Mr. Daniel Wilton reports
THE CITY OF DUPARQUET AND FIRST MINING GOLD SIGN HISTORIC MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND COLLABORATION ON THE DUPARQUET GOLD PROJECT
The City of Duparquet and First Mining Gold Corp. have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at formalizing a mutually beneficial and collaborative relationship toward the development of the Duparquet gold project hand in hand with addressing important community development needs. This MOU, ratified by the municipal council on Sept. 15, 2025, represents a significant milestone as it notably delivers to the city land to support sustainable community development in harmony with potential future mine development.
Since acquiring the project in 2022, First Mining has expressed its commitment to working closely with the city and citizens of Duparquet. As early as 2023, constructive dialogue began to find sustainable solutions related to future development synergies between the city and the project. These discussions have resulted in a common framework for advancing the project and municipal development, now formalized by the signing of this MOU.
Key measures in the MOU include:
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The development of a co-habitation plan for the development of the project and the updating of the city's urban development plan in consideration of the project.
- A mechanism to address the relocation of certain residential properties required for the development of the project.
- The development of a design plan for the reconfiguration of the Duparquet golf course as required for the development of the project.
- The provision by First Mining to transfer over 100 acres of land to the city for near-term municipal development needs and potential additional lands in the future.
- The transfer by First Mining of the residential lots held under historical emphyteutic leases located within the city and outside of the project development area.
A milestone for the community and First Mining
"This agreement demonstrates First Mining's commitment to working with the city and citizens supporting the city's sustainable development in concrete ways as we advance the Duparquet gold project. We want to build a mining project rooted in respect, transparency and mutual benefit aligned with Duparquet's own development objectives," said Dan Wilton, chief executive officer of First Mining.
Denis Blais, mayor of the city of Duparquet, commented: "The signing of this MOU is a historic moment for our municipality. It illustrates our determination to advance the interests of our community while creating the conditions for harmonious economic development, prosperity and well-being for current and future generations. First Mining's approach in working collaboratively with the city from the beginning as the new project owner and its ongoing commitment through the agreement is both positive and meaningful."
About the Duparquet gold project
The Duparquet project is geologically situated in the southern part of the Abitibi greenstone belt and is geographically located approximately 50 kilometres north of the city of Rouyn-Noranda within the municipality of Duparquet. The project benefits from easy access and proximity to an existing work force and infrastructure, including road, rail and hydroelectric grid power. The Duparquet project currently hosts a National Instrument 43-101-compliant gold resource of 3.44 million ounces in the measured and indicated category, grading 1.55 grams per tonne Au, and an additional 2.64 million ounces in the inferred category, grading 1.62 g/t Au. First Mining completed a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on the project in 2023.
About First Mining Gold Corp.
First Mining is a gold developer advancing two of the largest gold projects in Canada, the Springpole gold project in Northwestern Ontario, where the company has commenced a feasibility study and permitting activities are contiuing with a final environmental impact statement/environmental assessment for the project submitted in November, 2024, and the Duparquet gold project in Quebec, a PEA-stage development project located on the Destor-Porcupine fault zone in the prolific Abitibi region. First Mining also owns the Cameron gold project in Ontario and a 30-per-cent project interest in the Pickle Crow gold project.
First Mining was established in 2015 by Keith Neumeyer, founding president and chief executive officer of First Majestic Silver.
About the City of Duparquet
About 700 residents live in the City of Duparquet, located in the Abitibi-Temiscamingue administrative region, on a territory spanning more than 157 square kilometres. Duparquet lies at the southern edge of the Abitibi-Ouest Regional County Municipality, near the city of Rouyn-Noranda. It obtained its city charter in 1933, becoming the first municipality officially incorporated in Abitibi-Ouest. The city was founded in the early 1930s, when mining activities began to develop the region's rich underground resources. In 1933, with the opening of the Beattie gold mine, dozens of houses were built and the community grew rapidly. The city was named in honour of a captain of the grenadiers of the Regiment de la Sarre, who was wounded at the Battle of Sainte-Foy. The mine's opening sparked a significant demographic and architectural boom, traces of which remain today in the Boomtown-style facades still visible on some of the town's buildings.
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