After completing nine years as the University of Victoria’s vice-president research, Martin Taylor has been appointed president and CEO of Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), a new, not-for-profit organization created by the university to govern and manage the UVic-led international ocean observatories VENUS and NEPTUNE Canada. The new board of ONC announced today that Taylor will take over leadership of the entity on Sept. 1.

“Martin has overseen tremendous research growth at UVic and played a key role in positioning the university as one of the country’s leaders in oceans research,” says UVic President David Turpin. “I can think of no better person to lead this new organization, created to help the university’s ground-breaking ocean research projects achieve their full potential.”

ONC responds to the changing nature of university research. Traditionally project-based under the direction of a principal investigator, research is increasingly becoming more comprehensive, involving major infrastructure platforms that require more resources from a wide variety of public and private sources. Recognizing the need for an entity to govern and manage the university’s major ocean science initiatives such as NEPTUNE Canada and VENUS, UVic’s Board of Governors recommended establishing ONC and has approved funding for its first two years of operation.

“I feel very privileged to take up this position and look forward to building on the administrative responsibilities for VENUS and NEPTUNE Canada that I had as vice-president research,” says Taylor. “As the first of their kind in the world, these ocean observatories offer unprecedented opportunities to advance ocean science and its applications to public policy, economic development and public education. I consider it an honour to continue to work with these projects’ talented teams of researchers, technical staff and students and their colleagues across Canada and around the world.

“I welcome the challenge of building the partnerships with government, industry and the public sector that are essential for these world-leading facilities to realize their full potential.”

Among the primary objectives of ONC are: securing sustainable financial support for the on-going capital and operating costs of the observatories, promoting the economic development and commercialization opportunities of the science and technologies, and developing the public policy and public education applications of the research. ONC will also collaborate closely with the Ocean Observatories Initiative in the US which is responsible for the US component of the regional cabled observatory.

Media Contacts:
Martin Taylor (Ocean Network Canada) at 250-721-7973 or onet@uvic.ca
Patty Pitts (UVic Communications) at 250-721-7656 or ppitts@uvic.ca

As part of its commitment to green practices, Vancity Savings Credit Union (Vancity) has installed a solar powered billboard on Expo Boulevard in downtown Vancouver. Solar powered by Carmanah Technologies’ patented technology, the 160-watt sign displays six solar modules, illuminating Vancity’s logo. Carmanah’s customer, Vancouver-based Knight Signs, worked with Vancity to develop the creative advertisement promoting the credit union’s environmental leadership.

As an alternative to hard-wired systems, Carmanah’s solar power technology significantly reduces installation costs and eliminates expensive electrical permits, maintenance charges and ongoing electricity bills. This particular system’s enclosure (housing rechargeable batteries and automated power management equipment) is pole mounted behind the sign. Carmanah is an award-winning manufacturer specializing in renewable and energy-efficient technology solutions. With more than 250,000 installations worldwide, it is Canada’s largest solar energy company and one of the world’s premier suppliers of energy-efficient products. The Company is currently focused on three technology groups: solar-powered LED lighting, solar power systems & equipment and LED illuminated signage. Carmanah is headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and has branch offices and/or sales representation in 11 cities across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. For more information visit www.carmanah.com

B.C. is among eight western provinces and states that have established a regional goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 15 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020, a target that will lay the foundation for a common cap and trade system, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today. “I want to commend all Western Climate Initiative partners for establishing this common goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and for their commitment to develop a multi-sector mechanism to help meet this regional target as well as individual targets,” said Campbell. “British Columbia committed in February to creating a single, common standard for measuring greenhouse gas emissions and for registering and trading carbon offsets that reflects true market value. This continental approach will reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the region and stimulate innovation and job creation.” Western Climate Initiative (WCI) members – British Columbia, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Manitoba – agreed to the target after a meeting in Vancouver earlier this month. The WCI will use its new regional goal in designing a regional, market-based, multi-sector mechanism, such as a load-based cap and trade program, by August 2008. Campbell noted the regional goal reflects the combined impact of emission-related targets B.C. and other members have set, and does not supersede those individual targets. Members will use the regional goal in assessing requests from other jurisdictions to join the WCI. “Membership in the WCI means having an aggressive GHG target for your jurisdiction, adopting California tailpipe standards, participating in a cross-border GHG registry, and working together on a regional cap and trade system to help meet our targets,” said Campbell. “The more partners we unite now in meeting these objectives, the better off our countries and world will be in decades to come. I am urging other Canadian provinces to participate in this initiative to create a single, continental market for carbon trading.” At the recent Council of Federation meeting in New Brunswick, the leaders of 12 of 13 provinces and territories agreed to work toward the objective of implementing California tailpipe emissions standards. B.C., Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba also committed to a cap and trade system. Currently, four other U.S. states (Colorado, Kansas, Nevada and Wyoming), three other Canadian provinces (Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan) and one Mexican state (Sonora) are participating as observers of the WCI’s deliberations. Some of these entities, as well as others, may seek to join the WCI as full members in the future. B.C. announced its GHG reduction target of 33 per cent below current levels by 2020, which will place emissions 10 per cent below 1990 levels, in February. Since then, the Province has signed memorandums of understanding with California and Washington State on climate change and Pacific Ocean conservation and joined the Climate Registry, a cross-border GHG registry launched in June with 34 states, and two provincial and three tribal members. The registry – North America’s largest co-operative effort on climate change, representing over 70 per cent of the U.S. population – is seen as a critical first step in developing robust programs to reduce emissions across the U.S. and North America.

Carmanah Technologies Corporation (TSX: CMH), a global provider of solar power and lighting technologies, is pleased to announce the appointment of Roland Sartorius as Chief Financial Officer, effective August 13, 2007.  Mr. Sartorius will assume responsibility for leading all aspects of Carmanah’s financial activities, including accounting and reporting, strategic planning and analysis, treasury, tax, audit, and investor relations.  Mr. Sartorius brings over twenty years of financial leadership experience in private and public high-growth, international corporations.

Most recently, Mr. Sartorius has served as Chief Financial Officer, Director and Corporate Secretary at Infosat Communications, a subsidiary of Bell Canada and a leading North American provider and integrator of satellite communication solutions.  While at Infosat, Mr. Sartorius led several strategic acquisitions and  investments in North America and Asia, developed financial and operational policies and controls, reorganized the finance, IT and administration departments, and was instrumental in strengthening the organization’s financial position through strong management of working capital and significantly increasing EBITDA.

Mr. Sartorius’ background also includes tenures as CFO, Director and Corporate Secretary with several European & North American based high growth industrial & technology focused international public & private companies, where he completed numerous acquisitions, guided the organizations through public offerings, several equity financings and restructuring of operations.  As well, Mr. Sartorius spent eight years with KPMG in Corporate Finance and Audit.

“Mr. Sartorius is a welcome addition to our executive management team,” states Art Aylesworth, Carmanah’s CEO.  “Roland has many years of experience leading the financial operations of complex, rapidly-growing international organizations. He brings a new range of financial skills and insight to Carmanah that will be very valuable as the Company moves to the next phase in its maturity.”

Mr. Sartorius holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and is a member of the Certified General Accountants Institute of BC.  He is fluent in German and has a working knowledge of Spanish and French.

After several years of planning and design, NEPTUNE Canada, the world’s first regional cabled ocean observatory, is ready for installation off the coast of British Columbia. Once complete, the 800-km powered fibre-optic cable system will transform ocean science, giving land-based researchers the ability to conduct offshore and deep-sea experiments and receive real-time data without leaving their laboratories and offices.

Led by the University of Victoria, NEPTUNE Canada will feature five 6.5-tonne undersea nodes to regulate and distribute the power and the high bandwidth communications flowing through the fibre-optic cable. This high speed delivery system will operate more than 200 sampling instruments and sensors, as well as video cameras, a 400-m vertical profiler (to gather data at various ocean depths) and a remotely operated vehicle, as they collect data and imagery from the ocean surface to beneath the seafloor.

Lying at depths of up to 2,800 m, the powered cable and nodes must withstand intense pressure and a corrosive, salt-water environment. Much of the equipment and technology is being designed, manufactured and installed by Alcatel-Lucent (with headquarters in France) and its main subcontractors through a $50-million contract with NEPTUNE Canada. Other companies and researchers are providing or developing the instruments and the junction boxes (which regulate the power and communications between the nodes and the instruments) that will include breakthrough technology being tested for the first time.

“Installing the NEPTUNE Canada cable is the first step towards unprecedented access to the deep sea world and a better understanding of our marine environment,” says UVic President David Turpin. “The new knowledge we gain can be applied to many pressing global issues from diminishing fish stocks to mitigating the effects of earthquakes and tsunamis. These future discoveries, and the new opportunities for commercialization of these new technologies, will have worldwide implications.”

NEPTUNE Canada installation will begin on August 23 in the Alberni Inlet on Vancouver Island. Alcatel-Lucent’s 140-m cable-laying vessel Ile de Sein, one of the most powerful cable ships in the industry, will position itself off the Port Alberni waterfront at UVic’s shore station. A rope attached to one end of 800 km of cable will be pulled from the ship to shore by a small boat and then the cable will be winched ashore. As it is pulled from the ship, a line of buoys will be attached to the cable to suspend it as it is pulled towards the beach.

Divers will guide the cable end ashore and the cable will be directed into the beach manhole in preparation to connect it with the land-based cable already installed from the shore station to the manhole. Divers will then cut the buoys loose and check that the cable is secure on the seabed before the ship starts unspooling the cable as it sails down the Alberni Inlet.

The voyage to lay and partially bury a loop of 800 km of cable, together with repeaters, branching units and spur cables leading to future node locations, will take approximately seven weeks. The other end of the cable will be connected to the shore station when the ship completes the loop installation in early October.

“Our cooperation with the University of Victoria will contribute to empowering scientists to use the tools they need for studying and understanding the planet and its phenomena,” says Jean Godeluck, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s submarine network activity. “The versatility of submarine cables in transporting large volumes of optical data and reasonable amounts of power enables their deployment for new scientific applications that expand the boundaries of ocean exploration.”

The cable lay is the first phase of the installation of NEPTUNE Canada. Next year, following testing, the five large nodes will be installed along the loop at the most significant locations for scientific investigations and experiments. The instrumentation that will be powered through the nodes and accessed by land-based scientists will follow. Researchers will be able to instruct video cameras, remotely operated vehicles and other instruments to respond to events such as storms, plankton blooms, fish migrations, earthquakes, tsunamis, underwater eruptions and slope failures as they happen.

“This further establishes UVic as a leader in ocean research,” says Minister of Natural Resources and MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands Gary Lunn, “NEPTUNE Canada will provide valuable data on a number of issues of national importance, including earthquake preparedness, fish stock conservation and climate change. I am proud of the federal government’s support for this project, including almost $40 million provided through the Canada Foundation for Innovation.”

“NEPTUNE Canada will provide many new and future economic opportunities for the people and companies in our province,” said Economic Development Minister Colin Hansen. “This leading-edge project will create jobs in a broad spectrum of fields, from information technology and robotics to communications and tourism.”

“The cable installation marks the start of construction of the world’s first regional cabled observatory off the BC coast,” says Chris Barnes, NEPTUNE Canada project director. “It has attracted a remarkably talented team that is working with world-leading companies including Alcatel-Lucent, Texcel, L3 MariPro, OceanWorks and IBM. We and our 12 Canadian university partners from coast to coast deeply appreciate the federal and provincial funding support that is allowing this research project to build such an innovative infrastructure that will transform the ocean sciences and result in substantial socio-economic benefits.”

The development and installation of the NEPTUNE Canada cabled ocean observatory and its novel technologies is being funded through significant grants from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the BC Knowledge Development Fund.

Media Contacts:
Patty Pitts (UVic Communications) at 250-721-7656 or ppitts@uvic.ca

Carmanah Technologies Corporation (TSX: CMH) announced the Company has received an additional order from the United States Department of Defense for solar powered LED airfield lighting.

This order is valued at approximately $600,000 and consists of taxiway, runway, approach, apron edge and obstruction lights. The lights are destined for multiple forward operating bases at undisclosed locations.

Carmanah is the largest supplier of self-contained solar LED airfield lighting in the world. The Company’s lights are highly advanced and have been field-proven to endure difficult environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures, poor solar conditions, sandstorms and flooding. They have been used for all ranges of airfield applications, such as permanent primary lighting, temporary lighting during airfield construction or upgrades, emergency backup lighting, as well as expedited portable lighting during defence or humanitarian aid operations.

“Carmanah’s solar powered LED airfield lights have become the solution of choice for many of the world’s largest defence organizations,” said Art Aylesworth, Carmanah’s CEO. “With systems in the field since 2003, our technology has proven itself to be extremely tough and reliable. Our users also save up to 90% of the capital cost of a hardwired solution, and install our systems in a fraction of the time with relatively little training and minimal disruption to airfield operations.”

The Company’s next generation A704-5 runway edge lights feature specialized LED optics that can be toggled between visible and infrared output (for night vision goggles), as well as optional wireless control that lets users adjust the entire airfield lighting system or pre-defined groups of lights using a handheld remote controller.

     Protox Therapeutics Inc. (TSX-V:PRX) announced today that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Medicenna Ventures Inc. (“Medicenna”) for the acquisition of Medicenna’s HUMxin(TM) Program, a research program to develop fully humanized fusion proteins based upon the Bcl-2 family, which are key components of programmed cell death (“apoptosis”). HUMxin represents a third technology platform for the Company and offers the potential to develop targeted therapeutics for the treatment of various diseases including solid tumors, metastases and hematological malignancies. In addition, the technology may have application for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as stroke, and has the potential to protect and regenerate cells, tissues and organs following cancer treatment or stem cell transplantation.

    “We are very pleased to have acquired this exciting technology platform from Medicenna,” said Dr. Fahar Merchant, President and Chief Executive Officer of Protox. “The HUMxin platform is a natural extension of our existing programs and further strengthens our core expertise in targeted delivery of potent payloads for the treatment of several debilitating diseases that currently lack adequate therapeutic options.”

    Prior to joining Protox as President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Merchant founded Medicenna and had worked with the U.S. National Institute of Health (“NIH”) to develop the HUMxin Program. Medicenna entered into a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (“CRADA”) with the NIH related to the HUMxin Program. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Medicenna has transferred the HUMxin CRADA and all its rights and interests to Protox and the Company has agreed to pay Medicenna $209,680 for its audited out-of-pocket HUMxin CRADA and related expenses incurred to date. Half of this amount will be paid to Medicenna in cash and the other half in the form of 127,854 common shares of the Company, which will be subject to a four month hold period.

The federal cabinet in order of precedence, which generally follows length of service in Parliament:

Prime Minister – Stephen Harper. Minister of Justice; Attorney General of Canada – Robert Nicholson. Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics – David Emerson. Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec – Jean-Pierre Blackburn. Minister of Veterans Affairs – Gregory Thompson. Leader of the Government in the Senate; Secretary of State for Seniors – Marjory LeBreton. Minister of Human Resources and Social Development – Monte Solberg. Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Metis and non-Status Indians – Chuck Strahl. Minister of Natural Resources – Gary Lunn. Minister of Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency – Peter MacKay. Minister of Fisheries and Oceans – Loyola Hearn. Minister of Public Safety – Stockwell Day. President of Treasury Board – Vic Toews. President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification – Rona Ambrose. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration – Diane Finley. Minister of National Revenue – Gordon O’Connor. Minister of International Co-operation – Bev Oda. Minister of Industry – Jim Prentice. Minister of the Environment – John Baird. Minister of Foreign Affairs – Maxime Bernier. Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities – Lawrence Cannon. Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario – Tony Clement. Minister of Finance – Jim Flaherty. Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Minister for Official Languages – Josee Verner. Minister of Public Works and Government Services – Michael Fortier. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform – Peter Van Loan. Minister of Agriculture and Agrifood and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board – Gerry Ritz. Chief Government Whip and Secretary of State – Jay Hill. Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity – Jason Kenney. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Secretary of State for Sport – Helena Guergis. Secretary of State for Agriculture – Christian Paradis. Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism – Diane Ablonczy.

August 13, 2007 (Victoria) – Vigil Health Solutions Inc. (“Vigil”) announces the results of operations for the quarter ending June 30, 2007.

Business highlights

• Revenues for the three-month period ended June 30, 2007 were $904 thousand; an increase of 202% compared to $300 thousand in the three-month period ended June 30, 2006.

• Sales bookings for the three-month period ended June 30, 2007 were $902 thousand; an increase of 109% compared to $432 thousand in the three-month period ended June 30, 2006.

• The Company held an order backlog of approximately $1.92 million at June 30, 2007 compared to $1.24 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2006.

• The Company significantly reduced it’s operating losses to $57 thousand for the quarter versus $357 during the same period last year.

• The Company released its next generation core platform software, Vigil 3.0, into a second beta site trial in June following positive outcomes from the first beta site installation. The Vigil 3.0 software facilitates better user functionality, greater scalability and broader interoperability with complementary systems.

“I am very pleased with our first quarter results,” commented Troy Griffiths, President, “I believe this is testimony to the team’s execution of our business plan and validates our product development and path to market strategies.”

Financial Results

Revenue increased 202% over the same quarter of the previous year. The increase in revenue relates to a higher number of project installations completed in the quarter.

Bookings for the three-month period ended June 30, 2007 were $902 thousand; an increase of 109% compared to $432 thousand in the three-month period ended June 30, 2006.

At June 30, 2007 Vigil had a backlog of approximately $1.92 million (including $722 thousand in deposits and progress billings, recorded as deferred revenue on balance sheet) compared to $1.24 million at June 30, 2006.

The gross margin percentage for the three-months ended June 30, 2007 was 52% compared to 45% for the three-months ended June 30, 2006. Gross margins are above management’s expectations of annual margins of between 40% and 45%. Higher margins can be attributed to more favourable product mix for the projects commissioned in this quarter.

Losses for the three-month period ended June 30, 2007 were $86 thousand or $0.001 per share a decrease of 77% compared to $371 thousand, or $0.004 per share for the previous year. The decrease in losses can be attributed to the revenues particularly the increase in gross margins. Operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2007 were $524 thousand, up 7% from $493 thousand in the same quarter of the prior year.

Consumer research firm Packaged Facts has unveiled a groundbreaking series of reports that offer consumer goods marketers an unprecedented look at product trends, and buying and selling insights provided by eBay, the world’s largest global online marketplace with more than 241 million users worldwide.

Produced in conjunction with DataUnison, the authorized and exclusive reseller of eBay’s market data, the Online Market Insights powered by eBay Data reports provide annual overviews and quarterly profiles of eBay activity for consumer product categories and brands, with in-depth analysis and extensive tabular and graphic data on multinational sales generated through eBay.

Watches: Online Market Insights powered by eBay Data catalogs the $301 million in watch sales that took place on eBay.com in 2006. With more than 2 million watches sold, the report provides an exclusive window into the mindset of the online consumer while examining sales based on multiple variables and brands.

Similarly, the release of Laptops: Online Market Insights powered by eBay Data, shows sales of laptops through eBay’s main U.S. website reaching $476 million in 2006 based on 888,220 units sold. The report shows that 14.1 million U.S. adults bought laptops online for home use via eBay

“eBay’s impact on traditional retail has been nothing short of phenomenal and these reports provide an invaluable resource for both online and brick-and-mortar retailers,” said Don Montuori, Vice President of Publishing at Packaged Facts. “As we release our quarterly updates, manufacturers, marketers and analysts can easily track online market shifts and changes in consumer behavior that until now were difficult to navigate.”

Future reports will target MP3 players, DVDs, CDs, and video games as well as individual brands within product categories. The watch report is currently available from Packaged Facts by visiting:  http://www.packagedfacts.com/Watches-Online-Insights-1515758 and the laptop report by visiting http://www.packagedfacts.com/Laptops-Online-Insights-1515749.