Three SIO members receive Ethics in Action awards

Michael Jantzi, President of Michael Jantzi Research Associates Inc., was an award winner at the annual Ethics in Action  awards sponsored by Citizens Bank of Canada and Mountain Equipment Co-op. This year's awards also recognized  SIO members Metro Credit Union in Toronto and Mennonite Savings and Credit Union as award finalists.

The awards recognize businesses and individuals in business, who are leading the way in corporate social responsibility through their actions and decisions. The program was created in 1994 and expanded in 1999 to encompass businesses in Ontario. The Ontario awards were announced at a ceremony in Toronto on June 21.

Jantzi was recognized in the category of Ongoing Social Responsibility for his work in socially responsible investing.

“Active in the social investment field for more than 10 years, Michael Janzti has served as a catalyst to a wide range of initiatives designed to support social investment in Canada,” according to a profile on him published by Ethics in Action.

Jantzi developed the Canadian Social Investment Database, the country’s first database tracking the social, labour and environmental performance of Canadian corporations. This service is used widely by the SRI industry in Canada for information on the social performance of Canadian stocks.

Jantzi also launched the Jantzi Social Index, the first index of socially responsible stocks in Canada; co-authored the 50 Best Ethical Stocks for Canadians; and helped in the development of the Active Shareholder Working Group, which has been instrumental in the development of shareholder advocacy.

Metro Credit Union in Toronto was an award finalist in the category of Ongoing Social Responsibility – Business Nominees. Metro Credit Union was recognized for its work in social auditing. It was one of the first financial institutions in Canada to conduct a social audit of its operations.

“Metro Credit Union has demonstrated leadership in corporate social auditing, undertaking social audits comprised of comprehensive social performance assessments involving policy and operations standards that affect customers, employees and the general community,” said the Ethics in Action profile.

Mennonite Savings and Credit Union of Waterloo, Ont. was also an award finalist in the category of Ongoing Social Responsibility – Business Nominees. MSCU was recognized for its special member services, including services to counsel members on ethical investment practices, services to help membership encountering personal hardship and no-interest loans supported by members who want to make low-interest or zero-interest loans.

“Their approach to investment and development is reflected in their socially responsible investment practices, charitable giving and business support, helping MSCU shape a new definition of community,” said the Ethics in Action Profile.

For more information, visit Ethics in Action. 

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