New categories for 2026
Two categories that signal how the industry is changing at its edges are The REMIC Award for Finfluencer of the Year and Mortgage Tech Innovator of the Year.
The Finfluencer of the Year award recognises financial content creators who have made a measurable positive impact on Canadian mortgage literacy, judged against criteria including content accuracy, audience reach, creative storytelling, compliance awareness, and community engagement — particularly for underserved groups, newcomers, and younger Canadians navigating the homebuying process for the first time.
The Mortgage Tech Innovator of the Year award, meanwhile, is designed for individuals who have driven the adoption or development of a new technology or digital solution that has delivered measurable benefit to brokers, lenders, or other mortgage professionals.
The REMIC Award for Finfluencer of the Year is sponsored by the Real Estate and Mortgage Institute of Canada (REMIC). Joseph White, the founder and president of REMIC, sits on the 2026 judging panel, one of 11 judges confirmed for this year’s programme.
A judging panel built for independence
The panel has been assembled to be diverse and unbiased, with judges assigned categories that reflect their expertise and required to recuse themselves from any category in which a conflict of interest exists.