Advanced Economic Research Systems (AERS), the only company to focus exclusively on eBay market research, today launched Terapeak 5.0  – their highly refined web solution that uncovers strategies and products that deliver maximum profits for anyone selling on eBay. 

The latest version of Terapeak 5.0 is a subscription-based market research toolset that provides sellers with a complete understanding of opportunities on the eBay platform. These tools include: item pricing information (average pricing, sell-through rates, and more); the best keywords and categories to use; how to determine when your customer will be shopping; and two years' worth of category trends to track individual item seasonality. New Terapeak tools include information on what shoppers are searching for on the eBay platform and what products and titles are experiencing the most sales activity. Even better, Terapeak 5.0 has wrapped the powerful functionality in an easy-to-use interface that is welcoming to new users and existing subscribers.

AERS’ consumer is anyone who sells on eBay, the world’s largest and fastest growing ecommerce platform. eBay saw more than 56 billion transactions in 2007.  Terapeak 5.0 is available for visitor demonstrations at: http://www.terapeak.com.
 

Fred Speckeen, AERS President and Chief Executive Officer says, “More people than ever are selling both new and used items on eBay.  Terapeak 5.0 helps you maximize your profits in a market that has more than five million new listings each day.  It is a fun, reliable and easy-to-use solution with innovative features that take the guesswork out of your eBay experience.”

Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Sukow, takes it further, explaining, “This advanced version is the result of intense design innovation to create the industry’s leading market research tool for use with eBay.  Terapeak 5.0 offers vastly superior web interface products with newly enhanced features and functionality designed to create a fresh, seamless and fun user experience, regardless of whether you’re an eBay PowerSeller or an eBay novice.”

Terapeak 5.0 will also be showcased at the eBay Live! 2008 Community Conference June 19 – 21 in Chicago, Illinios. 

VICTORIA, BC (April 15, 2008) –Advanced Economic Research Systems (AERS), the only company to focus exclusively on eBay market research, today launched Terapeak 5.0  – their highly refined web solution that uncovers strategies and products that deliver maximum profits for anyone selling on eBay. 

The latest version of Terapeak 5.0 is a subscription-based market research toolset that provides sellers with a complete understanding of opportunities on the eBay platform. These tools include: item pricing information (average pricing, sell-through rates, and more); the best keywords and categories to use; how to determine when your customer will be shopping; and two years' worth of category trends to track individual item seasonality. New Terapeak tools include information on what shoppers are searching for on the eBay platform and what products and titles are experiencing the most sales activity. Even better, Terapeak 5.0 has wrapped the powerful functionality in an easy-to-use interface that is welcoming to new users and existing subscribers.

AERS’ consumer is anyone who sells on eBay, the world’s largest and fastest growing ecommerce platform. eBay saw more than 56 billion transactions in 2007.  Terapeak 5.0 is available for visitor demonstrations at: http://www.terapeak.com.

Fred Speckeen, AERS President and Chief Executive Officer says, “More people than ever are selling both new and used items on eBay.  Terapeak 5.0 helps you maximize your profits in a market that has more than five million new listings each day.  It is a fun, reliable and easy-to-use solution with innovative features that take the guesswork out of your eBay experience.”

Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Sukow, takes it further, explaining, “This advanced version is the result of intense design innovation to create the industry’s leading market research tool for use with eBay.  Terapeak 5.0 offers vastly superior web interface products with newly enhanced features and functionality designed to create a fresh, seamless and fun user experience, regardless of whether you’re an eBay PowerSeller or an eBay novice.”

Terapeak 5.0 will also be showcased at the eBay Live! 2008 Community Conference June 19 – 21 in Chicago, Illinois. 

About Advanced Economic Research Systems

Advanced Economic Research Systems is a fast growing e-commerce data and analytics privately held company, which is headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.  The company has two strategic business units – Terapeak and Data Unison, which deliver data and analytics based on the world’s largest e-commerce platform, eBay.

Today, AERS is eBay’s only market data reseller and has established itself as the pre-eminent provider of the most up-to-date, thorough, and relevant online marketplace statistical reporting available. Currently, AERS websites receive over 1,000,000 page views per month.  For more information: www.terapeak.com

For further information,

Denise Hogue

Terapeak Product Manager

Phone: 250.483.3273

Mobile: 250.661-6117

Fax: 250.483.3271

Email: denise@terapeak.com

Victoria based e-commerce research and analytics leader Advanced Economic Research Systems Ltd. (AERS), today announced the closing of $1 million for its round of private equity funding.

“In a few short years, its increasing market share, consistent earnings, and strong management have culminated in securing AERS the trust of new investors. We are extremely pleased to have successfully completed this round of our funding strategy,” says Ian H. Stewart, Q.C. and AERS Board Chair.

Since 2005, AERS has raised close to $3 million in start-up financing from private investors to develop a suite of products designed to harvest the wealth of consumer activity information on the world’s largest e-commerce platform.

Commenting on the deal, Fred Speckeen, AERS President and CEO explains, “This fundraising wraps up at a great time for us following the recent successful debut of our Financial Analyst Dashboard ‘SectorView’ at the O’Reilly Money: Tech Conference on Wall Street and the launch of our highly refined Terapeak 5.0 web solution that uncovers strategies and products to
 maximize profits for anyone selling on eBay.  Further, we’ve just completed a record month, generating the highest revenues and subscriber monthly growth in the history of the company.  Through our real-time Terapeak and Dataunison branded products, AERS is fulfilling increasingly urgent business and consumer information needs of a worldwide market."

AERS plans allocate the money to raise further its levels of customer service and product innovation, making superior products and services to make data-driven and information-driven businesses more effective.

“Company co-founder brothers – Andrew and Anthony Sukow – realized early on the power of market research for eBay sellers. While operating their own auction business, they became aware of the need for e-commerce metrics within the entire multi-billion dollar eBay platform to assist with the decision making process. Combining Andrew’s expertise in database management and software development with Anthony’s extensive knowledge and experience in economic theory, they approached the online auction giant with their Terapeak prototype research tool, and the rest is history,” says Speckeen.

About Advanced Economic Research Systems Inc.

Advanced Economic Research Systems is a fast growing e-commerce data and analytics privately held company, which is headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.  The company has two strategic business units – Terapeak and Data Unison that deliver data and analytics based on the world’s largest e-commerce platform, eBay.

Today, AERS is eBay’s only market data reseller and has established itself as the pre-eminent provider of the most up-to-date, thorough, and relevant online marketplace statistical reporting available. Currently, AERS websites receive over 1,000,000 page views per month.  For more information: www.aers.ca

Protox Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: PRX), a leader
in the development of receptor targeted fusion proteins, today announced
positive results from its Phase 1 study evaluating PRX302 in patients with
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common and bothersome urological
condition among the aging male population. The results indicate that promising
signs of therapeutic activity continue to be seen at 6-months and 9-months
following a single treatment with PRX302.
    "Patients treated with PRX302 continue to show a good response to
treatment with stabilization of symptoms and maintenance of voiding pattern,"
commented Dr. Peter Pommerville, co-principal investigator at Can-Med Clinical
Research Centre in Victoria, B.C. "The fact that symptom improvement has been
maintained to 9 months indicates the lasting effect of PRX302 on prostate
tissue."
    Therapeutic activity of PRX302 was assessed using standardized symptom
indices, namely, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Quality of
Life Scores (QoL). IPSS assesses the severity of seven key symptoms of BPH,
(incomplete emptying, frequency, intermittency, urgency, weak stream,
straining and nocturia). The QoL score is measured on a scale from 0-6 with 0
defined as "delighted" and 6 defined as "terrible" with respect to patient
quality of life due to BPH.
    At 6-months post-treatment the mean IPSS values improved by an average of
6.4 points from 19.1 +/- 4.3 at screening to 12.7 +/- 5.2 at day-180 post
treatment (p= 0.0009), with 6 of 15 patients showing a 10 point or greater
improvement in IPSS values. In the 6 men for whom 9-month data are available
at this time, IPSS values improved by an average of 6.1 points. QoL scores
improved by 2.0 points from an average of 4.5 +/- 1.1 at screening to 2.5 +/-
1.4 by day-180 (p= 0.0002). In the 6 men for whom 9-month data is available,
QoL scores improved by an average of 2.3 points by day-270. The mean prostate
volume decreased by over 22%, from 46.4 cc at screening to 35.8 cc at day-180
post-treatment and by 20% from 49.6 cc at screening to 39.7 cc at day-270
post-treatment.
    As reported on January 3, 2008, despite a 14-fold escalation in dose, no
safety issues were identified and the maximum tolerated dose was not reached
in this study.
    "We are very pleased to see that the majority of men treated in this
study continue to show very impressive results even 9-months post-treatment,"
said Dr. Fahar Merchant, President and Chief Executive Officer of Protox. "The
sustained symptomatic improvement is compelling especially when a reduction in
IPSS by greater than four points is deemed to be highly clinically
significant. These results further substantiate our belief that PRX302
represents a significant opportunity for the treatment of a condition that
affects the quality of life of approximately 50 percent of men over the age of
60."
    Based on the encouraging data from this study, Protox has initiated a
Phase 2 clinical trial in men with moderate to severe BPH. The intent of this
Phase 2 study will be to optimize dosing in order to fully exploit the
therapeutic potential of PRX302, while maintaining its excellent safety
profile.

    About the Study

    This study was an open-label, multi-centre, dose escalation study where
the primary endpoint was safety and tolerability following a single
intra-prostatic administration of PRX302. The secondary endpoint was to
determine therapeutic activity as measured by the change in IPSS throughout
the study, when compared to screening. In addition, changes in QoL scores and
prostate volume were also monitored. A total of 15 patients with moderate to
severe BPH were treated in this trial. The dose was increased 14-fold between
cohort 1 and cohort 4, keeping the dosing volume constant, whereas one
additional cohort received cohort 1 dose at a 4-fold higher volume. Patient
parameters at screening were as follows: age – 64.8 years (range: 52-82);
prostate size – 41.3 mL (range: 30.0-80.1); IPSS – 19.1 (range: 12-26); QoL -
4.3 (range: 3- 6). Most patients treated in this study were either refractory
or intolerant to oral therapy.

    About BPH

    BPH is a common urological condition characterized by painful and
bothersome symptoms that include difficulty in initiating a urine stream, a
sense of urgency, leaking, dribbling and presence of blood in the urine. The
condition affects over 50 million men throughout North America, Europe and
Japan. More than half of all men will have symptoms of BPH by age 60 and as
many as 90% may suffer from BPH after the age of 70. Current drug therapies
only provide symptomatic relief and may trigger a range of side effects
including impotence and hypotension. Surgical options such as TURP
(transurethral resection of the prostate), which constitute the second-largest
item in the US Medicare budget, can cause impotence, incontinence as well as
other more serious procedure-related effects. According to Wood Mackenzie
(2007), the market opportunity for therapies used to treat BPH was US
$5.5 billion in drug therapies and US $4 billion in surgical procedures.

    About Protox

    Protox Therapeutics is a leader in advancing novel, receptor targeted
fusion proteins. Two novel drug candidates derived from the company's INxinTM
and PORxinTM platforms are being developed in three clinical programs. A Phase
2a clinical trial evaluating PRX321 (INxin) for the treatment of primary brain
cancer has been completed and the drug has received Fast Track Designation and
Orphan Drug Status from the US FDA. Phase 2a clinical trials evaluating PRX302
(PORxin) for the treatment of localized prostate cancer and benign prostatic
hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) have also been initiated. Protox is also
collaborating with the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) on a research
program focused on the discovery of next generation fully human targeted
therapeutics.

    Certain statements included in this press release may be considered
forward-looking. Such statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or
achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements,
and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future
performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on Protox'
current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently
available to Protox and relate to, among other things, anticipated financial
performance, business prospects, strategies, regulatory developments, market
acceptance and future commitments. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date
of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and
uncertainties identified by Protox in its public securities filings; actual
events may differ materially from current expectations. Protox disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Date
Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Time
10:00 am PT – 5:00 pm PT

Location
Insititute of Ocean Science Auditorium
9860 West Saanich Road
North Saanich, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Canada

Preliminary Program Abstract

The Cooperative Ocean Innovation Network, COIN Pacific has established a record of bringing private, public and non-government communities of interest together to map out the operating context for the growth and development of the Ocean Technology Sector in British Columbia. The 2008 Forum comes at a time when there appears to be a lack of movement on the vast expanse of the Ocean  economy, while just below the surface, huge surges in energy are moving the goal posts for how we define sustainable growth of the industries that Ocean Tech supports.

We now know the scope of the extent of the Pacific Ocean Economy in terms of contributions to the Canadian and British Columbia economies, and some of the prospective potential for sectors that are emerging in the near term. Armed with this intelligence, COIN Pacific has assembled an unrivaled cadre of leaders to help paint the heads up display of the current environmental scan of this dynamic sector, account for new initiatives, and declare what can only be called a rallying point for an integrated approach to the Ocean communities of interest on the Pacific.

Join us for this fast paced working Forum where the financial proceeds will seed a new Ocean and Marine Scholarship forming part of a Legacy being leveraged and managed by British Columbia Innovation Council via the British Columbia Innovation Foundation. COIN Pacific acknowledges and appreciates the support of the British Columbia Innovation Council, Ocean Renewable Energy Group Canada and Ocean Industries BC and the Institute of Ocean Science, Fisheries and Oceans CANADA.

PROGRAM SESSIONS

9:00 – 10:15        Registration

10:15                  Welcome and Program Overview

10:45                  Ocean Tech’s Contribution to the $12B GDP Ocean Economy

11:15                  Growing the Ocean Economy by Focused Application of Ocean Technology

12:00                  Lunch Break

12:30                  Growing the Coastal Communities and their Economies

13:15                  Mobilizing the Necessary Enablers

14:00                  COIN Pacific Forum Focus Groups

15:00                  Nutrition Break

15:30                  Ocean and Marine Summit (June 2008 Oceans Week)

16:15                  Ocean Initiatives Onboard

16:45                  Declaration & Communications Plan

17:00                  COIN Pacific 2008 Forum Adjourns

For further program details or to register by phone, please contact Irene Phan, British Columbia Innovation Council at iphan@bcic.ca or (604) 602-5238 by 12:00 pm Thursday, April 24th, 2008.

The University of Victoria honoured its "all-star" researchers at a celebration last evening at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.

The five recipients of the annual Craigdarroch Research Awards are proof that UVic's researchers are world-class, said Howard Brunt, vice-president of research.

"All the individuals we are honouring today are accomplished leaders in their fields who are engaging in the wider community to apply new knowledge for the benefit of society," said Brunt in a press release issued prior to the ceremony.

Professor John McLaren, now retired, is considered the world's foremost legal historian. He received the Craigdarroch Gold Medal for his career achievement which in part examined the collision of religious belief and the common law.

Research and teaching do go together, said McLaren yesterday afternoon. "You have the opportunity to research things that interest you and will be helpful to get an understanding of what you teach," McLaren said.

Afzal Suleman was awarded the Craigdarroch Silver Medal for excellence in research after he set up a research program with applications in transportation, energy systems and bioengineering. Suleman was unavailable for an interview yesterday.

An award for societal contributions was bestowed on scientists representing the UVic faculty and the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis. The group contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change, which won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

"We have a tremendous collection of climate science going on here at the University of Victoria," said Tom Pederson, dean of science, on behalf of physical and social climate scientists honoured last evening.

Mechanical engineer Peter Wild was recipient for an award of innovation and developmental corporation entrepreneurship. His work ushers new technology from the laboratory to the marketplace.

One project involves developing a wave-energy convertor for a local company, Syncwave Energy. Another has to do with planning and developing a fibre-optic sensor for biomedical applications.

"Wherever there's a customer in the sense there's an ultimate application for the usefulness of the research, I'm very drawn to that," said Wild.

Cecilia Benoit was honoured for research communication, all done outside the lab and often in places like the streets of Vancouver's east side or downtown Victoria.

"A lot of the research I've done over the years has to do with community organizations," said Benoit. "I'm particularly interested in research of vulnerable populations, particularly those with a large number of women."

The annual Craigdarroch awards honour research excellence at UVic. They are named for Craigdarroch Castle, home to the university's predecessor institution, Victoria College.

Vancouver, British Columbia, March 14, 2008 – LifeSciences British Columbia today announced the recipients of the 2008 LifeSciences British Columbia Awards (previously known as the British Columbia Biotechnology Awards). They are:

• Dr. Don Riddle for Genome BC Award for Scientific Excellence Award
• Pyng Medical Corporation for Medical Device Company of the Year Award
• Bob Rieder for Executive of the Year Award
• Dr. Bernie Bressler and Roger Foxall for Lifetime Achievement Award
• Dr. Martin Taylor for Leadership Award
• Lignol Energy Corporation for Emerging Life Sciences Company of the Year Award

These awards are presented annually by LifeSciences British Columbia to recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the development of British Columbia’s life sciences industry, and to increase public awareness and understanding of life sciences in the province.

“The strength of the life sciences community in BC is exemplified by this slate of impressive award recipients, who represent the remarkable breadth of talent found across the many sectors in our province,” commented Karimah Es Sabar, President of LifeSciences British Columbia.  “We’re delighted to be making our 10th annual awards this year, and that the achievements being made here are so strong and reflective of our diversity in the life sciences.  We extend our warmest congratulations to this year’s winners.”

The awards will be presented at a gala ceremony April 10th in front of an audience of approximately 600 biotechnology, medical devices and greater life sciences and public policy leaders at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver (please visit www.lifesciencesbc.ca for full details).

The LifeSciences British Columbia Awards are presented by Ernst & Young; Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy, LLP; Genome British Columbia; Raymond James; and Rx&D (Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies). Media sponsor: Business in Vancouver Magazines.

About the Recipients:

Genome BC Award for Scientific Excellence
Dr. Don Riddle
Dr. Riddle, Professor in the Michael Smith Laboratories at UBC, is a pre-eminent life sciences scholar focused on C.elegans, a microscopic free-living worm (nematode) that possesses only 959 somatic cells, but shares many of the essential biological characteristics central to human biology.
Among his many accomplishments, he is internationally credited with being one of the founding scientists that established the preliminary framework of genetics tools that led to sequencing of the nematode. This early work in genetics and genomics sciences was the precursor and established the paradigm upon which the human genome was modeled.
In 2004 he was recruited to become Genome BC’s first Chief Scientific Officer where he developed a scientific strategy for the organization focusing on genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics within the larger scope of biotechnology and life sciences in the province.  In addition he fostered the development of a Canadian Proteomics Network and expanded collaborations to include scientists at the University of Northern British Columbia and the University of Victoria.  Today the UBC-based Riddle Laboratory is linked to dozens of others around the world including in Scotland, the Netherlands and the United States.

Medical Device Company of the Year Award
Pyng Medical Corporation
David Christie, President & CEO

Pyng Medical Corporation is the developer and manufacturer of the proprietary, award-winning FAST1™ Intraosseous Infusion System.  Pyng was selected in the "2007 TSX Venture 50" Top 10 companies in Life Sciences based on solid financial metrics for the year ending December 31, 2006.  With expanding markets in North America, Europe and Asia, the FAST1™ has worldwide application for use with hospitals, emergency medical services and military forces. Pyng has shipped over 120,000 FDA-cleared and CE-marked FAST1 systems to date.
As part of its on-going commitment to technology innovation, the Company is developing next generation intraosseous products and aggressively exploring acquisition and in-licensing opportunities to broaden its product portfolio with complimentary technologies.  Pyng recently received US FDA market clearance and commercially launched a new and improved FAST1 system with a re-engineered infusion tube that no longer requires the use of a removal tool.  Pyng also continues to expand its patent portfolio and has applied for trademark protection on Chest is Best™, reinforcing the benefits of rapid infusion through their unique FAST1 sternal line.

Executive of the Year Award
Bob Rieder, Chairman and CEO, Cardiome Pharma Corporation

Mr. Rieder has led Cardiome Pharma Corp. since 1998 and has driven the development of multiple drug programs, including vernakalant, Cardiome’s lead product candidate for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

 Cardiome Pharma Corp. is a product-focused cardiovascular drug development company with two late-stage clinical drug programs focused on atrial arrhythmia (intravenous and oral dosing), a Phase 1 program for GED-aPC, an engineered analog of recombinant human activated Protein C, and a pre-clinical program directed at improving cardiovascular function.

Bob Rieder is Cardiome’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  He joined Cardiome in April 1998 as President and Chief Executive Officer.  Prior to joining Cardiome he was Vice-President at MDS Ventures Pacific Inc., the Vancouver-based affiliate of MDS Capital Corp, and has served as a director for nine public and private technology companies. Mr. Rieder has also acted as Chief Operating Officer for DBA Telecom Inc., and CEO for Synapse Technologies Inc.  

Lifetime Achievement Award (two recipients)
Dr. Bernie Bressler & Dr. Roger Foxall

Dr. Bressler has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to life sciences research and has a passionate belief in the value of commercializing intellectual property from universities and research hospitals.  During his tenure as Vice President of Research at the University of British Columbia (1996-1999), he was actively involved in the growth of the University Industry Liaison Office, which has become a world leader in development and management of technology transfer and biotechnology spin-offs.  It is because of his foresight and leadership in this area that UBC scientists are amongst the nation’s leaders in translational medical research.  Since 1996, he has served as a Board member of Discovery Parks , and in 2007 was appointed Chair of the Board of Discovery Parks and Discovery Parks Foundation.

Dr. Foxall was instrumental in mobilizing the nascent genomics community leading to the establishment of Genome British Columbia, one of six centres across the country funded partly by Genome Canada through Industry Canada. In serving as its founding President and CEO through 2002 and subsequently as its Executive Vice President Research and Executive Vice President Corporate Development until 2005, he demonstrated leadership in initiating global and Canadian partnerships between universities, research centres, governments and the private sector. Dr. Foxall then established Life Science Strategies Inc. and has worked with numerous organizations across Canada specializing in strategic analysis and consultation in genome sciences, marine biosciences and other areas of life sciences.

Leadership Award
Dr. Martin Taylor

Dr. Taylor began his career as an Assistant Professor in Geography at McMaster University in 1974 after completion of his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia. His key career legacy is the demonstrated value of interdisciplinary inquiry which led to the creation of several institutes and departments demonstrating that philosophy. In 1994 and 1995, Dr. Taylor served as McMaster’s acting Vice-President Research and in that role established the Institute for Water, Environment, and Health.  It is the first and still sole branch of the United Nations University in Canada.
Dr. Taylor’s research leadership role was expanded when he was recruited to the University of Victoria in 1998 as its first Vice-President Research. During his tenure, until 2007, research programs experienced unprecedented growth from $20 million to $100 milllion. This expansion also saw the creation of major national research platforms including NEPTUNE Canada, the world’s first regional cabled deep ocean observatory and VENUS, its sister coastal observatory. Together they represent a $100 million investment. Dr. Taylor was also instrumental in the establishment of a national proteomics platform in partnership with Genome British Columbia and Genome Canada, which serves international clientele from the private sector, government and academia.

Emerging Life Sciences Company of the Year Award
Lignol Energy Corporation
Ross MacLachlan, President & CEO

Over the past three years Lignol Energy Corporation, of Burnaby, BC, has emerged from being a predominantly R&D organization into one that is approaching commercialization of its unique biorefinery technology. Lignol’s technology is now at the forefront of the highly visible and rapidly developing biofuels-from-cellulosic-biomass industry, which has the strong support and encouragement of governments and major corporations around the world.
The basis of Lignol’s process is an ethanol-based modified organosolv technology that separates and recovers the various components of wood (or agricultural fibers) into a series of useful and renewable fuels and chemical products. This technology is therefore important for both climate change reasons and also for renewable energy to supplement or replace fuels and chemicals presently produced from crude oil and natural gas.
Lignol has established a new Biorefining Technology Development Centre at the BCIT campus in Burnaby. At an approximate cost to Lignol of $15 million, the new technology centre will be one of the most advanced facilities for biorefining R&D in the world.

Victoria, BC – The Pacific Sport Institute Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of the Institute’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Michael Wright.

Wright is an accomplished leader in sport management and marketing across North America and comes to the PSI from Blue Equity in New York City where he was Senior Vice President.  Blue Equity is a private equity firm that invests in business enterprises and opportunities in media, financial services, real estate and sports and entertainment. 

“We are extremely pleased to have Michael leading the Pacific Sport Institute,” said PSI Board Chair Jim Reed.  “We were searching for someone who could lead our operations and create strategic revenue opportunities while at the same time cultivate essential, mutually-beneficial relationships with our primary partners, sport associations, schools, community agencies and provincial, national and international organizations.”

Previously, Wright worked for 20 years with IMG USA and IMG Canada, a worldwide sports and lifestyle management and marketing firm with an international staff of 2,000 and over 60 offices in 25 countries.  IMG represents hundreds of sports figures, artists, celebrities and prestigious organizations around the world.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to join such a dynamic organization,” said Wright.  “There is something fulfilling to me personally about helping young people develop not only their physical skills, but, by extension, their life skills.  I like the fact that the Institute is made up of an extremely diverse and talented group and I will work to bring all our stakeholders together and help tell our story locally, nationally and internationally.  Perhaps most importantly, we are poised to play a leadership role within the Canadian sport community in the area of research as it relates to athletic performance; allowing us to contribute to overall wellness and fitness while stoking the competitive spirit across our nation.”

The Toronto native most recently served as Senior Vice President for IMG USA in New York for 10 years, initially heading up the Corporate Consulting Division and Olympic Sales and Marketing, where he was involved in strategic consulting, program management and brand development.  Between 2001 and 2005, Wright was responsible for IMG’s Olympic New Business Development activities and worked on behalf of the US Olympic Committee and their Olympic teams for the Salt Lake, Athens, Torino and Beijing Games.

Wright got his start in sports marketing and event management with IMG Canada in 1986.  He is interested in other cultures and once took a year long sabbatical to travel and volunteer across Europe and North America.  He is active in many sports including cycling, basketball, tennis, squash, football and hockey and is currently training for the 2008 New York City Marathon.

Wright assumed his new role in late March and the media will be invited to meet him at a special event at 5:30 p.m. on May 14 at the site of the Institute on Camosun College’s Interurban campus, more details to follow.

The Pacific Sport Institute is a visionary partnership of Camosun College, the Canadian Sport Centre Pacific and PacificSport.  The Institute is a Canadian first and brings together excellence in sport and exercise education, world-class athlete performance services, community health and wellness and sport technology research and under one roof.

Phase I of the 117,570 square foot facility opens in September 2008.  It includes classrooms, fitness and strength training facilities, a double gymnasium, a lit all-weather multi-sport playing field, sport medicine and rehabilitation services, high performance sport services, sport technology research facilities, multi-purpose rooms, library and food services.

A proposal has been made to the Federal Government under the Building Canada Infrastructure Program to fund Phase II of the building which will include a third gymnasium (to allow for national and international competitions), additional classrooms, an outdoor training track and additional equipment and fittings.

The work of several University of Victoria engineering students could represent the
future of personal transportation — but you won't be seeing anything like the H2Drive on
Canadian roads any time soon.
The three-wheeled, fuel-cell-powered, single-person vehicle is an entry in the second
annual Shell Eco-marathon, which is a challenge to create a fuel-efficient vehicle with
minimal emissions. The UVic team expects the H2Drive to be go more than 10 times
farther on gallon of gas than today's most efficient vehicles.
The UVic entry will compete with 37 other teams for the $10,000 top prize. It will cost
about $20,000 to build the car and participate, using money raised through corporate and
institutional donations from backers like Shell Canada and the Natural Science and
Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Work on the 50-kilogram vehicle, which began last spring, is a chance for students to
learn more about engineering while exploring the concept of sustainability — a valuable
lesson these days. We need to know more about leading-edge ideas in automobiles,
especially ideas that challenge the basic beliefs that we have held since the days of the
Model T.
The internal combustion engine might soon face competition from fuel cells, which
convert hydrogen from an onboard tank and oxygen from outside into electricity. The
vehicle's exhaust is, in basic terms, a small amount of water.
Some of the discoveries being made in competitions such as this might someday appear
in passenger vehicles, although laws and consumer tastes would have to change before a
kayak-shaped vehicle like the H2Drive could be used on public roads.
That might be a tough sell. Just ask the people at Dynasty Electric Car Corp., which has
built more than 1,000 short-range urban vehicles in B.C. since 2001.
Dynasty tried to crack the California market, but when anti-pollution laws there were
eased, sales died. Dynasty regrouped and tried again, and ended up losing $4,000 on
every vehicle sold.
Dynasty has just been sold to a Pakistani company, and the factory will be moved there.
Dynasty's general manager says the major reason to abandon the project was the federal
government's regulation barring the electric cars from major highways.
If our government is serious about fighting climate change, it will need to rethink its
rules. The old road won't take us where we need to go.