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2005 Winners

For 21 years the Nova Scotia Export Achievement Awards have honoured pioneering companies whose creativity, innovation, and determination have made them international success stories. And this year's winners are no exception.

The Honourable Perrin Beatty , President and CEO, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters was the Keynote Speaker
Nancy Regan , Media Personality was the Master of Ceremonies .

The 21st Annual Export Achievement Awards held at the World Trade & Convention Centre on Thursday, May 19th, 2005, continue in the tradition of celebrating the success of Nova Scotia's exporting companies. These award winning exporters are leaders in the domestic market and they've successfully made the globe their marketplace. These companies together contributed $44 million to the Nova Scotia economy in export sales last year. Their achievements help make Nova Scotia the best place to live, work and do business in Canada. Nova Scotia Business Inc., along with our partners, extend congratulations to this year's Export Achievement Award winners.

Real Video profiles for each of the award winners are featured below. In order to view these videos you will need to have real player installed on your computer. Real Player may be downloaded for free from real.com.


NEW EXPORTER Presented by Aliant Established in 2002 and based on the Dartmouth waterfront, YachtSmiths have full-scale yacht construction capabilities, specializing in custom steel and aluminum vessels in both power and sail as well as repair and refit services. YachtSmiths competitive advantage in the export market is based on several factors: proximity to the U.S. market, currency exchange, a solid reputation for customer service, and a target marketing and advertising plan executed in major yachting magazines and boat shows. YachtSmiths has taken advantage of new markets and has been able to develop products that are very attractive to the largest growing sector of the boat industry - the baby boomers. The Cabot 36 Blue Water cruising sail boat, for example, is being aggressively marketed in the U.K., the largest pleasure sailboat market per capita in the world. In 2003, export sales represented 54% of YachtSmiths overall business and in 2004 this grew to 80%. The principles of customer service and competent project management remain constant; thus allowing YachtSmiths to grow, improve, and prosper. "You don't just buy a boat you buy a dream."
View Profile LONG TERM EXPORTER Presented by International Trade Canada Established in 1982 in Dartmouth, Survival Systems is in the business of saving lives. The company has achieved a highly regarded international reputation for consistent, high-quality safety training programs, products, and services. The development of these training programs and products is based on the belief that truly realistic training leads to greater safety in the workplace an dan increased ability to survive an emergency. Survival Systems has been exporting its expertise world wide for 17 years. Its competitive advantage in the export market comes with the company's commitment to the best quality machines and products and by consistently delivering results 24/7 through worldwide technical support and the ability to meet or exceed the client's expectations. Ninety per cent of Survival Systems' sales are generated through exports. International clients include all branches of the U.S. Military, Australian Army & Nancy, German Navy, and other powerful foreign militaries. As well, international oil and gas operators; such as Global Santa Fe Drilling, CHC Helicopters, and Shell; send staff for training to commercial clients that use Survival Systems' simulators. Survival Systems' continued exploration of safety issues and its ongoing enhancement of services and products will ensure its profile remains at the forefront of the safety training industry.
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EXPORT GROWTH THROUGH NEW MARKETS

Presented by RBC Financial Group

Founded in 1994 and based in Halifax, Geoprojects is an independent consulting firm and is the leading provider of marine exploration consulting services in Canada. They have been involved in 90% of all exploration survey projects in the offshore of Eastern Canada since 1999.

Geoprojects provide project management, professional consulting, and technical specialists in the fields of geophysical operations, site investigations, survey and positioning, health and safety, and environment for offshore projects.

Originally focused on supporting offshore exploration in Canada, Geoprojects expanded in 2004 to include global operations. As a result of implementing a new export strategy, supported in part by exporting mentoring, Geoprojects has had tremendous export sales growth - from 5% of company sales in 2003 to 48% in 2004. This growth is the result of winning and completing contracts in the U.S., the Caribbean, East and West Africa, as well as Korea and India.

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EXPORT GROWTH THROUGH PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Presented by Michelin North America (Canada) Ltd.

SIF Canada produces cured, salt ground fish projects such as cod, pollock, Alaskan pollock, hake, cusk and ling as well as salted mackerel and smoked herring.

Located in Tusket, SIF Canada is the largest salt fish producing plant in the Western hemisphere and has an impressive array of packaged and bulk products as well as the most advanced packaging presentations and production techniques in the salt fish industry.

To penetrate new markets, the company has developed novel packaging ideas for cod, presenting it as a premium item. Other innovative developments include cuts and preparation of cod products for individual chain stores, supplying private labels and custom packaging for Christmas sales.

These developments have meant increased exports to market in Mexico and Brazil.

With creative ideas, sound management, and above all, perseverance, SIF Canada continues to prosper.

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EXPORT GROWTH THROUGH PARTNERSHIP

Presented by Greater Halifax Partnership

Established in 1990 and based in Halifax, Satlantic Inc. is a remote sensing company that designs, manufactures, and markets observation systems and instrumentation for monitoring remote environments from the open ocean to inland waters.

The company employs world-class specialists to provide premium products and support, and is committed to continuing research and operational support projects in monitoring the Earth's environment.

With exports representing over 90% of Satlantic's sales in 2004, the company's most successful marketing initiatives have been "bringing science to the market" by establishing partnerships with exemplary academic, government and private institutions such as Rutgers University, Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

By superimposing Satlantic's expertise in technology and it's knowledge of the commercial market on discoveries made by acknowledged world experts, Satlantic has leapt ahead rapidly in market penetration for their new and modified projects, for the world's most valuable resource - our water.

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EXPORT GROWTH THROUGH SALES

Presented by Export Development Canada

Founded in 1995 with its head office in Sydney, Advanced Glazings develops, manufactures, and markets sustainable and viable technologies related to sunlight.

To date, the company has developed two important products based on transparent insulation technology: InsolCore for the greenhouse market, and Solera for the architectural daylighting market - which was introduced at the 2001 conference of American Institute of Architecture.

With 83% of its sales coming from exp9rots in 2004, a tripling of its 2003 figures, the company has exported its products to almost every state in the U.S.

Advanced Glazings was founded with the vision of creating products that would further the contribution of renewable energy and energy efficiency toward creating a sustainable future.

Advanced Glazings will continue to seek new markets and opportunities while making a net positive impact on the environment.
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CANADIAN MARKET DEVELOPMENT

Presented by Grant Thornton

Located for more than forty years in Caledonia, Queens County, Van Dyk's is a family-owned business that has been developing the wild blueberry industry, using sound environmental and ecological practices.

Its flagship product, Van Dyk's 100% Wild Blueberry Juice, has remarkable health properties, as blueberries are ranked number one in antioxidant activity when compared with 40 other commercially available fruits and vegetables.

With its high quality products, unique packaging, support material, and persistence, Van Dyk's has close to doubled its out-of-province exports from 2003 to 2004, making major inroads in Ontario, Quebec, and Western Canada.
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Exporter of the Year
For 200 years, Nova Scotia has been producing some of the world's finest exports; for twenty-one of those years, The Nova Scotia Export Achievement Awards have been celebrating the very best of Nova Scotia's entrepreneurs. The recipient of this award demonstrates significant export achievement and potential for continued export growth.

The 2005 award went to Satlantic Inc . of Halifax

Presented by Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

The following link offers more information on past Export Achievement Award winners.