excellence awardee: Banking & Financial Services Law Department of the Year

Vancity

facebook.com/reza.ghazi.7

@blackfishfinance

@transalta

In 2025, Vancity’s Legal Affairs team evolved into a high-performing strategic partner, significantly expanding the volume, scope, and sophistication of work delivered in-house. Led by Angela Yadav, Rob Dawkins, and Laura de Munain, and supported by Diane Campbell, Elmira Moghadam, and Fei Glassco, the team brought key capabilities inside the organization, including mergers and acquisitions, securities, treasury, labour and employment, regulatory compliance, litigation, and complex IT contracting expertise − reducing reliance on outside counsel. The Legal Affairs team played a key role in several of Vancity’s most significant strategic initiatives, including its first merger in nearly 20 years with the acquisition of First Credit Union, the launch of a new Indigenous banking strategy, and the upcoming Sen̓áḵw branch opening on the landmark Squamish Nation development in Kitsilano − Vancity’s first branch on Indigenous land. By delivering at pace on key strategic work, the Legal Affairs team solidified its reputation across Vancity as a trusted advisor that delivers practical, business-aligned solutions, not just legal risk analysis. Despite a heavier workload and growing complexity of work, the Legal Affairs team added no headcount and still finished well under budget, achieving nearly $1 million in year-over-year savings. In doing so, the team proved it can enable strategic business growth while mitigating legal risk, by investing in its people, processes, and new legal AI tools to increase capacity and efficiency.

youtube.com/@canterburycollege-waterford

Vancity

The CMP Young Guns recognized him in 2016 as one of the Canadian mortgage Industry’s 50 brightest young stars. In 2018, 2020 & 2021, he was nominated as a Finalist for the Canadian Mortgage Awards in the categories of Alternative Lending Broker Specialist and Digital Innovator of the Year and in 2018 as a finalist for the Canadian Mortgage Awards of Excellence. In 2019, he was the recipient of the Community Trust Award for Alternative Broker Specialist of the Year – Business for Self. Reza was also recognized by the Canadian Mortgage Professional (CMP) magazine on its CMP Hotlist 2021 as one of the 53 professionals who survived the twists and turns of 2020 turning difficult situations into extraordinary opportunities, and in 2022 his brokerage was also recognized as a top brokerage on their 5-Star Brokerage List. Reza is passionate about community work, philanthropy, and contributing to initiatives that help our society’s overall success. Reza served in not-for-profit organizations in the areas of business & mentoring/ innovation, civil rights and social actions, and youth for several years in different capacities. In March 2014, he was granted the Ontario Volunteer Service Award from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Province of Ontario in recognition of a 5-year award for continued services.

@blackfishfinance

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