Patrick Downey, President and CEO, commented “We are extremely pleased to release this first set of drill results from Casa Berardi, which clearly demonstrates the mine’s significant and untapped exploration upside. The results are from the near-surface F160 and F134 zones, and serve to support planned pit expansions, and more importantly, further illustrate the down-plunge continuity of high-grade mineralization in each zone. Taken together with historical drill results, these plunging zones of mineralization represent potential future underground mining centers, which are located proximal to existing underground infrastructure.

In addition to ramping-up underground exploration drilling at Casa Berardi, surface drilling of the F160 and F134 zones will remain ongoing. The delineation of F160 Zone at depth is expected to further supplement the Company’s plans to increase underground mining rates by reopening the East Mine, while future step-out drilling down plunge of the F134 Zone has the potential to open a significant new exploration front in the Gap Zone.

Overall, we are incredibly encouraged by these initial drill results at Casa Berardi, and look forward to providing regular exploration updates as we incrementally ramp-up exploration to a sustained 80,000-100,000m/yr.”