Coal

[sumisu]

West Hawk Appoints Power Generation Team

Thursday May 4, 3:05 am ET

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(MARKET WIRE)--May 4, 2006 -- West Hawk Development Corp. (the "Company"), (TSX VENTURE:WHD.V - News)(FWB:H5N) is pleased to announce that Glen S. Smyrl, P.Eng has agreed to join the company's executive team as VP Generation along with Gary D. Wilson, B.Comm., also agreeing to join the company's technical advisory board. Both Glen and Gary have recently completed significant tenures as senior executives at B.C. Hydro.

Glen brings 30 year's successful experience in a broad range of positions in B.C. Hydro. As V.P. Engineering Glen was responsible for providing engineering and technical services to both B.C. Hydro's Generation and Distribution and British Columbia Transmission Corporation's "Lines of Business". As V.P. Business Services at Powerex he was responsible for liaison and business relationships between B.C. Hydro and Powerex, supporting the involvement of B.C. Hydro and Powerex to participate in forming Regional Transmission Groups in the U.S. and Canada.

Gary brings 15 years experience in a broad range of positions at BC Hydro most recently as Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice-president Responsible for strategic planning, customer service, contract compliance and executive co-ordination accountable for budgets exceeding $150 million including Marketing and sales.

"Both Gary and Glen bring insight, experience and exceptional contacts within the power development and distribution businesses to the West Hawk team. We are very pleased to have been able to attract the depth of talent that both of these gentlemen bring to the West Hawk team truly complimenting the diverse nature and caliber of the Company's senior management. Excellent people are the most important aspect in the foundation of strong enterprise," stated Mark hart, West Hawk's President and COO.

West Hawk is currently assessing a number of its own coal resources as well as other known coal deposits within the province of British Columbia in order to determine feasibility of building an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) "Clean Coal Technology" power plant and coal to liquids plant. The management of the company including the new members of the team feel the timing is right for the province to embrace the technology and diversify the current power mix to include IGCC.

"I am very excited to be working with the management team at West Hawk, who have done an outstanding job of identifying and acquiring significant coal resources close to infrastructure during a time when coal is making a resurgence via Clean Coal Technologies rapidly becoming the acceptable and sustainable fuel to power our future energy needs," states Glen Smyrl.

About the Company - West Hawk is a mineral exploration and Development Company committed to building shareholder value through the development of its four Coal properties in Northern British Columbia.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Michael Townsend, Chairman of the Board

This news release contains certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time with the British Columbia Securities Commission and the United States Securities & Exchange Commission.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not yet reviewed and does not take responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

Contacts:
West Hawk Development Corp.
Michael Townsend
Chairman of the Board
[phone] or Toll Free: 1-866-669-9377
[phone] (FAX)
[e-mail]
http://www.westhawkdevelopment.com