Latest news with #Aja
USA Today
a day ago
- Politics
- USA Today
'I am exactly who God made': Why travel is a battleground for drag and trans performers
'I am exactly who God made': Why travel is a battleground for drag and trans performers Show Caption Hide Caption Hunter Schafer says passport now lists sex assigned at birth Hunter Schafer, a prominent trans actress and model, warned TikTok followers against complacency, saying her passport sex had been changed to "male." Transgender drag performers Aja, Bosco and Kerri Colby face difficulties and anxieties when traveling internationally due to gender marker discrepancies on passports. They view these difficulties as systemic erasure and part of a larger political attack on the trans community. Despite the hardships, these performers find power and purpose in their visibility and advocacy for the trans community. When Aja, a transgender drag icon and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 contestant, books an international gig, the logistics go far beyond packing wigs and rhinestones. There's also the mental checklist: Is her passport up to date? Where is she least likely to encounter an issue if she has a layover? Could she get detained at the airport? Will her female gender marker cause extra headaches at the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint? 'I've had to cancel international gigs because I can't travel without risking being detained or harassed,' Aja told USA TODAY. 'This isn't just about me – it affects trans people across the country, especially those without a platform.' That fear isn't unfounded. In recent months, trans and nonbinary travelers have faced delays and outright denials from the U.S. State Department when trying to update gender markers on their passports, even when their other legal documents are in order. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, these delays disproportionately affect trans people trying to work, travel or simply exist safely across borders. Even though Aja's current passport and identification documents match her gender identity, she was still denied a passport renewal with a female marker, she said. 'Basically, (the State Department) was calling my documents fraudulent and, you know, after I've gone through the trouble of updating all of them to what visibly makes sense, what do you think that says about our government making this arbitrary decision that puts my life at risk?' 'When your basic right to move freely is denied, it's a message: 'You don't belong here.' It's bigger than bureaucracy. It's systemic erasure,' she added. A scarlet letter in your passport Bosco, another fan favorite contestant in All Stars 10, put it bluntly. 'I've navigated international tours with a male marker on my passport before,' she said. 'It's not ideal and it really, really will gum up the process … I could get detained if we have certain stop-offs and layovers.' For trans performers like Aja, Bosco and Kerri Colby, the freedom to move – the lifeblood of any performing artist – is increasingly under attack. Travel, once a means to connect with international fans and grow their careers, now has an additional level of scrutiny from their own country. 'It just complicates everything,' Bosco added. 'And then it just feels like a scarlet letter… It's simply just to discourage people from transitioning and to create more legal barriers.' Kerri Colby describes it as psychological warfare. 'It's more about that feeling of dread just walking into an airport… having that fear flood you of, like, 'am I going to be able to get back in? Am I even going to make it home?'' Even those who haven't faced passport issues understand the emotional toll. 'Collectively, we all have to tap into our intuition,' Kerri said. 'We have to be very careful, but I also don't think it's right that (when) entering spaces when we're traveling and working, our first thought is fight or flight or fear. And then the second thought is, like, 'OK. Made it through TSA. This time I'm OK. I got that F on my passport.' There shouldn't be so much fear.' A State Department spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY that it would issue passports "in the applicant's biological sex at birth" but did not respond to questions about what happens to individuals who legally change their birth certificates to match their identities. "The White House Executive Order 'Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government' states that it is the policy of the United States to acknowledge only two sexes: male and female," the spokesperson continued in an emailed statement. "It directs that U.S. government identity documents, including passports and visas, must reflect the individual's sex as defined in the Executive Order." Drag as political resistance These challenges come amid a broader climate of anti-trans legislation and rhetoric that has made drag itself a political scapegoat. 'The rhetoric has just been so poisonous against trans people for the past year,' Bosco said. For many trans performers, drag is not just art, it's a lifeline for themselves and others. 'My drag has become a protest,' Aja said. 'I used to try to blend in more, but now I wear things that scream, 'I'm trans, I'm powerful and I'm here.'' All three performers spoke about how being visible in drag and in media has become a form of resistance. 'You don't have to approve of who I am or what I do,' Kerri said when asked what she would like to say to lawmakers and institutions. 'But at the end of the day, I am an American citizen. I am a human being and you can't take that away from me. You can't legislate that away from me.' Community as survival What makes the drag community powerful and resilient is not just its cultural impact, but the way it sustains itself, especially in times of crisis. 'Without our community, I don't think I would be making it right now,' Kerri said. 'I go to Thanksgiving. I'm not gonna see anyone with my last name, but I'm gonna be in a room with nothing but complete family.' Bosco said there's not enough political action focused on defending trans lives, even as society often depends on the queer community for the creation of many aspects of its broader culture. Still, the struggle is undeniable. 'We're not fighting for anything else but our ability to basically breathe,' Kerri said. 'And I think that's crazy.' The power of being seen Despite the barriers, each of these performers holds onto the joy of visibility. It's not about fame, it's about impact. 'When people say they saw me and it helped them live more authentically? That's power,' Aja said. Bosco agreed. 'It feels very full circle to be able to provide that for someone else now. It's healing.' Whether on tour in Europe, walking through TSA, or taking the spotlight in a packed ballroom, these queens carry more than costumes – they carry entire communities, histories and futures on their shoulders. 'I am exactly who God made me to be and no one can do anything about that,' Kerri said. You can watch Aja, Bosco and Kerri on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 on Paramount+ with new episodes every Friday. Contributing: Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY
Hamilton Spectator
28-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Aja Health and Wellness Inc. Announces Launch of Nasal Product for Migraine Headache Relief and Provides Update on Delay in Filing Financial Statements
Not for dissemination in the United States of America VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aja Health and Wellness Inc. ('Aja' or the 'Company') (TSXV:Aja) announces that its wholly owned subsidiary Aja Therapeutics Inc. ('ATI') is launching a nasal spray product for migraine headache relief. ATI's research and development lab in Atlanta, Georgia has concluded initial testing of the nasal spray and anticipates the product will be released for retail sale in the United States on May 28, 2025. The nasal spray will be available for purchase by United States residents at . 'There are a reported 32 million migraine sufferers in the United States who are looking for an alternative to harsh chemicals for migraine prevention and treatment. ATI's proprietary flavonoid extract and nasal spray application quickly targets pain centers offering fast relief without side effects or risk of long-term damage,' commented Jim Viccars, co-founder and Vice President of ATI. 'With Canada and the United Kingdom reporting 16 million people with migraine issues, this product has global market opportunity,' added Mr. Viccars. Update on Delay in Filing Annual Financial Statements Aja also announces that it is getting closer to filing its annual audited financial statements for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, including the related management's discussion and analysis and certifications from the CEO and CFO (the 'Required Annual Filings'). On May 6, 2025, the Alberta Securities Commission issued a management cease trade order (the 'MCTO') because the Company was unable to file the Required Annual Filings in time to meet the April 30, 2025 filing deadline. Aja previously announced that the delay in filing the Required Annual Filings was due to the auditors of the Company seeking guidance from the auditor's technical committee with respect to the characterization of the previously announced reverse takeover transaction, which closed on September 17, 2024 (the 'RTO'). After consulting with the auditor's technical committee, the auditors determined that the RTO will be characterized as a series of acquisitions for accounting purposes. In connection with the RTO, the auditors require a valuation of the purchase price allocation to complete the audited financial statements for the financial year ending December 31, 2024. The Company is in the process of retaining a valuator to complete the valuation. The Company expects to have a valuator engaged on or before June 2, 2025 and anticipates the valuation will be completed on or before July 4, 2025. The Company expects to file the Required Annual Filings on or before July 31, 2025. While the MCTO restricts all trading in securities of the Company by executive officers of the Company until the MCTO is no longer in effect, regular trading by current and future investors outside the Company continues as normal. The MCTO will be in effect until two full business days after the Required Annual Filings are filed. Until the Required Annual Filings are filed, the Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the Alternative Information Guidelines set out in National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders . Update on Filing of Interim Financial Statements As a result of the delay in filing the Required Annual Filings, Aja also announces that it anticipates being unable to file its unaudited interim financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025, the management's discussion and analysis for the same period and management certifications of the interim filings (the 'Interim Filings') by the filing deadline of May 30, 2025. Aja is working to complete the Interim Filings as soon as possible and expects the Interim Filings to be filed concurrently with the filing of the Required Annual Filings. On behalf of the Board of Directors 'Sanjeev Parsad' Sanjeev Parsad President, CEO and Director The above may contain 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable securities laws. When used in this address, the words 'estimate', 'project', 'belief', 'anticipate', 'intend', 'expect', 'plan', 'predict', 'may' or 'should' and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date of publication of this information and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, contact: Sanjeev Parsad, President and CEO Phone: (604) 678.9115 Fax: (604) 678.9279 E-mail: sparsad@ Web:
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aja Health and Wellness Inc. Announces Launch of Nasal Product for Migraine Headache Relief and Provides Update on Delay in Filing Financial Statements
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aja Health and Wellness Inc. ("Aja" or the "Company") (TSXV:Aja) announces that its wholly owned subsidiary Aja Therapeutics Inc. ("ATI") is launching a nasal spray product for migraine headache relief. ATI's research and development lab in Atlanta, Georgia has concluded initial testing of the nasal spray and anticipates the product will be released for retail sale in the United States on May 28, 2025. The nasal spray will be available for purchase by United States residents at "There are a reported 32 million migraine sufferers in the United States who are looking for an alternative to harsh chemicals for migraine prevention and treatment. ATI's proprietary flavonoid extract and nasal spray application quickly targets pain centers offering fast relief without side effects or risk of long-term damage," commented Jim Viccars, co-founder and Vice President of ATI. "With Canada and the United Kingdom reporting 16 million people with migraine issues, this product has global market opportunity," added Mr. Viccars. Update on Delay in Filing Annual Financial Statements Aja also announces that it is getting closer to filing its annual audited financial statements for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, including the related management's discussion and analysis and certifications from the CEO and CFO (the "Required Annual Filings"). On May 6, 2025, the Alberta Securities Commission issued a management cease trade order (the "MCTO") because the Company was unable to file the Required Annual Filings in time to meet the April 30, 2025 filing deadline. Aja previously announced that the delay in filing the Required Annual Filings was due to the auditors of the Company seeking guidance from the auditor's technical committee with respect to the characterization of the previously announced reverse takeover transaction, which closed on September 17, 2024 (the "RTO"). After consulting with the auditor's technical committee, the auditors determined that the RTO will be characterized as a series of acquisitions for accounting purposes. In connection with the RTO, the auditors require a valuation of the purchase price allocation to complete the audited financial statements for the financial year ending December 31, 2024. The Company is in the process of retaining a valuator to complete the valuation. The Company expects to have a valuator engaged on or before June 2, 2025 and anticipates the valuation will be completed on or before July 4, 2025. The Company expects to file the Required Annual Filings on or before July 31, 2025. While the MCTO restricts all trading in securities of the Company by executive officers of the Company until the MCTO is no longer in effect, regular trading by current and future investors outside the Company continues as normal. The MCTO will be in effect until two full business days after the Required Annual Filings are filed. Until the Required Annual Filings are filed, the Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the Alternative Information Guidelines set out in National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders. Update on Filing of Interim Financial Statements As a result of the delay in filing the Required Annual Filings, Aja also announces that it anticipates being unable to file its unaudited interim financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025, the management's discussion and analysis for the same period and management certifications of the interim filings (the "Interim Filings") by the filing deadline of May 30, 2025. Aja is working to complete the Interim Filings as soon as possible and expects the Interim Filings to be filed concurrently with the filing of the Required Annual Filings. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Sanjeev Parsad" Sanjeev ParsadPresident, CEO and Director The above may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. When used in this address, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date of publication of this information and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary further information, contact: Sanjeev Parsad, President and CEOPhone: (604) 678.9115Fax: (604) 678.9279E-mail: sparsad@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Parasitic fly halts livestock imports from Mexico; officials point fingers over outbreak
When Basilio Aja was 7 years old, he went out to ride on the Mogollon Rim with his family's foreman to check the sheep camps. Near Willow Creek Canyon, a stench stopped them. "Es el gusano," the foreman told him — it's the worm. They found a stumbling deer, blinded because its eyeballs were eaten out, stinking and lost in the forest. The foreman put him down. It was Aja's first lasting memory of the New World screwworm, he said. The maggot of the New World screwworm, a fly that lays eggs on open wounds, burrows and feeds on the flesh of living animals, and creates gaping wounds that facilitate secondary infections, which, if untreated, can lead to death in a matter of weeks. Through the 1960s, Aja's family treated thousands of infection cases on their sheep and cattle herds. The parasite was finally eradicated from the U.S. and Mexico about 60 years ago, and contained at Panama's Darien Gap thanks to international joint efforts. In June 2023, it was detected again in the Central American country and made its way back some 2,000 miles north to the Mexican border with Guatemala, where the first infection in cattle was reported in November of last year. Cases in Mexico represent the first outbreak in nearly three decades. There is no certainty that the parasitic fly will make it to the U.S., but the risk is high, and eradication efforts are urgent. Across Central America and in southern Mexico, infection cases by the parasitic fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax, are rising. The latest infection case in the Mexican state of Oaxaca prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Customs and Border Protection to suspend all live cattle, bison, and horse imports coming from Mexico for at least two weeks. The Arizona livestock industry is bracing for losses: When feeder cattle numbers go down, prices will go up. "The feeder (cattle) market price is record high," said Aja, now 69 and an influential lobbyist and the executive director of the Arizona Cattle Feeders' Association, about the immediate impact of the second livestock import suspension, which came from Washington, D.C. The biggest impact, however, will be on Mexican ranchers, whose major market for feeder cattle is the U.S., said Barbara Jackson, owner of Animal Health Express and a longtime cattle feeder. Thousands of head of cattle are imported across the Arizona-Sonora border every week, about 300,000 every year. Over half are brokered and sold to Eastern feedlots, but the rest stay in the state. In good rain years, ranchers keep that cattle to take advantage of excess forage, said Aja, but due to drought, most are now sent directly to the feed yards. This year so far, 45% of all feeder cattle coming into the U.S. came through Arizona. Many producers are frustrated about the halt of imports, but the key thing is that all efforts go to eradicate the parasite again, he added; "It doesn't matter if we have the border open or closed. If we're not using every tool in our box to eradicate them, then we're not doing our job." Modern cases are not exclusive to Central America. In late 2016, there were two confirmed outbreaks of New World screwworm in Florida, which were contained. Jackson says it's a broad health issue. "Unless you are over 60, a lot of people don't even realize what it is. It affects all mammals, wildlife, dogs, cats, and people," she said. "We've got to be aggressive about not letting it get up here." On the range: Drought conditions, prices push Arizona cattle growers to sell portions of their herd Mexico has strengthened checkpoints to inspect livestock, treated and quarantined cattle and is conducting a multi-state sweep from the Gulf of Mexico, renamed by the U.S. government as Gulf of America, to the Pacific, visiting every ranch for inspection, said Mexican Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Julio Berdegué, at a news conference on May 14. The main tool for eradication is the aerial dumping of sterile flies of the parasite species to create sterile offspring. In coordination with Mexico, the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has released over 800 million sterile flies by airplane in southern Mexico since the outbreak crossed the Guatemalan border, and is ramping up production to increase the number of flights per week. Binational collaboration has intensified, but both countries are pointing fingers. Berdegué said the U.S. had the responsibility to stop the spread in Panama, back when it was detected in June 2023, and that the Mexican authorities have asked for technical support to open a plant for sterile flies, with no response from the USDA. In turn, U.S. authorities have said barriers and bureaucratic delays in Mexico, like restrictions on aircraft, permitting and onerous customs duties, have hampered eradication efforts. The USDA did not immediately respond to The Republic's request for comment or to answer questions. Ranching associations from both sides of the border and sanitary organizations from Mexico and the U.S. established two defense lines or buffer zones in Mexico to contain the northward movement of the parasite in the Mexican Isthmus, the narrowest area of the country. One case was detected beyond that line. "This issue should be a national emergency," said Alvaro Bustillo, president of the Chihuahua Regional Livestock Union, to a Mexican news outlet. The parasite would devastate the livestock industry, but it is a threat to all animals — and to humans. The Mexican National Confederation of Livestock Organizations demanded this week that the Mexican government "seal" the border with Guatemala to stop cattle trafficking, which they point to as a major driver for the advance of the parasite. Environmental organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society have also pointed out that cattle-smuggling routes mirror the hotspots for New World screwworm outbreaks, documented by InSight Crime investigations. At Guatemala's Mayan Biosphere Reserve, organized crime groups have deforested hundreds of thousands of acres to illegally ranch cattle and then smuggle them to Mexico. Demand and prices in Guatemala are low, so there is an incentive to move cattle across the border, Aja said. In his view, cattle trafficking might have given the parasite a "taxi" ride once in a while, but the main cause of the Central American outbreak is that U.S. eradication efforts were lessened. "We just kind of got a little lazy on it," he said. There is no direct evidence that the outbreak in southern Mexico was caused by illegal cattle trafficking, but it's the most plausible explanation, said Manuel Weber, an animal ecologist with the College of the Southern Border in Mexico, who specializes in disease ecology and wildlife health. "It got (to Mexico) too fast for it to have been by lawful pathways," he told The Arizona Republic. There had been infection cases in the southern border of Guatemala-Honduras, which were being contained and monitored, and in a heartbeat, there were cases in Mexico. Cattle that are being transported illegally are usually stressed, some injured, which makes screwworm infections easier, said Jeremy Radachowsky, the Wildlife Conservation Society's director for Mesoamerica and the Caribbean. It's estimated that some 1 million head of cattle are crossed illegally from Central America to Mexico every year — the same amount that is legally exported to the U.S. "We haven't seen the urgency (from government authorities) that I think was necessary," Radachowsky said. "The efforts so far have focused completely on releasing millions of sterile flies from airplanes. The problem is that as long as you have illegal cattle being moved northward, essentially it's like fumigating the house but then leaving the doors open." In the wilds: Wasting disease outbreak would imperil Arizona wildlife, lucrative hunting industry Because the screwworm can infest any living mammal, the potential for its spread is huge; the fly has many hosts, including hard-to-track wildlife. "In Central America, we have seen transmission from cattle to species like tapir, deer, probably to puma," said Weber, the Mexican wildlife and disease ecologist. It can also be transmitted to cats and dogs, and cases like that are prevalent in some countries. Footage from camera traps in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve captured a mountain lion with a "large gaping wound on its side," said Radachowsky, with the Wildlife Conservation Society. While it's hard to tell if it's from the screwworm, if it is, that would mean a 95% chance of death for the animal in the next couple of weeks, he added. A student of Weber's also interviewed a hunter in southern Mexico who harvested a deer that appeared to be infected with the fly's larvae. "It's really devastating for wildlife. You will smell it before you'll see it," said Aja, recalling his childhood experience seeing the infected deer. Wildlife could also play a role in maintaining the parasite within the ecosystem. However, studies of the parasite behavior and spread are complicated in the tropics, Weber said. There are low chances of identifying and tracking infected wildlife, and once the animal is dead, the carcass can last less than 48 hours after being eaten by other animals or decomposing. Wildlife has also been noted as a vector by U.S. authorities. In its May 11 news release announcing the suspension of livestock imports, the USDA stated that 'the northward spread" of the parasite could take place through "natural wildlife movements, including wildlife that transits the border region without impediment.' In theory, it is possible — though there isn't scientific evidence — that the screwworm can be carried by wildlife. Long-distance migrations of that scale, common in the U.S., are rare in Mexico, Weber said. "I think it's pretty unlikely that wildlife movement per se brings the disease all the way up from where it is now in Oaxaca and Veracruz — a few species like pumas and jaguars can make movements of hundreds of miles, but these are pretty rare events," offered Jesse Alton, a faculty member at the University of Arizona who studies wildlife movement. "If screwworm were to pop up in Sonora or Chihuahua, wildlife could definitely play a role in transporting screwworm across the border." Arizona conservation advocate Myles Traphagen, with Wildlands Network, hopes the USDA message does not imply there is a need for more border wall to control the outbreak. "The reality is that the vector is a fly, and it is far more likely that a fall hurricane in the western Caribbean Sea could blow flies north towards South Texas than be transmitted by native wildlife," he commented. "A border wall isn't going to stop a fly." Clara Migoya covers agriculture and water issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Reach her at This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: New World screwworm outbreak halts livestock imports from Mexico
Hamilton Spectator
13-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Aja Health and Wellness Inc. Provides Update on Delay in Filing Annual Financial Statements
Not for dissemination in the United States of America VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aja Health and Wellness Inc. ('Aja' or the 'Company') (TSXV:AJA) announces that it is getting closer to filing its annual audited financial statements for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, including the related management's discussion and analysis and certifications from the CEO and CFO (the 'Required Annual Filings'). This is an update from the Company's April 29, 2025, news releases announcing the application to the Alberta Securities Commission (the 'ASC') for a management cease trade order (the 'MCTO') under National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders because the Company was unable to file the Required Annual Filings in time to meet the April 30, 2025, filing deadline. Aja announced that the delay in filing the Required Annual Filings was due to the auditors of the Company seeking guidance from the auditor's technical committee with respect to the characterization of the previously announced reverse takeover transaction, which closed on September 17, 2024 (the 'RTO'). After consulting with the auditor's technical committee, the auditors have determined that the RTO will be characterized as a series of acquisitions for accounting purposes. The auditors are working on finalizing the audited financial statements for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, and the Company expects to file the Required Annual Filings on or before June 13, 2025. While the MCTO restricts all trading in securities of the Company by executive officers of the Company until the MCTO is no longer in effect, regular trading by current and future investors outside the Company continues as normal. The MCTO will be in effect until two full business days after the Required Annual Filings are filed. Until the Required Annual Filings are filed, the Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the Alternative Information Guidelines set out in National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders . On behalf of the Board of Directors 'Sanjeev Parsad' Sanjeev Parsad President, CEO and Director The above may contain 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable securities laws. When used in this address, the words 'estimate', 'project', 'belief', 'anticipate', 'intend', 'expect', 'plan', 'predict', 'may' or 'should' and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date of publication of this information and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, contact: Sanjeev Parsad, President and CEO Phone: (604) 678.9115 Fax: (604) 678.9279 E-mail: sparsad@ Web:
