Winners from across categories reveal secrets of their success in the moments after their big wins
What makes a WP award winner? While each category comes with its own set of criteria and qualitative measures of success, common threads can be found throughout. A commitment to client service, a belief in this industry’s capacity to do good, and a keen eye for opportunity all shine through among the qualities the WP awards seek to celebrate. Following their victories in Toronto last week, WP award winners shared some of what they believe set them apart.
“Our process with clients,” said Cameron Smith, VP of Private Wealth at Nicola Wealth when asked how his firm won both the Trez Capital award for dealer of the year and The PPI award for holistic advisory team of the year. “We give no advice until we've spent hours getting to know our clients, financially and in terms of their values, emotions, and family. Deep discovery is the key to everything.”
Themes of client service recurred in the winners’ statements. For advisors, dealers, and advisory teams that mean service to end investors and Canadian families. For asset managers and fund manufacturers celebrated at the awards, that meant service to advisors themselves.
“Customer service, really getting in front of great people who use alternatives,” said Justin Janas VP of Private Wealth Solutions at Hamilton Lane after his firm was named the private asset investment provider of the year. “I would say the ease of accessing our fund, I think that really sets us apart compared to other providers.”
Rohit Mehta, CEO of Global X, gave credit to clients after his firm won ETF provider of the year for the second year running — setting up a chance of a three-peat at next year’s awards.
“To win this award back-to-back. It's really about the team. It's about our connectivity with the markets. It's about our connectivity with clients, and really being able to respond to market demands and needs,” Metha said.
Mehta and Global X were not the only back to back winners at the awards. Maili Wong, of Wellington-Altus Private Wealth took home the Equiton award for Canadian advisor of the year once again. The Vancouver-based advisor now has a chance to make it three from three in 2026.
While the night had some repeat winners, it also saw new categories introduced. Skyline won the inaugural edition of real estate investment provider of the year, while also taking home employer of the year. Wayne Byrd, CFO at Skyline, explained how they set themselves apart.
“Real estate is crowded in Canada. If we think about the Canadian population, 39 per cent of the Canadian population is in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, where do the rest of the 61 per cent live? In the rest of the country!” Byrd says. “And that's where we focus on investing, in the rest of the country where more than 60 per cent of the population is.”
Other strategic leaders highlighted their own operations and areas of focus that helped them take home trophies at this year’s ceremony.
“AGF, has been around for almost 70 years. We've got a long track record of performance, incredible PMs, an incredible team. I think it's a combination of all those things coming together on an ongoing basis,” said Court Elliott, VP of Marketing at AGF after his firm won mutual fund provider of the year. “We keep an eye on the market, we pivot, we’re flexible, but really comes down to the people behind the organization and the fact that we're just always out there waiting for what's next.”
So much of the success that was celebrated at the awards show was focused on what awardees do for others, not just to grow their businesses but to make peoples’ lives better. Hash Assad, for example, won the award for advisor of the year in responsible investments, reflecting his success in building Canada’s first sharia-compliant investment fund for halal investors, allowing him to better serve clients in a way that is congruent with their faith.
Sonia Leroy, Senior Wealth Advisor at LeRoy Wealth Management Group won the award for Excellence in Philanthropy and Community Service.
“Giving back is so foundational to who we are as a family, and this is a family practice, so we've built those values into everything we do in our practice,” LeRoy said. “There are so many people on this planet who've been dealt a different hand, and money is power. With power comes responsibility. We have the ability to share what we have and we need to do that. It's a chance that we were given these opportunities, and others were not.”
Each year at the WP awards, one highlight is the announcement of the Lifetime Achievement award. For 2025 the winner was Kathleen Bock, Managing Director and Board Chair of Vanguard Americas. She reflected on what the honour of a WP award means for her and for all the other winners that night.
“It’s such an honour to sit in this room and be recognized by so many of these people we work with,” Bock said. “I know how terrific the work they do is. For myself and my firm to be honoured in this way, it’s very humbling and such a privilege.”
You can see the full list of winners, excellence awardees, and sponsors here.
