My thoughts exactly, I would agree that the whistle is the most important item in this kit and that the Fox-40, from everything I've read, is the best choice (its what I choose for myself too).

As for the other high-cost item, the light, I do not feel this is the best choice in retrospect. It was the lowest cost, compact option that I knew of locally (I put these together in under a week, with the shopping actually being done in the last 2 days before camp - there wasn't a lot of shopping around involved!). The big problem with the Turtle light is the ease with which it can be accidentally turned on.

As others have suggested, the County Comm light might be a better choice both from a cost & functionality perspective; not only are they cheaper but it looks like they wouldn't be as easy to accidentally turn on. I've no experience with these but have heard good things.

Normally I wouldn't have considered this an option since County Comm doesn't ship to Canada, but I've just found out there is a site selling their products which does ship to Canada; something I'll try to keep in mind for the future.

That said, I look at the light as being lower in the level of importance for this kit. In my mind this item fits primarily in the psychological comfort category, with the signalling aspect being its secondary purpose.