Vancouver City Saving Credit Union says it is preparing for a surge of interest in socially responsible investing (SRI) with the launch of a new mutual fund family.

Vancity, Canada\u2019s largest credit union, in partnership with its socially responsible investment subsidiary Inhance Investment Management Inc., is the first full-service financial institution to offer its own socially responsible mutual fund.

Launched in time for RRSP season, the Vancity Circadian Funds will invest in companies that use progressive social, environmental and governance practices in managing their businesses.

According to a recent poll from Decima Research, the environment is now the top issue for Canadians. This is something that Vancity is expecting will translate into a heightened interest in socially responsible investments.

\u201cSRI is at a tipping point,\u201d says Steve Eccles, Vancity\u2019s vp of investment management. \u201cOur members say they\u2019re interested in investing responsibly and we believe that Canadians are moving in this direction, too.\u201d

Kerry Ho, CEO of Inhance Investment Management Inc., says his firm has been managing SRI funds for six years and has seen consistently good performance by taking into account both SRI and financial performance criteria in the investment process and shareholder activism on its funds.

Last year, the Jantzi Social Index, the Canadian index that evaluates socially responsible investments, returned almost 2% more than companies listed on the major Canadian composite indexes.

Vancity Circadian Mutual Funds will be available through Vancity branches and are all RRSP eligible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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