Mackenzie Financial voted top fund company of 2002 by Canadian advisors

(December 4, 2002) Canadian financial advisors chose Mackenzie Financial as the mutual fund company of the year in the annual Canadian Investment Awards.

Advisors had the opportunity to vote for three awards in the Advisors’ Choice category of the eighth annual awards gala (formerly the Canadian Mutual Funds Awards). Mackenzie Financial Corporation also won the award for education while AIM Funds Management took home the honours for service to advisors. The awards were handed out at a gala in Toronto tonight.

Winners of the Advisors’ Choice awards were decided from the total number of tallied votes received by the deadline of November 14, 2002.

In the Analysts’ Choice category, AIM Funds Management won the award for fund company of the year.

Jerry Javasky, senior portfolio manager with Ivy Funds of Mackenzie Financial, was the analysts’ pick as the fund manager of 2002. James O’Donnell was honoured with the career achievement award.

A committee of 20 professional analysts selected the winners of the Analysts’ Choice award. They chose funds in a series of award categories from a list of eligible funds and investment companies, prepared by Morningstar Canada.

Investors also voted in three categories of the Canadian Investment Awards. Fidelity Investments was named fund company of the year. Fidelity also won the award for service to investors. And again, Mackenzie Financial was recognized as an educator, this time of investors.

Advisor.ca will have more awards coverage on Thursday, December 5.

Filed by Jim MacDonald, Advisor.ca, jmacdonald@advisor.ca.

(12/04/02)