
• Ladies longest Drive – Lynda Picado
• Closest to the Pin – Blaine Ginther

 
3. There were games a-plenty! 
Golf wasn’t the only game being played on the course – CMLS Financial had a fiery axe-throwing competition going at Slate 4, Sagen had a fierce putting competition on the putting green, and Litco Law had golfers on Slate 6 trying their luck at chipping into a net.
 
4. Hole in… almost one? 
The hole-in-one, sponsored by B2B Bank, saw plenty of hopefuls come and try their hand! With $25,000 on the line, golfers did their best – and while a few landed on the green, no one quite managed to bag that ace. There’s always next year – start practicing now! 

5. Snacks on snacks on snacks! 
Fat Franks on Slate 1, sponsored by Frost Valuations, and the Ice Cream Truck on Granite 1, sponsored by Bourgeois Brooke Chin Associates, kept the golfers spirits up with delicious hot dogs and ice cream treats! 

​A HUGE thank you to all of our sponsors for making the day a success!
We appreciate your support and generous contributions.

Couldn’t make it to the Edmonton tournament?

Don’t worry, you still have a chance to join in on the fun – we’re holding a tournament in Calgary on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at the Blue Devil Golf Club! Don’t wait to snag your spot, we’re already 90 per cent sold out!
 
Click here to register now. 

​We are proud to announce the launch of our Broker-Owner course. Designed for practicing mortgage professionals who are interested in starting their own brokerage, it is the first and only course of its kind approved by RECA.
 
The Broker-Owner course is an advanced program that reviews key industry skills and introduces business concepts that will assist you as a future business owner and team leader. Topics covered include brokerage business models, risk management, employee agreements, legislative responsibilities, and so much more. If you are interested in becoming a broker-owner, you must have at least two years of experience as a mortgage licensee within the past five years and complete the course, its final exam and RECA’s exam.
 
AMBA also offers two other courses: the Fundamentals of Mortgage Brokerage and the Practice of Mortgage Brokerage. Fundamentals is an introductory course that covers the basic topics that a mortgage broker needs to know, including key industry terminology, credit analysis, and understanding the market. Practice builds upon the concepts from Fundamentals, covering risk assessment, prepping a mortgage application, evaluating market trends, and more. These two courses are required to become a licensed mortgage broker in Alberta.
 
AMBA’s role in ensuring excellence in pre-licensing education
 
Every initiative AMBA undertakes is guided by our strategic plan, which is created based on feedback from our membership survey. In 2020’s survey, you told us you wanted AMBA to ensure excellence in pre-licensing education. We heard you! Upon RECA’s divestment of education, AMBA focused on becoming an approved pre-licensing educator for Alberta’s mortgage broker industry.
 
Through the guidance and hard work of our Education and Professional Development Committee and member subject matter experts, we developed the Fundamentals course, updated our Practice course and have now officially launched our Broker-Owner course.
 
AMBA’s goal is to become the leading provider of mortgage broker education and professional development in Alberta by equipping professionals with the highest quality knowledge. The ever-changing landscape of the mortgage industry makes it necessary for mortgage professionals to continue to improve their knowledge through training and experience. By providing high-quality education and professional development opportunities, AMBA endeavors to ensure that the public’s best interests are being protected by the real estate industry.
 
AREF’s commitment to creating a stronger real estate industry
 
The creation of these three courses would not have been possible without the generosity of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF). AMBA was awarded a $250,000 Legacy Grant from AREF which helped us develop relationships with professionals in educational development and course creation that not only helped build our current courses but have laid the groundwork to help create future course offerings.
 
“We heard from our stakeholders that different segments of the real estate sector face different challenges and require unique solutions. This education initiative delivers on the transformational and long-term change for the real estate industry we were looking for through our one-time legacy grant program. Supporting the education and professional development of mortgage brokers protects the interests of Albertans and increases confidence in the mortgage transaction, contributing to a stronger real estate industry,” says Patti Morris, Executive Director of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation.
 
We are grateful for the work that AREF does for the mortgage industry and for their continued support of AMBA. 

​About AREF
 
Created under the Alberta Real Estate Act, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation is a nonprofit organization that makes strategic investments, forms partnerships, and supports initiatives that benefit Albertans through the real estate industry. Since 1991, the Foundation has invested $27.5 million in nearly 700 initiatives across Alberta. The initiatives they fund advance and improve real estate-related education for professionals and consumers, law reform, and research, and seek innovative industry and community solutions.  A stronger real estate industry is a stronger Alberta. Visit them at aref.ab.ca.

​On Thursday, June 8, the Alberta mortgage industry gathered to celebrate their hard work and cheer on the AMBACelebrates nominees at the reimagined Awards + Recognition Gala. Over 160 people flocked to the event, their finest cocktail attire shimmering in the bright sunshine. The celebration kicked off at the lively cocktail hour, where attendees sipped on the signature cocktail, snagged a cigar at the cigar station, and jumped into the photo booth (if you mislaid your photo, not to worry – click here to find a digital copy).
 
AMBA Chair Pam Pikkert began the evening’s program by sharing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the care and hard work of the Awards & Recognition Committee, the AMBACelebrates Judging Subcommittee and the staff team that culminated in a new vision of the AMBACelebrates awards and recognition program. Before passing the mic to our emcee, she toasted the nominees:
 
“Tonight’s award nominees are pioneers of excellence in our industry and their commitment to outstanding customer service, innovative solutions, and unwavering professionalism has made them stand out from the crowd. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of our nominees for their achievements. Your dedication, hard work, and relentless pursuit of excellence have made a significant impact on the mortgage industry, and our association.”
 
Comedian Julie Kim then took the stage, announcing the winners of the first three categories:
 
Industry Choice:
Mortgage Broker of the Year Award – Tara Borle
Industry Partner of the Year Award – Bhavna Bhasin
 
New Professionals:
New Mortgage Broker of the Year Award – Jessica Yip
 
Community Impact:
Community Impact Award – Brian Gentles
 
The program took a brief break while guests enjoyed dinner, before continuing the awards by announcing the winners of the mentorship and professionalism categories:
 
Mentorship:
Broker-Owner Mentorship Award – Sarah Strauss
Peer Mentorship Award – Amanda Woolward
Industry Professional Mentorship Award – Braden Gabert
 
Professionalism:
Professional Development Award – Hayley Cross
Association Supporter Award – Jason Provencher
Support Staff Award – Julie Windebank
 
Our 2022-2023 AMBA volunteers were then recognized on stage for their commitment and service before moving into the final award presentations of the evening.
 
Bill Patton Memorial Award
 
Like the award’s namesake, the Bill Patton Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement is bestowed to a member who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the betterment of the mortgage industry. Bill Patton’s granddaughter, Kyla Hunter from Home Trust, presented this prestigious award to the winner – Paula Hutton, who received a standing ovation.
 
An absolute gift to our industry, Paula shows up to every industry event (and plans plenty of her own, often with a charitable component). She builds a sense of community everywhere she goes and encourages others to do the same.
 
Volunteer Service Award
 
While everyone thought the Bill Patton Memorial Award was the final award of the evening, AMBA had one more trick up its sleeve – the announcement of a new award. A video message from Brad Quinn of tng began playing, talking about the special inaugural recipient:
 
“Serving on AMBA’s Board of Directors for over ten years, and Chair for three, this exceptional individual led the association through a critical period of change, transforming AMBA into the thriving association it is today. In addition to being a well respected and admired industry professional, he is a down to earth and humble human being who spends what little spare time he has seeking adventure outdoors. And, on top of it all, he is a fantastic father to his two amazing daughters.”
 
With that, Pam called Ryan Spence up to the stage as the inaugural recipient of the 2023 Ryan Spence Volunteer Service Award! Thunderous applause resounded throughout the room as attendees stood in celebration of the special surprise in honour of Ryan’s incredible volunteerism and selflessness.
 
The evening concluded with dancing, late-night pizza and the draw for the $1,000 Fairmont door prize, won by Max Singh!
 
Thank you to our sponsors for their generosity and support: Community Trust, CWB, Home Trust, Equitable Bank, MCAN, tng, Manulife Bank, First National, Fisgard, Cedar Peaks, Alta West Capital, Bridgewater Bank, TD Bank, Glengarry Farm Finance, Equifax, MCAP, FCT, BrokerLink and Verico.
 
Congratulations once again to all our award winners! We are proud to celebrate your hard work, dedication, and success – it is members like you that make our association so vibrant.
 
We’ll see you on June 18, 2024 for next year’s gala!