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Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TOSECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Harvey Lalach, certify that:

|1. | I have reviewed this Form 10-Q of Anavex Life Sciences
      Corp.;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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|2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any
      untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
      necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under
      which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
      covered by this report;
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|3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and
      other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all
      material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
      flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
      report;                   

|4. | I am responsible for establishing and maintaining
      disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-
      15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as
      defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant
      and have:
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|   | (a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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|   | (b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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|   | (c)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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|   | (d)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

|5. | I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of
      internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors
      and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons
      performing the equivalent functions):
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|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|   | (a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
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|   | (b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

|February 23, 2009                                                                              
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|                                                                                               
|/s/ Harvey Lalach                                                                              
|Harvey Lalach                                                                                  
|President and Chief Executive Officer                                                          
|Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial
      Officer and Principal Accounting Officer

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