Morningstar Research, Inc. announced the winners of the 2014 Morningstar Awards on Wednesday evening in Toronto, marking the 20th anniversary of celebrating the Canadian investment industry.
The awards are designed to help investors identify Canada’s most exceptional funds and fund managers of the year.
The event honoured more than 40 individuals and companies that Morningstar, an independent Toronto-based investment research provider, believes have made a difference in the lives of investors through superior investment products, service, marketing, and education.
The awards encompass a wide range of investment products, including mutual funds, pooled funds, and hedge funds. Additional awards recognize outstanding individual managers, online brokerages, and investor education and marketing campaigns.
Awards for Fund Manager of the Year were handed out in three categories.
Martin Ferguson and Jeff Mo, Mawer New Canada, Mawer Investment Management Ltd., shared the award for Domestic Equity Fund Manager of the Year.
“Martin Ferguson and Jeff Mo planted the seeds of their 2014 success long ago with long-term holdings that were strong performers this year,” Christopher Davis, Morningstar’s director of manager research for Canadian active strategies, said. “The pair’s disciplined process and complementary skills have made Mawer New Canada deserving of the award.”
Tye Bousada and Geoff MacDonald, EdgePoint Global Portfolio, EdgePoint Wealth Management Inc., shared the award for Foreign Equity Fund Manager of the Year.
“Tye Bousada and Geoff MacDonald trounced their global equity peers this year by identifying compelling values in U.S. financial services and technology stocks,” Davis said. “The duo’s value-oriented, quality-focused approach has led to fine long-term results both at EdgePoint and their former posts at Invesco Canada.”
The PH&N Fixed Income Team, PH&N Bond and PH&N Total Return Bond, RBC Global Asset Management Inc., won the award for Fixed-Income Fund Manager of the Year.
“Investors of all stripes rely on human and technological capital to get ahead, but nowhere are these factors more important than in the fixed-income realm,” Davis said. “Once again, PH&N’s fixed-income team used its people and technology to good effect.”
The Morningstar Analysts’ Choice Fund Company of the Year Award went to Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Vanguard Investments Canada Inc. won the award for ETF Provider of the Year.
Raymond Chang, CI Financial Corp., received the Career Achievement Award. The former CEO and co-founder of CI passed away earlier this year. (See A passion for philanthropy, Investment Executive, December 2014.)
The winner of the Advisors’ Choice Fund Company of the Year Award was Fidelity Investments Canada ULC.
For a complete list of individual mutual fund award winners, click here. For additional information, please visit investmentawards.com.
The awards program represents an extensive, year-long evaluation of dozens of firms and industry individuals by analysts and experienced jury members.