Morningstar Research Inc. has announced the winners of the 2012 Morningstar Canadian Investment Awards. This year’s awards gala, held Wednesday night in Toronto, marked the 18th edition of Canada’s premier annual awards event for the investment industry.

The evening honoured companies and individuals that Morningstar believes have made a difference in the lives of investors through superior investment products, service, marketing, and education.

The awards program represents the year-long evaluation efforts of dozens of firms, analysts, and expert jury members.

The Morningstar Canadian Investment Awards winners are:

Morningstar Domestic Equity Fund Manager of the Year
Winner: Oscar Belaiche, GCIC Ltd.

Morningstar Foreign Equity Fund Manager of the Year
Winner: David Ragan, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.

Morningstar Fixed-Income Fund Manager of the Year
Winner: PH&N Fixed Income Team, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.

Morningstar Analysts’ Choice Fund Company of the Year
Winner: RBC Global Asset Management Inc.

Morningstar ETF Provider of the Year
Winner: iShares, BlackRock Canada

Advisors’ Choice Investment Fund Company of the Year
Winner: Fidelity Investments Canada ULC

Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) Investor Education Award
Winner: Brandes Scholarship Program, Brandes Investment Partners & Co.

Career Achievement Award
Winner: Arthur Labatt

Best Canadian Balanced Fund
Winner: Steadyhand Income, Steadyhand Investment Funds Inc.

Best Global Balanced Fund
Winner: CI Signature High Income, CI Investments Inc.

Best Canadian Equity Fund
Winner: Mawer Canadian Equity, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.

Best Canadian Fixed-Income Fund
Winner: TD Canadian Core Plus, TD Asset Management Inc.

Best Canadian Dividend & Income Equity Fund
Winner: Sentry Canadian Income, Sentry Investments

Best US Equity Fund
Winner: Trimark US Companies, Invesco Canada Ltd.

Best Global Equity Fund
Winner: Capital International Global Equity, Capital International Asset Management

Best Global Fixed-Income Fund
Winner: RBC Global Corporate Bond, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.

Best Equity ETF
Winner: iShares S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index, iShares, BlackRock Canada

Best Fixed-Income ETF
Winner: iShares DEX Universe Bond Index, iShares, BlackRock Canada

Best Canadian Small-/Mid-Cap Equity Fund
Winner: Mawer New Canada, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.

Best International Equity Fund
Winner: Mawer International Equity, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.

Best Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Winner: Mackenzie Universal Emerging Markets, Mackenzie Investments

Best US Small-/Mid-Cap Equity Fund
Winner: Trimark US Small Companies, Invesco Canada Ltd.

Best Global Small-/Mid-Cap Equity Fund
Winner: Mawer Global Small Cap, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.

Best High Yield Fixed-Income Fund
Winner: RBC Global High Yield Bond, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.

Best Specialty Equity Fund
Winner: TD Health Sciences, TD Asset Management Inc.

Best Discount Brokerage
Winner: Qtrade Investor

Best Fund of Funds
Winner: CI Portfolio Series, CI Investments Inc.

Best Canadian Equity Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy Canadian Equity, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.

Best Canadian Income Pooled Fund
Winner: Fiera Capital Tactical Fixed Income, Fiera Capital Corp.

Best Global Equity Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy Partners Global, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.

Best Canadian Balanced Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy Balanced Pension, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.

Best Canadian Small-/Mid-Cap Equity Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy Canadian Small Cap, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.

Best Global Balanced Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy Partners Balanced, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.

Best International Equity Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy EAFE, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.

Best US Equity Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy Smaller Companies, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.

Canadian Investment Marketing Award
Winner: Volatunity, DundeeWealth

Best Multi-Strategy or Fund of Hedge Funds
Winner: PH&N Absolute Return Strategy, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.

Best Relative Value Hedge Fund
Winner: Amethyst Arbitrage, Crystalline Management Inc.

Best Opportunistic Hedge Fund
Winner: JM Catalyst, JM Fund Management Inc.

Best ETF Initiative
Winner: iShares, BlackRock Canada, Investor Outreach

Best Use of Technology Award
Winner: adviceDirect, BMO InvestorLine

For a complete list of the 2012 finalists, please visit www.investmentawards.com.