Neighbourhood consultation phase: Voluntary Acquisition Program

The Wasamac Mining Project team is currently launching the consultation phase regarding the Voluntary Acquisition Program proposed by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (Agnico Eagle). With this program, Agnico Eagle is responding to the concerns shared by the neighbours of the Wasamac Mining Project, who wished to be able to sell their property at any time, without the risk of being penalized. Although Agnico Eagle anticipates that cohabitation will be possible during the Project’s Advanced Exploration, the Voluntary Acquisition Program allows concerned owners to sell their property to Agnico Eagle, if they so wish.

It should be noted that the Advanced Exploration Program, which is scheduled to begin at the earliest in the summer of 2025 and last for approximately 3 years, aims to recover a bulk sample of the deposit via an underground ramp. For more information, please visit the Wasamac Mining Project consultation site: https://wasamac-eng.agnicoeagle.com/exploration-campaign

The proposal plans for the Voluntary Acquisition Program to come into effect on September 1, 2024. Following the Program’s presentation to the Wasamac Mining Project Working Group last April and at the May 2024 Neighbourhood Meeting, the Community Relations team will be going door-to-door throughout August to present it directly to homeowners.

The Voluntary Acquisition Program aims to provide a framework for fair, transparent and equitable transactions. It proposes to:

• Allow property owners whose homes are located above or near actual or planned surface infrastructure for the Advanced Exploration of the Wasamac Mining Project to sell their property to Agnico Eagle if they wish, at any time, without the risk of being penalized; (see map of the Zone);
• Guarantee the market value of the properties;
• Offer an additional premium to compensate for the effort involved in relocation, and to give owners sufficient leeway to find an equivalent living situation if they so wish;
• Reimburse relocation costs.

The map below shows the Voluntary Acquisition Program area. People living near the area or owners of undeveloped land are invited to contact Agnico Eagle if they wish to sell. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

We invite anyone interested or concerned by the Voluntary Acquisition Program to contact the Community Relations team at 1-833-510-0330 or relations.wasamac@agnicoeagle.com. We'd be delighted to talk to you, answer your questions and receive your feedback.

The 23rd meeting of the Wasamac Task Force aimed to discuss the upcoming neighborhood meeting, review a preliminary proposal for a Voluntary Property Acquisition Program for advanced exploration, and follow up on reports.

The meeting began with the usual roundtable discussion. Ms. Vicky Couillard, Communications and Community Relations Advisor, provided an update on the search for former Wasamac Mine workers. She mentioned that during Mining Week, a school event is planned where 6th-grade students will meet specialized employees for a presentation. Additionally, the community gardens will return this year in front of the Community Relations office, with seedlings already started by preschool students.

Mr. Marc André Lavergne, Director of the Wasamac Project, provided an update on ongoing work and gave an overview of the project team.

Ms. Vallières provided a community relations update, including communications about upcoming work, a follow-up on requests for authorizations for advanced exploration, and the pause of drilling activities for the cementing of old drill holes.

The objectives and format of the upcoming neighborhood meeting, scheduled for May 22nd in the form of a kiosk tour, were presented. The Task Force was invited to host a kiosk to discuss its mandate and activities and to recruit new members.

Ms. Vallières introduced the project for the participatory development of a Good Neighbors’ Guide and outlined the steps for its creation. The preliminary proposal for the Voluntary Property Acquisition Program for advanced exploration was also presented. Following the Working Group meeting, consultations on this proposal will continue during the neighborhood meeting and through targeted meetings. These discussions will help improve the program and its explanations.

The next meeting will be scheduled based on the information to be shared. The proposal will be sent by email.

To read the detailed meeting minutes, please visit the following link: https://wasamac-eng.agnicoeagle.com/20630/widgets/83491/documents/138195

The 22nd meeting of the Wasamac Task Force was held on March 20, 2024, at 6:30 PM at the Club de l’Âge d’Or Bon Accueil in Évain. The objectives of the meeting were to present the 2023 annual report of the Task Force, discuss information tools for property owners under the exploration program, and follow up on reports.

The meeting began with the customary roundtable introduction. Ms. Vicky Couillard, a new addition to the community relations team, introduced herself to the Task Force.

Ms. Vallières then provided an update on community relations, including the relaunch of the Wasamac newsletter, meetings with property owners affected by exploration activities, and discussions with the Snowmobile Club to secure trails during drilling operations. A future model of Lac-Hélène Park was also presented, outlining construction plans in the spring.

An update on the development of the Wasamac project, ongoing and upcoming exploration activities, and the various permits required for advanced exploration were discussed. Ms. Vallières also introduced the participatory development of a Good Neighbor Guide for the advanced exploration phase and outlined the steps towards its development.

Members then participated in a workshop to discuss additional information to include in meetings with property owners potentially hosting exploration drilling (in addition to the Agreement Guide). The meeting concluded with the usual follow-up on reports.

The next Task Force meeting will take place on April 24, 2024.

To read the detailed meeting minutes (french only): https://wasamac-eng.agnicoeagle.com/20630/widgets/83491/documents/134027

The Agnico Eagle Wasamac mining project team is pleased to present the second report from the Task Force. The mandate of the Task Force is to establish a space for dialogue and information sharing among Agnico Eagle, the local community, and stakeholders. The exchanges aim to translate into concrete actions guided by principles of trust, respect, equality, and accountability. These discussions allow us to document evolving concerns, impacts, and anticipated outcomes over time. To facilitate sharing among all parties, these meetings are facilitated by a third party (Transfert Environnement et Société), ensuring fair participation in discussions while facilitating the exchange of diverse perspectives among stakeholders, thereby fostering collaborative problem-solving efforts.

This 2023 report is also an opportunity to thank the members of the Task Force for their ongoing commitment, particularly in this unusual year due to the change in project ownership. Despite this, members have contributed to the advancement of various projects presented in the report.

Would you like to get involved in the Wasamac mining project Task Force? Some spots are available. Interested individuals are invited to contact Anik Pouliot (apouliot@transfertconsult.ca) from Transfert Environnement et Société, who coordinates the Task Force's work if you wish to submit your comments or suggestions for future discussions.

You can view the 2023 report here (french only) : https://wasamac-eng.agnicoeagle.com/20630/widgets/83491/documents/127357

The 21st meeting of the Wasamac Task Force was held on November 29, 2023 at the Club de l'Âge d'Or d'Évain Hall. The meeting's goals were to provide an update on the project's development, contribute to the Task Force's annual review, plan activities for 2024 and follow-up on ongoing tasks.

New Agnico Eagle team members, Vicky Couillard and Patrice Richer, introduced themselves to the Task Force.

Members then shared their observations on the project development. Agnico Eagle highlighted Marc-André Lavergne's reception of the "Pratiques d'affaires écoresponsables" award at the Rouyn-Noranda Chamber of Commerce and Industry's recent Gala Extra.

The previous week, the importance, impact and contribution of the Wasamac Mining Project Task Force were highlighted during a visit organized by the Quebec Mining Association (QMA) at the Community Relations office. Several mining companies were present. A Halloween activity also drew nearly 500 people to the office, and a hot chocolate happy hour was announced for December 20th.

A follow-up on the development of the project was presented, starting with the exploration program. It was mentioned that drilling was underway in zones 3-4. Task Force members shared that drill movements were audible. Constant monitoring of noise levels by the Agnico Eagle team continues.

Changes to the Advanced Exploration Program were presented, including the construction of a single waste rock pile rather than the two initially planned. It was shared that the application for ministerial authorizations and the closure plan should be submitted shortly. Ms. Vallières indicated that the next steps in the project would be the development of a Good Neighbors’ Guide and the start of some advanced exploration work in spring 2024, conditional to internal approvals and government authorizations. This Guide will include a section on voluntary buyouts, but in the meantime, people considering relocation are invited to contact the Community Relations team.

As for the mining project, the technical review is still underway. Answers are expected in the first quarter of 2024. The recent Supreme Court ruling rendering Canada's impact assessment legislation partly unconstitutional is causing waiting periods on all projects. In this context, a time extension was still requested for the Wasamac Mining Project.

The meeting continued with the annual review of the Task Force’s activities and the annual assessment of member satisfaction. The assessment was positive, despite a slowdown in EIA work and a pause in communications following the transaction.

A second group activity enabled members to share their ideas and suggestions to plan the 2024 activities, including the Lac-Hélène Park project reveal, as well as a site visit. An open discussion ensued, during which it was suggested, among other things, to evaluate the possibility of taking water level readings on Lac Hélène to compile a baseline of seasonal variations.

Task Force meetings are scheduled for Spring 2024.

Read here (french only): https://wasamac-eng.agnicoeagle.com/20630/widgets/83491/documents/126157

We are pleased to announce that Vicky Couillard has joined Agnico Eagle's Wasamac Mining Project team as Communications and Community Relations Advisor.

A special education technician by training, Vicky previously put her extensive knowledge of conciliation, listening and project management to good use as a Communications and Community Relations Advisor at our LaRonde Complex. Prior to that, Vicky was at the Carrefour de Rouyn-Noranda and the Commission scolaire de Rouyn-Noranda, where she worked with people of all ages and backgrounds to help them in their day-to-day lives and planning for the future.

Chantal Vallières has been a member of the Wasamac Mining Project team since August 2022 and is now Communications and Community Relations Coordinator. She is proud to welcome Vicky Couillard to the team. Both contribute their expertise and are available to answer any questions you may have about the Wasamac Mining Project at the Community Relations Office.

The 20th meeting of the Wasamac Task Force took place on September 20, 2023, at the Club de l'Âge d'Or d'Évain. The objectives were to provide an update on the project's development, discuss the next steps in Wasamac exploration, share activities on other mining properties in the area, and review ongoing matters.

Several changes to the team were discussed, particularly in the communications and community relations team. The appointment of Mrs. Vicky Couillard as an advisor and the promotion of Mrs. Chantal Vallières to coordinator were announced.

The Wasamac project's development is ongoing, with a technical review underway to align it with Agnico Eagle standards. A revised timeline was presented. A decision regarding on-site processing or transporting ore to a local facility will be made by year-end.

Various ongoing and upcoming activities were presented, including signage installation on Agnico Eagle properties. Despite a slowdown in activities related to the environmental impact study, WSP continues field data collection, and additional geotechnical work is planned for the fall. Information related to Agnico Eagle's land properties was also discussed, including residential acquisition, the demolition of a deteriorated property on Rideau Blvd, and upcoming drainage work on a property on Rang des Cavaliers.

A meeting with the Première Nation Abitibiwinni was held to follow up on the project's development.

Exploration activities were presented, with a drill operating in Zone 3. The agreement guide with property owners underwent a graphical redesign, with adjusted amounts and two new compensations. New agreements for exploration drilling were also reached with neighboring property owners further east. Although work will not be transported to that area in the short term, temporary derogation requests to the Commission de protection du territoire agricole (CPTAQ) require advanced planning. Authorization requests for advanced exploration will be submitted soon, with work expected to begin in late spring 2024. These bulk sampling activities are anticipated to last about 3 years.

The meeting continued with updates on two ongoing projects:

• Work on the redevelopment of Lac-Hélène Park will begin this fall and continue into spring and summer 2024.
• Sediment sampling at the bottom of Lake Hélène revealed low permeability, indicating minimal expected impacts during exploitation.

A next Task Force meeting is scheduled for this fall.

To read the detailed meeting report: https://wasamac-eng.agnicoeagle.com/20630/widgets/83491/documents/120304

The Wasamac team delves into history to discover many facets of the mining industry. Check out our first five episodes in collaboration with historian Jean-Lou David, who stirs up the past to help us understand how the mining industry helped shape Rouyn-Noranda and the surrounding area. We also talk to Évain resident Marie-Pier Gagnon-Cliche to unearth some of her community's best-kept secrets. Happy listening!

The podcast is only available in french.

Spotify: ttps://bit.ly/3BUnO0G

Québec podcasts: https://bit.ly/422GvKk

The 19th meeting of the Wasamac Task Force was held on April 26, 2023, at the Club de l'âge d'Or Bon accueil in Évain. The main objectives were to provide an update on the recent transaction, present the Agnico Eagle company, and follow up on ongoing issues.

Ms. Geneviève Tétreault, Superintendent of Communications and Community Relations, opened the meeting by welcoming the participants and thanking Mr. Marcel St-Pierre, Project Superintendent, for his work, in honor of his retirement. A round table was then conducted to allow members to introduce themselves and share their motivations for participating in the Task Force.

Mr. Marc-André Lavergne presented the latest news regarding the transaction between Yamana Gold and Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM). He explained that the transition led to a complete review of the Wasamac project to optimize its geological, technical, economic, and environmental aspects. The presentation also covered changes to the project schedule, including the postponement of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and the requests for authorization certificates for bulk sampling.

Ms. Sandra Marseille and Ms. Sarah Morin presented Agnico Eagle, highlighting the company's experience, values, and commitments to sustainable development. They explained how Agnico Eagle stands out with exemplary practices in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) responsibility. The company's commitments to local communities and reducing greenhouse gas emissions were particularly emphasized.

Ms. Tétreault presented ongoing local projects, including the redevelopment of the Lac-Hélène park, the planting of urban garden beds by kindergarten students, and activities for Mining Week. She also addressed reports received since the last meeting, including issues with noise and visibility related to snow removal operations.

The minutes from the January meeting and the annual report of the Task Force were adopted without comments. A discussion on the frequency of meetings led to the proposal of quarterly meetings to better meet members' expectations.

The next Task Force meeting is scheduled for winter 2024.

Read the full report here (French only): https://wasamac-eng.agnicoeagle.com/20630/widgets/83491/documents/108576