Trade Winds Discovers New, Near Surface Gold Zone of 4.12 Grams/Tonne Over 13.00 Metres at Detour Lake, Ontario
Tuesday May 16, 8:00 am ET 

TIMMINS, ON--(MARKET WIRE)--May 16, 2006 -- Trade Winds Ventures Inc. (TSX VENTURE:TWD.V - News) is pleased to report the discovery of another high grade gold zone within the komatiitic basalts which represent the centre of the M Zone structural corridor.
 
Three diamond drill holes from this winter's diamond drilling program, TWDDH-183 to TWDDH-185, tested the near-surface potential of the M Zone to the west of all previous near-surface M Zone drilling programs. Three diamond drill holes from this winter's diamond drilling program, TWDDH-183 to TWDDH-185, tested the near surface potential of the M Zone 400 metres to the west of all previous near surface M Zone drilling. The success of these holes has extended the near surface gold mineralization along the M Zone from section 16820E to 15540E, a distance of 1.28 kilometres, and remains open to the west.

TWDDH-185, containing extensive quartz veining, chalcopyrite and visible gold within the M Zone komatiite unit, less then 80 metres from surface, is summarized below:

Grams/tonne     Metres      Oz/ton     Feet

TWDDH-185       4.12        13.00       0.120      42.65  Visible Gold

including       9.05         5.00       0.264      16.40

In all three holes, extensive potassic alteration occurs in both the hanging wall and footwall stratigraphy, with quartz veining, pyrite, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite. Visible gold was observed within the M Zone komatiitic basalt unit in all three holes, with the highest concentrations noted in TWDDH-185. Visible gold was also noted in hanging wall quartz zones in both TWDDH-183 and TWDDH-184.

Hanging wall and footwall stratigraphy are pervasively altered and host sulphides and quartz veining in areas of higher deformation. The amount of alteration and mineralization suggests this new zone has strike potential, and could extend eastward to the surface and plunge gently to the west, as is the case for similar already discovered M Zone hosted gold zones.

To date, there are at least four known gold zones within the M Zone komatiitic unit, with related quartz zones extending into the surrounding mafic basalts. 

Trade Winds has drill tested the komatiitic unit at various hole spacings over a four kilometre strike length, receiving high grade gold values and observing visible gold in 85% of the reported holes. Trade Winds is currently drilling on its 100% owned, Gowest Project with the purpose of locating additional gold zones within the M Zone komatiite and extending these zones to the west.

Trade Winds has now reported on 20 of 59 diamond drill holes completed from this winter's near surface, M Zone program. Details of the fire-assay results received for holes TWDDH-183 to TWDDH-185 are as follows:

HOLE        FROM    TO     CORE   TRUE    COMPOSITE    COMMENTS
NAME                      LENGTH  WIDTH
             (m)    (m)     (m)    (m)   (g/tonne gold)

TWDDH-183   28.84  31.00   2.16   1.53        2.23     Hanging wall zone
            134.0  136.7   2.70   1.92        7.81     Hanging wall zone
including   136.2  136.7   0.50   0.36       27.40
           156.74  159.3   2.56   1.82        2.45     

M Zone-Visible Gold
TWDDH-184    51.0  51.50   0.50   0.36        2.19     Visible Gold
                                                       
in HW zone   66.65  78.00  11.35   8.06        2.06     M Zone-Visible Gold
including   72.00  74.16   2.16   1.53        7.58
TWDDH-185   70.25  75.00   4.75   3.37        2.34     Visible Gold
            83.00  96.00  13.00   9.23        4.12     M Zone-Visible Gold
including   91.00  96.00   5.00   3.55        9.05
True width is represented by approximately 71% of the core length.

Hole locations, orientations and final depths for the M Zone diamond drill program are as follows:

Hole Number     North     East    Azimuth    Dip    Final Depth (m)
    TWDDH-183       20520     15540     180      -57        221.08
    TWDDH-184       20470     15780     180      -55        156.00
    TWDDH-185       20450     15540     180      -59        153.64
Mr. Ian Lambert, Trade Winds' CEO, stated: "This sixth release for the 2006 drill program at Detour Lake reports that Trade Winds has intersect high grade gold values and visible gold from new near surface areas along the M Zone, previously untested by drilling. The samples for these holes were rush assayed ahead of the remaining winter program holes in order to evaluate the new zone's potential. All remaining assays from the winter drill program are anticipated to be received by early to mid June. Currently, our geological team is participating in an on-site course at Detour Lake to upgrade their 3D geological modelling skills using Vulcan. This will facilitate the completion of the modelling of the M Zone structural corridor as part of the resource estimate study planned to be completed later this year.

"We are pleased that the completion of the acquisition of 100% interest in the Gowest claims permits us to proceed with a drill program planned to continue through the remainder of 2006, both testing above the existing high grade gold mineralization discovered on the property, and potentially extending the already four kilometre strike length of the M Zone farther to the west."

Trade Winds has completed sufficient exploration expenditures to earn its 50% interest from Pelangio Mines Inc. (TSX:PLG.TO - News) in Block A, one of its three Detour Lake Properties located approximately 180 kilometres northeast of Timmins, Ontario, within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Canada's most prolific gold producing belt. In addition, the Company owns 100% of the adjacent Gowest claims.

Mr. Lorne Warner, P. Geo., is the qualified person for the Trade Winds Detour Lake projects. Trade Winds, as operator of the projects, has implemented a quality control program to ensure best practices in the sampling and analysis of the drill core. All fire assay results are being provided by ALS Chemex, North Vancouver, BC, an ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025 accredited laboratory.

WARNING: The Company relies upon litigation protection for "forward-looking" statements.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS PRESS RELEASE.

Distributed by Filing Services Canada and retransmitted by Market Wire

Contact:
     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
     Ian D. Lambert
     President & CEO
     (604) 675-7637
      
     Terry McGee
     Manager Corporate Communications
     877 811 4518 Ext 228
      
     Email: Email Contact