Canadian Investment Awards
Vancity takes top award for socially responsible investment fund at prestigious industry gala
Vancouver, December 3, 2009 - Vancouver City Savings Credit Union's (Vancity) Inhance Monthly Income Fund has won the 2009 Socially Responsible Investment Fund Award from the Canadian Investment Awards, Canada's premier financial services awards program.
"Social responsibility is core to Vancity's values, so we are thrilled to be recognized for our work in this area," says Kerry Ho, Vancity's Vice President of Sustainable Wealth Management. "Winning this award shows that we can meet investors' needs for competitive financial returns and stay true to the values our members expect from Vancity."
The awards, which recognize long-term excellence and leadership in the financial services industry, were presented at a gala event at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto on December 2.
This is not the first time Vancity has taken top honours at the Canadian Investment Awards. Last year the credit union won the inaugural Green Company Award for Environmental Leadership.
"Vancity's submission demonstrated a long-term commitment to social responsibility throughout the organization," said Sabine Steinbrecher, President, Canadian Investment Awards Inc. “In addition to Vancity's support for local community economic development, the mutual fund portfolio management team promotes leadership throughout the corporate sector through shareholder advocacy and engaging companies on all aspects of sustainability."
Vancity recently entered into an agreement to sell the Inhance mutual fund business to IA Clarington Investments Inc. and begin a long-term strategic relationship with the investment company. On December 4, 2009 the Inhance mutual funds will be merged with the IA Clarington Inhance SRI Funds, and the Inhance Monthly Income Fund will become the IA Clarington Inhance Monthly Income SRI Fund. The new IA Clarington Inhance Monthly Income SRI Fund is currently open for sale across Canada.
Veteran fund managers Stephen MacInnes, Dermot Foley and other key members of the existing in-house Inhance investment team will remain in the Vancity organization as managers of the IA Clarington SRI funds. The new funds are built on the proven Inhance SRI strategy: using traditional financial indicators in combination with environmental, social and governance criteria to identify investment opportunities.
About Vancity
Vancity is Canada's largest credit union, with $14.5 billion in assets, more than 400,000 members, and 60 branches throughout Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria and Squamish. Vancity is guided by a commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities where we live and work.
For more information about Vancity, please visit www.vancity.com.
About the Canadian Investment Awards
The Canadian Investment Awards and Event recognize leading investment products and firms demonstrating an enduring commitment to excellence within the Canadian financial services industry overall. It is the only time each year that Canadian industry professionals, investors and advisors come together to select top performers. The event attracts about 600 guests annually. During the year, over 30 firms, 40 senior analysts and expert jury members research and rank 50 categories with the support of over 30 principal sponsors.
The unusual nature of this collaborative structure provides an unbiased and objective outcome that is completely unique to these awards and to Canada. No other analysis process, nor any other resource provides this broad industry representation via "collaborative results." The top performers have become a valuable annual reference guide for Canadian investors and advisors.
For more information about the Canadian Investment Awards, please visit www.investmentawards.com.
Media Contacts
Vancity Media Relations
Tel: (778) 837-0394
Email: mediarelations@vancity.com
Sabine Steinbrecher
Canadian Investment Awards Inc.
Tel: (416) 483-2791
Email: sabine@investmentawards.com