2008 Canadian Investment Awards Winners

Date: Thursday, December 4, 2008
Author: Investment Executive

Gerald Coleman of CI Investments Inc. was named Morningstar Fund Manager of the Year Wednesday night at the Canadian Investment Awards in Toronto.

He is the first fund manager in 14 years to have won this award twice, indicating his extraordinary long term vision. Coleman, who runs CI Harbour and CI Harbour Growth & Income funds, also took this honour during the 2001 bear market.

The award honours the Canadian mutual fund manager who Morningstar analysts believe has done the best job over the past 12 months but also has provided significant performance for investors over a long period of time, maintains a sensible investment strategy consistently, and are good stewards of investor portfolios.

“Our goal each year is to recognize innovation, leadership and commitment to long-term investing in Canada," said Sabine Steinbrecher, founder of the Canadian Investment Awards, “Never before has leadership and long-term vision been more important to recognize than in these markets.”

The awards recognize leadership in the investment industry and represent Canada’s wide range of investment products, including mutual funds, hedge funds, pooled funds, socially responsible funds, and outstanding individual fund managers.

CI won a total of six awards last night. CI Harbour and CI Growth & Income funds took top honours, respectively, in the Canadian equity and Canadian balanced fund categories. CI Signature Income & Growth won the award in the global balanced fund category, while CI Signature Canadian Resources won in the natural resource group. CI American Value won among U.S. equity pooled funds.

Among other winners, Dynamic Focus + Small Business fund took the top award in the Canadian small-to-mid-cap category.

Mawer World Investment Fund won in the international equity category.

JC Clark Preservation Trust won the award in the opportunistic hedge fund group.

Dynamic Funds, a unit of DundeeWealth Inc., won the analysts’ choice favourite fund company of the year award, while AGF Management Ltd. took the award as the advisors’ choice investment fund company of the year.

Additional awards recognized career achievement, education,technology, innovation, marketing, and community investment.

Awards are determined by a jury of industry experts who determine winners through a rigorous, audited process with long-term focus.