VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (August 18, 2010) – Saltspring Air today becomes the first Canadian float plane company to install emergency exit pop-out windows in its aircraft.

Saltspring Air is the first airline to commit to the safety modification - and will be upgrading its entire fleet with the emergency pop out windows, which provide an alternate exit to the main cabin doors in case of an emergency.

“We pride ourselves on our safety record and are pleased to be able to lead the way on this enhancement,” says St. Clair McColl, president of Saltspring Air. “With float planes making 130,000 flights a year in B.C., safety has always been paramount for the operators and this new modification is one that I believe makes a lot of sense.”

Saltspring Air has received support from the industry and encouragement from Transport Canada.

“I commend Saltspring Air on taking a proactive approach and putting the safety of their passengers first” said The Hon. Gary Lunn, Minister of State for Sport and MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, who was on hand to celebrate the occasion. “I also applaud Viking Air for their innovation in the field.  This is another example of the kind of forward thinking that sets our area apart, and the great things that are being accomplished right here in Saanich-Gulf Islands in the field of air transport.”

About Saltspring Air

Saltspring Air was established in 1995 and has been flying under its own banner since 2003. The only floatplane company based on Salt Spring Island, Saltspring Air has created a thriving business with a fleet of four planes, seven pilots and twelve dispatchers and support crew. Saltspring Air operates from its head office in Grace Point Square, Ganges, Salt Spring Island, with arrival and departure facilities in Vancouver, YVR, Maple Bay and now Patricia Bay. Saltspring Air is carbon neutral. Follow Saltspring Air on Twitter http://twitter.com/saltspringair. Company info at www.saltspringair.com Or call 1.877.537.9880

Brennan Clarke

Victoria — Globe and Mail Aug. 19, 2010 

Saltspring Air to make history by installing emergency pop-out windows on seaplane

By Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun August 16, 2010 http://bit.ly/93OhxK

VANCOUVER - Saltspring Air said Monday it is poised to make Canadian history with the installation of emergency pop-out windows on a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver seaplane, thereby making it easier for passengers to escape in the event of a crash in water.

 CTV News: Float plane company introduces pop-out windows http://bit.ly/aKs8Bd

Global TV BC:Wed, Aug 18 - A BC company makes history with the installation of Canada’s first emergency pop-out windows on a seaplane. http://bit.ly/92Y0fE

Carmanah Solar Grid Tie Project - Western Canada’s Largest

Surrey housing complex now Western Canada’s largest solar power development Greenbrook complex had $21.8-million renovation

By Scott Simpson, Vancouver Sun

METRO VANCOUVER - A social housing complex in Surrey has become Western Canada’s largest solar energy development and model for sustainable housing

http://bit.ly/ccB2qp

BC Housing Complex Upgrades with Grid Tie Solar Power

http://bit.ly/cZQJ2j

Sustainable fix: CTV British Columbia: St. John Alexander reports

http://bit.ly/bndoob

Martin Mittelstaedt

Globe and Mail  http://bit.ly/b1WSbh

More fresh electricity capacity was added to the electricity grids of both the United States and Europe last year from wind turbines, solar panels and other renewable sources than from conventional power plants run on fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

It was the second year in a row that renewable energy beat its conventional competitors.

The findings are being released Thursday in reports jointly issued by the United Nations Environment Program and Paris-based Renewable Energy Policy Network, which said green energy has “reached a clear tipping point” in becoming the dominant type of new electricity supply.

China had the largest addition of renewable power capacity, and the Asian economic powerhouse surpassed the United States as the country with the largest investment in clean energy.

Carmanah Technologies Corp. through its marine partnership with Sabik Oy is providing Carmanah/Sabik solar LED marine lanterns for marking oil spill containment booms in the Gulf of Mexico. The lanterns are helping to keep marine traffic safe while containment and cleanup work continues in the area.

Through the efforts of Carmanah’s authorized marine distributor in Texas, several hundred white and yellow Carmanah/Sabik Model 502 and M650 solar LED marine lanterns (Photo http://bit.ly/c946NV) have already been deployed to mark areas such as open bays and waterways where the presence of containment booms poses a risk to navigational safety. Carmanah is working with its Houston-based manufacturing partner to fast-track production and delivery of several hundred additional lights in the coming days.  Carmanah has a history of responding in times of crisis, most notably in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when all production was diverted to supply self-contained, self-powered solar LED lighting solutions to keep road, air and marine traffic along the Gulf Coast moving safely while rebuilding efforts were underway.

“Our customer had tried and abandoned a battery-powered marking light due to performance issues and ongoing maintenance requirements. They asked us to provide a maintenance-free, cost-effective alternative that could be trusted to perform reliably in a range of operating conditions,” said Carmanah distributor Jeff Sandel, Vice President of Laporte, Texas-based Channel Safety and Marine Supply. “Our years of working with Carmanah, and Carmanah’s reputation as a trusted supplier of aids-to-navigation lighting to the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards, tell us that the Carmanah/Sabik solar-powered LED marine lanterns will deliver on all accounts.”

visit www.carmanah.com