CI Financial’s Kim Shannon was named Fund Manager of the Year at the sold-out Canadian Investment Awards Gala Wednesday night.

Shannon manages CI Canadian Investment Fund, one of Canada’s oldest mutual funds, launched in 1932, and is also president and chief investment officer of Sionna Investment Managers Inc. Under her guidance, the fund gained 18.1% during the 12 months ended Oct. 31. Shannon’s longer term numbers are excellent, too, with top-quartile returns of 11.7% and 13.3% during the five- and 10-year periods ended Oct. 31, respectively.

Winners of other major awards were Ned Goodman, CEO of Dundee Wealth Management, who was honoured for Career Achievement, and Dynamic Funds, which took the prize for Analysts’ Choice Fund Company of the Year. The latter served as double recognition for Goodman, whose firm is Dynamic’s parent.

The Canadian Investment Awards jury is made up of 40 senior analysts and industry experts, researching and ranking funds in 50 categories. The awards honour fund companies and other industry bodies.

Among other notable 2005 award winners in mutual fund categories was Sceptre Equity Growth Fund, which was named Canadian Equity Fund of the year. The $350 million fund, managed by Allan Jacobs, had a one-year return of 28.8% at Oct. 31.

TD Canadian Bond Fund, a $6.4-billion fund managed by Satish Rai and Geoff Wilson, was the Canadian Income Fund of the Year.

In the new institutional pooled-fund category, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. won four of the seven awards, including Canadian Equity Pooled Fund of the Year.

Among the winners in the income trust awards group was ARC Energy Trust, which was judged the top Oil & Gas Energy Trust. Arrow Multi-Strategy Fund won the Fund of Hedge Funds Award of the Year.

Among other awards, CI Investments Inc. was named Advisors’ Choice Favourite Investment Fund Company of the Year. AIM Trimark Investments’ Trimark Floating Rate Income Fund was recognized as the Best New Initiative of 2005.