Exhibit 31.1


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
    SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934: RULES 13a-14, 13a-15, 15d-14, and 15d-15
                  SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     I , Thomas P. Raabe, certify that:

     1.   I have  reviewed  this  quarterly  report  on  Form  10-QSB  of  Arete
          Industries, Inc.

     2.   Based on my  knowledge,  this  quarterly  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 quarterly report;

     3.   Based on my knowledge,  the financial statements,  and other financial
          information  included in this quarterly 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 quarterly report;

     4.   I am responsible for establishing and maintaining  disclosure controls
          and  procedures  (as defined in Exchange  Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14)
          for the registrant and have:

          a)   designed such  disclosure  controls and procedures to ensure that
               material  information  relating to the registrant,  including its
               consolidated  subsidiaries,  is made known to us by others within
               those  entities,  particularly  during  the  period in which this
               quarterly report is being prepared;

          b)   evaluated  the  effectiveness  of  the  registrant's   disclosure
               controls and  procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the
               filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

          c)   presented  in this  quarterly  report  my  conclusions  about the
               effectiveness of the disclosure  controls and procedures based on
               my evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

     5.   I  have  disclosed,  based  on  my  most  recent  evaluation,  to  the
          registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of
          directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

          a)   all  significant  deficiencies  in the  design  or  operation  of
               internal  controls which could adversely  affect the registrant's
               ability to record,  process,  summarize and report financial data
               and have  identified for the  registrant's  auditors any material
               weaknesses in internal controls; and

          b)   any fraud,  whether or not material,  that involves management or
               other employees who have a significant  role in the  registrant's
               internal controls.


Dated: November 19, 2003                     By: /s/ Thomas P. Raabe
                                                --------------------------------
                                                 Chief Executive Officer and
                                                 Interim Chief Financial Officer