Calgary, AB (August 28, 2009) - Jeff Quail of Shocknife® Inc. is to win a $10,000 Manning Innovation Award for his invention of a knife-shaped electric device that replaces fake knives in self-defence training. Quail and business partner Rory Bochinski developed, commercialized and now produce Shocknife® entirely in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Rubber, plastic or wood replica knives quite literally dull the effectiveness of defence training because they do not elicit acute stress as a real knife would. In contrast, the Shocknife® blade delivers a non-injurious but excruciating electric shock that trainees fear. As a result, the training environment is more realistic and officers and soldiers are better prepared to survive and win any future edged-weapon attack.

The device has become popular among law enforcement and military trainers across the United States and Canada, and is quickly becoming the new standard in edged-weapon self-defence training. William R. Daniel II, a Major with the US Army, says that "Shocknife® is a revolutionary product and it definitely adds a level of realism that cannot be replicated with traditional weapons training devices."

Quail, a law officer and court-declared expert in use of force and officer safety, has also developed Shocknife® instructor training courses, including an online Safety Monitor Certification course.

Over 500 agencies in 15 countries use Shocknife® to train police officers, correctional officers and soldiers in life-saving defensive tactics. Customers include the Calgary Police Service, Winnipeg Police Service and US Department of Homeland Security. Since the product's launch in late 2005, yearly sales of Shocknife®, related products and training have grown to over $700,000 Can.

All Shocknife® components are made and assembled by Winnipeg's Melet Plastics Inc. and IDERS Incorporated Ltd. Setcan™ Corporation, a sister company to Shocknife® Inc., distributes the product in Canada and offers several courses in defence tactics.

The Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation
This year the Foundation will award $145,000 to leading Canadian innovators plus $20,000 to Young Canadians chosen at the 2009 Canada-Wide Science Fair.

The Foundation was established in 1980 to promote and support Canadian innovators. This Innovation Award has been sponsored by Katch Kan™ Ltd. Since 1982, the Foundation has presented over $4 million in prize money. The 2009 awards will be presented at an awards gala on Friday, September 18 in Vancouver, BC.

A Media Backgrounder about the innovator and his work is now available on the Foundation's website, with video available after September 18, 2009: www.manningawards.ca

For a photo of the innovator or more information on the Foundation, contact Bruce Fenwick, Executive Director: 403-645-8288 or bruce.fenwick@encana.com

For more information about Shocknife® and related training, visit www.shocknife.com/index.html and www.setcan.com/ or contact Shocknife® Inc. at 204-336-0011 or info@shocknife.com