Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Québec Innovative Materials Corp. (CSE: QIMC) (OTCQB: QIMCF) (FSE: 7FJ) ("QIMC" or the "Company") announces that diamond drilling operations commenced on February 17, 2026, at its West Advocate natural clean hydrogen project in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. Maritime Drilling Inc. has mobilized to site and drilling is actively underway as part of the Company's planned subsurface testing program.

The initiation of drilling represents the execution phase of QIMC's structured exploration strategy in the Cumberland Basin, transitioning from multi-season surface geochemical surveys and structural interpretation to direct subsurface evaluation of high-priority fault-controlled targets.

The upcoming drill program is designed to intersect fault and fracture systems interpreted to act as advective pathways for migration and accumulation.

John Karagiannidis, Chief Executive Officer of QIMC, physically present on the drilling site commented: "With the drill now turning at West Advocate, we entered the subsurface testing phase on February 17, 2026, of our Nova Scotia hydrogen program. Following systematic surface data collection, structural interpretation, and permitting, we are now executing on clearly defined structural targets within the Cumberland Basin. Our focus remains disciplined operational execution as we advance this next stage of development."

Mobilization of the drill rig marks the operational execution phase of QIMC's Nova Scotia program.

Strategic Importance of West Advocate

West Advocate forms part of QIMC's expanding Cumberland Basin portfolio in Nova Scotia, where multi-season soil-gas surveys have identified coherent and repeatable anomalies interpreted to be structurally controlled.

The Company's integrated exploration and development work to date has included:

• High-density soil-gas hydrogen, radon/thoron sampling;

• Structural and fault interpretation;

• Surface geological mapping;

• Basin-margin structural analysis;

• Target refinement based on anomaly clustering and structural intersections.

Advancing a Scalable and Repeatable Platform

West Advocate is part of QIMC's broader Nova Scotia and North American execution strategy, where multiple target zones have been advanced through staged exploration and development. The Company continues to apply a structured, repeatable exploration methodology aimed at identifying structurally controlled systems.

The commencement of drilling represents a critical inflection point in converting surface geochemical anomalies into subsurface geological confirmation.

About Québec Innovative Materials Corp. (QIMC)

Québec Innovative Materials Corp. (CSE: QIMC) (OTCQB: QIMCF) (FSE: 7FJ) is a mining exploration and development company dedicated to unlocking the potential of North America's abundant natural resources. With properties in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Minnesota (USA), QIMC specializes in the exploration of white (natural) hydrogen and high-grade silica assets.

QIMC is committed to sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and innovation, with the objective of supporting clean energy solutions for the AI-driven and carbon-neutral economy.

Regulatory Disclaimer

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release and has neither approved nor disapproved its contents.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as of the date of this press release and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied.

Forward-looking statements are generally identified by words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential," and similar expressions, or by statements that events or conditions "will," "may," "could," or "should" occur.

Although the Company believes that the forward-looking information contained herein is reasonable as of the date of this press release, such information is subject to change and no assurance can be given that future results will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.

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