2009 Canadian Investment Award Winners Announced

Annual awards recognize leaders in the financial services industry

TORONTO , Dec. 8 /CNW/ - The Canadian Investment Awards (CIA), Canada's premier awards program recognizing excellence in the financial services industry, is proud to present this year's winners. The awards were presented this evening at the 15th annual gala, held at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto .

"Our goal each year is to recognize innovation, leadership and commitment to long-term investing in Canada ," said CIA founder Sabine Steinbrecher . "Never before has leadership and long-term vision been more important to recognize than in these markets and we are proud to showcase those at the forefront. Investors can look for the CIA winners' logo when making their investment decisions, knowing that rigorous selection processes have been followed."

The awards recognize leadership in the investment industry and represent Canada's wide range of investment products, including mutual funds, pooled funds and hedge funds. Additional awards recognize outstanding individual managers, career achievement, education, technology, innovation, marketing, socially responsible investing and community service. Awards are determined by panels of industry expert. A complete list of jurors can be found on the Canadian Investment Awards website at www.InvestmentAwards.com.

Important changes to the CIA Awards:

Morningstar Canada announced today it has agreed to acquire the Canadian Investment Awards and Gala from Canadian Investment Awards Inc., a privately held firm based in Toronto . The transaction is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2010. Under terms of the agreement, the awards and gala will be rebranded under the Morningstar name.

The Morningstar Fund Manager of the Year Award was expanded into two awards: Equity Fund Manager of the Year and Fixed Income Fund Manager of the Year.

"For each of these awards, we start our selection process by narrowing the field to a list of managers whom we hold in high regard," said David O'Leary, Manager of Fund Analysis, Morningstar Canada . "These are managers who have produced excellent long-term returns and have demonstrated strong stewardship. From there we select a manager who is particularly deserving of each award, given their performance over the past year."

Major award winners include:

Morningstar Equity Fund Manager of the Year Award

Winner: Eric Bushell , Senior Vice-President, Portfolio Management and Chief Investment Officer of Signature Global Advisors, a division of CI Investments Inc.

" Eric Bushell rarely tops the performance charts in any given year, but consistency has been his hallmark," said Philip Lee , Senior Analyst, Morningstar Canada . "We attribute much of his success to his ability to tactically shift assets between countries, currencies, sectors, and asset classes. Despite a challenging and volatile year, he's adroitly juggled all of the fund's moving parts and produced a respectable return."

    
    Morningstar Fixed Income Fund Manager of the Year Award
    Winner: Bruce L. Corneil, Senior Vice President, Fixed Income
    Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd.
    

" Bruce Corneil is a manager we've long admired," said David O'Leary of Morningstar. "He and his team have produced outstanding returns for over 15 years, and are an integral part of a firm that we regard as one of the better stewards in Canada . The past year has showcased Corneil's credit research, as he avoided corporate bond issues from troubled banks and insurance companies. This paid off handsomely during the market meltdown."

Analysts' Choice Investment Fund Company of the Year Award - sponsored by

CGI Inc

Winner: CI Investments Inc.

This award is chosen by the Investment Fund Analyst Committee. The criteria include performance and risk, management, breadth of offerings, investor and advisor education; fund governance and communication to investors.

Advisors' Choice Investment Fund Company of the Year Award - sponsored by

Investment Executive

Winner: Dynamic Funds

This award is voted on by Canadian advisors, who vote for their favourite fund company each year. (Mutual fund, hedge fund or other investment fund companies qualify). Advisors consider quality and range of products, performance, fees, service, education, community investment and management.

Career Achievement Award - Sponsored by Fundata Canada Inc.

Winner: Glorianne Stromberg

Ms. Stromberg , a former commissioner of the Ontario Securities Commission and now Chair of the Public Accountants Council for the Province of Ontario, was honoured for her long-term contributions to the financial services and investment funds industry through her ground-breaking reports, as well as her important contributions to regulatory change and policy development.

    
    The 2009 Canadian Investment Award Winners

    Asian Equity Fund Award
    Winner: Dynamic Far East Value Fund, Dynamic Funds
    Silver: Fidelity Far East Fund, Fidelity Investments Canada LLC
    Bronze: CI Pacific Fund, CI Investments Inc.

    Canadian Balanced Fund Award
    Winner: CI Signature Canadian Balanced, CI Investments Inc.
    Silver: AGF Canadian Balanced, AGF Investments Inc.
    Bronze: RBC Monthly Income, RBC Asset Management Inc.

    Canadian Dividend & Income Equity Fund Award
    Winner: CI Signature Dividend, CI Investments Inc.
    Silver: Beutel Goodman Canadian Dividend, Beutel, Goodman & Co. Ltd.
    Bronze: Fidelity Dividend, Fidelity Investments Canada LLC

    Canadian Equity Fund ((greater than) 50% Canada) Award
    Winner: Dynamic Value Fund, Canada, Dynamic Funds
    Silver: CI Signature Select Canadian, CI Investments Inc.
    Bronze: CI Harbour, CI Investments Inc.

    Canadian Fixed Income Fund Award
    Winner: Beutel Goodman Income, Beutel, Goodman & Co. Ltd.
    Silver: PH&N Bond, RBC Asset Management Inc.
    Bronze: TD Canadian Bond, TD Mutual Funds

    Canadian Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund ((greater than) 50% Canada) Award
    Winner: Dynamic Focus + Small Business, Dynamic Funds
    Silver: Beutel Goodman Small Cap, Beutel, Goodman & Co. Ltd.
    Bronze: Ethical Special Equity/IA Clarington Canadian Small Cap,
    Northwest & Ethical Investment LP/IA Clarington Investments Inc.

    Emerging Markets Equity Fund Award
    Winner: AGF Emerging Markets, AGF Investments Inc.
    Silver: Brandes Emerging Markets Equity, Brandes Investment Partners
    & Co.
    Bronze: Mackenzie Universal Emerging Markets, Mackenzie Financial Corp.

    European Equity Fund Award
    Winner: Mackenzie Ivy European, Mackenzie Financial Corp.
    Silver: AGF European Equity, AGF Investments Inc.
    Bronze: AIM European Growth, Invesco Trimark Ltd.

    Global Balanced Fund Award
    Winner: Mawer Canadian Balanced RSP, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
    Silver: CI Signature Income & Growth, CI Investments Inc.
    Bronze: Dynamic Value Balanced, Dynamic Funds

    Global Equity Fund Award
    Winner: Mackenzie Ivy Foreign Equity, Mackenzie Financial Corp.
    Silver: Hartford Global Leaders, Hartford Investments Canada Corp.
    Bronze: Mutual Discovery, Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.

    Global Fixed Income Fund Award
    Winner: Templeton Global Bond, Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.
    Silver: Manulife Strategic Income, Manulife Mutual Funds
    Bronze: BMO Guardian Global Bond, BMO Investments Inc.

    Global Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund Award
    Winner: Templeton Global Smaller Companies, Franklin Templeton
    Investments Corp.
    Silver: CI Global Small Companies, CI Investments Inc.
    Bronze: Brandes Global Small Cap Equity, Brandes Investment Partners
    & Co.

    Healthcare Equity Fund Award
    Winner: TD Health Sciences, TD Mutual Funds
    Silver: CI Global Health Sciences, CI Investments Inc.
    Bronze: Renaissance Global Health Care, CIBC Asset Management Inc.

    High Yield Fixed Income Fund Award
    Winner: PH&N High Yield Bond, RBC Asset Management Inc.
    Silver: AGF Global High Yield Bond, AGF Investments Inc.
    Bronze: RBC Global Corporate Bond, RBC Asset Management Inc.

    International Equity Fund Award
    Winner: Mawer World Investment, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
    Silver: Renaissance International Equity, CIBC Asset Management Inc.
    Bronze: Templeton International Stock, Franklin Templeton Investments
    Corp.

    Natural Resources Equity Fund Award
    Winner: CI Signature Canadian Resource, CI Investments Inc.
    Silver: Dynamic Focus+ Resource, Dynamic Funds
    Bronze: AGF Global Resources, AGF Investments Inc.

    Precious Metals Equity Fund Award
    Winner: RBC Global Precious Metals, RBC Asset Management Inc.
    Silver: Dynamic Precious Metals, Dynamic Funds
    Bronze: Sentry Select Precious Metals Growth, Sentry Select Capital Corp.

    Science and Technology Equity Fund Award
    Winner: CI Global Science & Tech, CI Investments Inc.
    Silver: BMO Guardian Global Technology, BMO Investments Inc.
    Bronze: Fidelity Global Technology, Fidelity Investments Canada LLC

    US Equity Fund Award
    Winner: CI American Value, CI Investments Inc.
    Silver: Dynamic American Value, Dynamic Funds
    Bronze: Beutel Goodman American Equity, Beutel, Goodman & Co. Ltd.

    US Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund Award
    Winner: Mackenzie Universal American Growth, Mackenzie Financial Corp.
    Silver: CI American Small Companies, CI Investments Inc.
    Bronze: Trimark US Small Companies, Invesco Trimark Ltd.

    Canadian Balanced Pooled Fund of the Year Award
    Winner: Beutel Goodman Balanced, Beutel, Goodman & Co. Ltd.
    Silver: Fidelity Canadian Asset Allocation, Fidelity Investments Canada
    LLC
    Bronze: Fidelity Canadian Balanced, Fidelity Investments Canada LLC

    Canadian Equity Pooled Fund of the Year Award
    Winner: Beutel Goodman Canadian Equity, Beutel, Goodman & Co. Ltd.
    Silver: Mawer Canadian Equity, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
    Bronze: Howson Tattersall Canadian Value Equity, Howson Tattersall
    Investment Counsel Ltd.

    Canadian Income Pooled Fund of the Year Award - Sponsored by Canadian
    Business magazine
    Winner: Beutel Goodman Income, Beutel, Goodman & Co. Ltd.
    Silver: PH&N Bond, RBC Asset Management Inc.
    Bronze: McLean Budden Fixed Income, McLean Budden Ltd.

    Canadian Small Cap Pooled Fund of the Year Award
    Winner: Beutel Goodman Small Cap, Beutel, Goodman & Co. Ltd.
    Silver: QV Canadian Small Cap, QV Investors Inc.
    Bronze: CC&L Canadian Small Cap, Connor Clark & Lunn Financial Group

    Global Balanced Pooled Fund of the Year Award
    Winner: Mawer Canadian Balanced, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
    Silver: McLean Budden Balanced, McLean Budden Ltd.
    Bronze: Mawer Canadian Diversified Investment, Mawer Investment
    Management Ltd.

    Global Equity Pooled Fund of the Year Award
    Winner: Hexavest World, Hexavest Asset Management
    Silver: Burgundy Partners Global, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
    Bronze: Beutel Goodman Global Equity, Beutel, Goodman & Co. Ltd.

    International Equity Pooled Fund of the Year Award
    Winner: Hexavest Europac, Hexavest Asset Management
    Silver: Mawer World Investment, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
    Bronze: CC&L Arrowstreet EAFE, Connor Clark & Lunn Financial Group

    US Equity Pooled Fund of the Year Award
    Winner: McLean Budden American Equity, McLean Budden Ltd.
    Silver: Hexavest US Equity, Hexavest Asset Management
    Bronze: PH&N US Growth, RBC Asset Management Inc.

    Socially Responsible Investment Fund Award - Sponsored by National Post
    Winner: Inhance Monthly Income Fund, Inhance Investment Management Inc.
    Silver: Ethical Balanced Fund, Northwest & Ethical Investment LP

    Best Directional Hedge Fund Award - Sponsored by Canadian Hedge Watch
    Winner: JC Clark Preservation Trust, JC Clark Ltd.
    Silver: PH&N Absolute Return Fund, RBC Asset Management Inc.
    Bronze: Arrow High Yield, Arrow Hedge Partners Inc.

    Relative Value Hedge Fund Award - Sponsored by Canadian Hedge Watch
    Winner: Picton Mahoney Market Neutral Equity Fund, Picton Mahoney Asset
    Management
    Silver: SciVest Market Neutral Fund, SciVest Capital Management Inc.
    Bronze: Amethyst Arbitrage Fund, Crystalline Management Inc.

    Multi-strategy Hedge Fund/Fund of Hedge Funds Award - Sponsored by
    Canadian Hedge Watch
    Winner: Niagara Legacy Fund, Niagara Capital Partners Ltd.
    Silver: North Pole Multi-Strategy Fund, Polar Securities Inc.
    Bronze: Vertex Fund, Vertex One Asset Management Inc.

    Best Hedge Fund Newcomer Award - Sponsored by Canadian Hedge Watch
    Winner: Rosalind Capital Partners, Rosalind Advisors Inc.
    Silver: IMFC Global Investment Program, Integrated Asset Management Corp
    Bronze: Agilith North American Diversified Fund, Agilith Capital Inc.

    Investor Education Award - Sponsored by Investment Funds Institute of
    Canada
    Winner: Snapshots by Dynamic Funds
    Silver: Guidance for On-line Investors (RBC Direct Investing) and Today's
    Economy (SunLife) (tied)

    Canadian Investment Marketing Award - Sponsored by Broadridge Investor
    Communication Solutions, Canada
    Winner: "Hartford Portfolios Launch", Hartford Investments
    Silver: Salida Capital Integrated Campaign, Salida Capital
    Bronze: Back on Track: Investors Group

    Advisor Education Award - Sponsored by Learning Library Inc.
    Winner: "Snapshots", Dynamic Funds
    Silver: "Pipeline", Scotiafunds

    Best New Initiative Award - Sponsored by Informco Inc.
    Winner: "ETF DRIP, PACC, SWF Program", Claymore Investments Inc.
    Silver: "Cymbria Corporation", EdgePoint Investment Group
    Bronze: "Planipedia.org", PlanPlus Inc.

    Best Use of Technology Award - Sponsored by VAULT Solutions Inc.
    Winner: "SmartForms", International Financial Data Services Canada
    Silver: "Insight Services: Online Transactions", Manulife Financial
    Bronze: "The DIY Advisor Self-Customization Tool", Russell Investments
    Canada Ltd.

    Analysts' Choice Investment Fund Company of the Year Award - Sponsored by
    CGI
    Winner: CI Investments Inc.
    Silver: Dynamic Funds
    Bronze: Beutel, Goodman & Co. Ltd.
    

"Each year, the Canadian Investment Awards showcases organizations whose innovation and commitment to Canadian investors sets them apart from their peers," said Steinbrecher. "In times of economic uncertainty, these industry leaders have demonstrated the leadership and long-term vision necessary to excel."

This year's Canadian Investment Awards were presented at the 15th Annual event held on December 2nd, 2009 . Winners will be posted online December 3rd and in the Canadian Investment Guide Magazine at selected newsstands early December.

"In closing, I want to sincerely thank all of our sponsors. Please join us next year for the 2010 Canadian Investment Awards, to be held on December 1st, 2010 . Submissions will open in June 2010."

    
    Thank you to all our partners and sponsors

    Platinum: CGI/Morningstar
    Gold: Canadian Business/MoneySense
    Silver: Broadridge Investor Communications Solutions, Canada/Canadian
    Hedge Watch/Fundata Canada Inc./Informco/Investment Executive/Learning
    Library Inc.
    National Automobile Sponsor: Audi Canada
    National Newspaper Sponsor: National Post
    Strategic Partners: Kaleidoscope Marketing and Communications/Locordia
    Inc./VAULT Solutions
    Partners: Bruze/Bullfrog Power/Business News Network/CCR Solutions/
    CNW Group/Data On The Spot/Investment Funds Institute of Canada/Prestige
    Glass/YMCA Investment in Values
    

About the Canadian Investment Awards

Now in its 15th year, the Canadian Investment Awards and Gala recognizes products, services and innovations that exemplify excellence within the Canadian financial services industry. Unique in its collaborative structure and broad representation, this is the only national awards event that reflects the collective judging efforts of a broad range of industry experts, financial advisors and investors.

For more information about the Canadian Investment Awards, please visit www.InvestmentAwards.com.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Media Contacts: Sabine Steinbrecher, Canadian Investment Awards Inc., Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Kate Taylor, Kaleidoscope Marketing and Communications, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]