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  • Invitation to the Fourth Neighbourhood Meeting

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    Invitation to the Fourth Neighbourhood Meeting

    The 4th neighbourhood meeting regarding Yamana Gold’s Wasamac underground mining project will be held on June 14, 2022, at the Évain community centre at 100 rue Leblanc.

    We will be setting up kiosks so that attendees can make the rounds and meet with different key people on the Yamana Gold team, as well as resource persons who can answer any questions you might have.

    Join us to discuss such topics as:

    • The mining project, for which the environmental impact assessment and exploration program are in progress;
    • The advanced exploration program, for which applications for

    Invitation to the Fourth Neighbourhood Meeting

    The 4th neighbourhood meeting regarding Yamana Gold’s Wasamac underground mining project will be held on June 14, 2022, at the Évain community centre at 100 rue Leblanc.

    We will be setting up kiosks so that attendees can make the rounds and meet with different key people on the Yamana Gold team, as well as resource persons who can answer any questions you might have.

    Join us to discuss such topics as:

    • The mining project, for which the environmental impact assessment and exploration program are in progress;
    • The advanced exploration program, for which applications for bulk sampling authorizations will soon be submitted and for which preparatory work will begin in the fall;

    Come chat also with the Task Force members and share your views or suggest ideas for neighbourhood projects Yamana is interested in supporting.

    Three time slots have been scheduled for persons who plan to attend:

    • 4:00 PM
    • 5:30 PM
    • 7:00 PM

    Contact us to reserve and confirm your time slot either by email at wasamac@yamana.com or by telephone at 1 833 510-0330 (toll free).

    Please remember to give your name, phone number and preferred time slot.

    Open public meeting

    All are welcome! See you then!

  • Wasamac project a finalist for the QMA Distinction Award

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    Yamana Gold is proud of its nomination for Silence on fore! in the Community Relations category



    This announcement is recognition for the work we have done and our different approach to community relations: adapting to the environment, rather than asking the environment to adapt to our operations.

    Silence on fore! is an excellent example. Since the acquisition of the property in 2021, the Yamana Gold team has been attentive to the neighbourhood’s needs, taking preventive measures to avoid potential impacts and fostering a harmonious co-existence with residents.

    We also, and above all, owe this nomination to community participation. Thanks to

    Yamana Gold is proud of its nomination for Silence on fore! in the Community Relations category



    This announcement is recognition for the work we have done and our different approach to community relations: adapting to the environment, rather than asking the environment to adapt to our operations.

    Silence on fore! is an excellent example. Since the acquisition of the property in 2021, the Yamana Gold team has been attentive to the neighbourhood’s needs, taking preventive measures to avoid potential impacts and fostering a harmonious co-existence with residents.

    We also, and above all, owe this nomination to community participation. Thanks to the input of local residents, we were able to completely review our drilling practices in inhabited areas and enact new standards for noise reduction in urban environments. This is a real revolution in the world of drilling, enabling us to limit perceptible noise by at least 50%. For all this, we thank you all!

    The winners will be announced on June 9 at the annual convention of the Quebec Mining Association.


  • Summary of Wasamac Task Force meeting, April 27, 2022

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    This 11th meeting of the Task Force was an opportunity for the Yamana team to present the preliminary version of its property acquisition program, PROPRIO-Choix: vente et garantie de la valeur marchande des propriétés. It was also an occasion to look back on the inauguration of the community relations office, where the Yamana team welcomed partners, community members and neighbourhood families. The office is open to walk-ins Tuesdays through Thursdays from 9 AM to 5 PM and on Mondays and Fridays by appointment.

    Updates were also presented to the group: a summary of the meeting between Yamana and

    This 11th meeting of the Task Force was an opportunity for the Yamana team to present the preliminary version of its property acquisition program, PROPRIO-Choix: vente et garantie de la valeur marchande des propriétés. It was also an occasion to look back on the inauguration of the community relations office, where the Yamana team welcomed partners, community members and neighbourhood families. The office is open to walk-ins Tuesdays through Thursdays from 9 AM to 5 PM and on Mondays and Fridays by appointment.

    Updates were also presented to the group: a summary of the meeting between Yamana and its neighbours in the Francoeur, Arntfield and Lac-Fortune mining sites; presentation of the map of Yamana's land holdings in the Wasamac Underground Mining Project (WUMP) sector; and creation of the committee that will work on proximity projects for the WUMP neighbourhood. Finally, the promised presentation of co-existence programs put in place by the Canadian Malartic Mine was also handed out.

    This meeting’s main topic was Yamana’s proposed PROPRIO-Choix program which, after consultations, will replace the Property Value Maintenance Program (PVMP) originally proposed by Monarch Gold. The revamped concept would identify a core area with potentially higher risk of strong impacts and would offer those property owners the homeowner value for a set period of time (see presentation for details). For all property owners in the valuation area, from the time of Yamana’s acquisition of the project until site rehabilitation, the mining company proposes a market value guarantee as well as reimbursement of relocation expenses. A preliminary map of the land valuation area was presented to support the discussion; it will be revised in light of the impacts estimated by the ongoing environmental assessment. The objective of the program is to guarantee the market value of properties in the area and to provide a framework for voluntary acquisitions. The aim is harmonious cohabitation, transparency, and fairness, allowing owners to decide to move at any time without risk of being penalized, and evaluating properties as if the mining project did not exist.

    A mock appraisal report annotated by the certified appraisers mandated by the Task Force was also prepared at the group’s request to clearly explain how market value and homeowner value are estimated. The document was distributed to members in attendance.

  • Summary of Wasamac Task Force meeting, March 23, 2022

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    The discussion originally planned concerning a new version of the Property Value Maintenance Program (PVMP) had been postponed to the April meeting. The local team finished its revision of the document, but the corporate team had asked for more time to do additional validations. The meeting therefore focused more on a progress report, the 2021 exploration program report, highlights of the 2021 Task Force report, creation of the 2022 calendar, and an exploratory exercise to inform the drafting of the forthcoming Property Integrity Protection Program.

    Yamana's presentation at the beginning of the meeting reiterated the invitation to the official opening

    The discussion originally planned concerning a new version of the Property Value Maintenance Program (PVMP) had been postponed to the April meeting. The local team finished its revision of the document, but the corporate team had asked for more time to do additional validations. The meeting therefore focused more on a progress report, the 2021 exploration program report, highlights of the 2021 Task Force report, creation of the 2022 calendar, and an exploratory exercise to inform the drafting of the forthcoming Property Integrity Protection Program.

    Yamana's presentation at the beginning of the meeting reiterated the invitation to the official opening of the community relations office. The office will be open Tuesdays to Thursdays from 9 AM to 5 PM and Mondays and Fridays by appointment. The office is located at 14 d'Évain, inside the former Desjardins branch.

    Yamana also presented its community support program, for which applications can be submitted using the form that was recently posted online at https://www.wasamac-consultations.com/policies-and-community-support-program

    A summary of the findings of Yamana's 2021 exploration program was presented, as well as the annual update of the Owner’s Agreement Guide. As required by the guide, a satisfaction survey was conducted with property owners who had drilling-related activities done on their land in 2021. A memo summarizing the highlights of the survey was also handed out to members.

    The presentation document, attached herein, also contained the highlights of the Task Force’s annual report. This exercise evaluates the group's mandate; the meeting format; the degree of satisfaction with the facilitation; and areas marked for improvement.

    The presentation document, attached to this summary, also presented the highlights of the Task Force’s annual report assessing the group's mandate, which aims to evaluate the group’s mandate; the meeting format; the degree of satisfaction with the facilitation; and areas marked for improvement.

    See the complete report for more details.

  • Report on the Task Force Meeting of January 26, 2022

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    The purpose of this ninth meeting of the Task Force was to continue to develop an updated version of the Property Value Maintenance Program (PVMP) and see to its integration into a broader agreement aimed at harmonious coexistence with the neighbourhood. At the previous meeting, Yamana had agreed to add additional terms to the PVMP in order to provide a framework for the voluntary acquisition, at replacement value, of properties located in the area identified by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as potentially subject to significant anticipated impacts. Certified appraisers were on hand to describe the methods for assessing value

    The purpose of this ninth meeting of the Task Force was to continue to develop an updated version of the Property Value Maintenance Program (PVMP) and see to its integration into a broader agreement aimed at harmonious coexistence with the neighbourhood. At the previous meeting, Yamana had agreed to add additional terms to the PVMP in order to provide a framework for the voluntary acquisition, at replacement value, of properties located in the area identified by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as potentially subject to significant anticipated impacts. Certified appraisers were on hand to describe the methods for assessing value, also known as owner's value, as well as the circumstances in which it usually applies. As this value is generally used in expropriation situations, several adaptations will be required to transpose its useful aspects into a program of acquisition by mutual agreement based on homeowners’ freedom of choice and without the objective of acquisition of all of the target properties. The appraisers will be helpful resources when the Task Force finalizes the updated PVMP+ proposal.

    In a preamble to the meeting, Yamana shared news and project updates with the group:

    • Renovations to the community relations office will be finished soon, though the team will continue to telework as long as health restrictions are in force.
    • After that, it will be possible to make an appointment at the community relations office with Geneviève Thériault, newly hired as coordinator of communications and community relations on the team with Marc-André Lavergne.
    • We have hired several new people recently and more hires are to come.
    • A new timetable was presented for the environmental assessment currently underway in order to continue optimizing the project and studying alternative solutions. Yamana plans to table it by the year’s end.
    • Online consultations on public uses of the land continue until the end of February at wasamac-consultations.com.

    Next up was a presentation of the annual review exercise, which is meant to evaluate satisfaction with the Task Force’s accomplishments over the last year and with the facilitation work. Answers to this questionnaire will also be used to develop a work plan for 2022. The meeting closed with a brief look at incoming reports; only one such was made and quickly resolved since the last meeting.

  • Yamana Gold Community Relations Office Opens in Évain

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    Yamana Gold Community Relations Office Opens in Évain

    We had a great time and many fascinating encounters at the opening of the Community Relations Office. On Thursday, March 24, between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., our team had the pleasure of:

    • hosting 50 partners;
    • chatting with 100 people from the community;
    • enjoying the laughter of over 350 children playing in the inflatable games and other activities.


    From left to right, Brenda Brooks (Executive Assistant, Yamana Gold), Marc-André Lavergne (Director, Community and External Affairs, Yamana Gold), Benoît Lessard (Vice-President of the Rouyn-Noranda Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and Geneviève Tétreault

    Yamana Gold Community Relations Office Opens in Évain

    We had a great time and many fascinating encounters at the opening of the Community Relations Office. On Thursday, March 24, between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., our team had the pleasure of:

    • hosting 50 partners;
    • chatting with 100 people from the community;
    • enjoying the laughter of over 350 children playing in the inflatable games and other activities.


    From left to right, Brenda Brooks (Executive Assistant, Yamana Gold), Marc-André Lavergne (Director, Community and External Affairs, Yamana Gold), Benoît Lessard (Vice-President of the Rouyn-Noranda Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and Geneviève Tétreault (Communications and Community Relations Coordinator, Yamana Gold)


    The Community Relations office, a space dedicated to welcoming the public and families, will become a hub for sharing information about the Project and gathering feedback. By providing this venue for meetings and discussions between the local population and our teams, we are continuing our involvement in the Évain neighbourhood and reiterating the importance of community relations we are developing there

    The offices, located at 14 rue d'Évain, Rouyn-Noranda, are open to the public from Tuesday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mondays and Fridays are by appointment only (by phone: 1 833 510-0330; by SMS: 833 510-0330, by email: wasamac@yamana.com)

  • Grand Opening of Yamana Gold's Community Relations Office for the Wasamac Underground Mining Project

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    Welcome to the community!

    Grand Opening of Yamana Gold's Community Relations Office for the Wasamac Underground Mining Project


    Thursday, March 24 from 4 to 8 p.m.

    at 14 Évain Street


    Come meet us, talk with the directors and community relations team and visit our new office in the heart of the Evain district.

    Outdoor inflatable games, a photographer for you and your family, beverages and snacks!

    As of March 28, our opening hours will be Tuesday to Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm.

    Monday and Friday by appointment only.


    We look forward to welcoming you!




    Welcome to the community!

    Grand Opening of Yamana Gold's Community Relations Office for the Wasamac Underground Mining Project


    Thursday, March 24 from 4 to 8 p.m.

    at 14 Évain Street


    Come meet us, talk with the directors and community relations team and visit our new office in the heart of the Evain district.

    Outdoor inflatable games, a photographer for you and your family, beverages and snacks!

    As of March 28, our opening hours will be Tuesday to Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm.

    Monday and Friday by appointment only.


    We look forward to welcoming you!



  • Planned work on Lac Hélène postponed to spring

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    The collection of samples aimed at characterizing the sediments planned for the end of February on Lac Hélène as part of the environmental impact study is postponed to springtime, after the melting of the ice on the lake.

    Adverse weather conditions did not allow the exercise to be carried out safely, so we decided to postpone it.

    As a reminder, the WSP team, the firm responsible for carrying out the environmental impact study, will review existing data on the lake's hydrology by taking surface water samples. They will also conduct a hydrological assessment to establish current conditions as well as


    The collection of samples aimed at characterizing the sediments planned for the end of February on Lac Hélène as part of the environmental impact study is postponed to springtime, after the melting of the ice on the lake.

    Adverse weather conditions did not allow the exercise to be carried out safely, so we decided to postpone it.

    As a reminder, the WSP team, the firm responsible for carrying out the environmental impact study, will review existing data on the lake's hydrology by taking surface water samples. They will also conduct a hydrological assessment to establish current conditions as well as predictive simulations to ascertain the potential impacts of the future mine on the lake's water level – a point raised by area residents. At this time, the potential impacts are estimated to be minimal.

    This exercise should not create a disturbance in the natural environment or for people living near the lake.

    Area residents will be notified once the new dates for the work are known.

    Should you have any questions regarding this work, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone at 1 833 510-0330 or via E-mail: wasamac@yamana.com


  • Summary of December 14th Meeting

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    This eighth meeting of the Task Force focused on continuing efforts to update the Property Value Maintenance Program. The program will eventually evolve into a co-existence framework agreement of several chapters, to be discussed in 2022. For the moment, the group is focused on real estate transactions for neighbouring property owners who wish to move away from the mining project area. Before discussing the main topic, Marc-André Lavergne, Yamana Gold's Director of Community and External Affairs, gave the group some project updates: a review of the December 1 neighbourhood meeting, a presentation of alternatives being studied for the tailings

    This eighth meeting of the Task Force focused on continuing efforts to update the Property Value Maintenance Program. The program will eventually evolve into a co-existence framework agreement of several chapters, to be discussed in 2022. For the moment, the group is focused on real estate transactions for neighbouring property owners who wish to move away from the mining project area. Before discussing the main topic, Marc-André Lavergne, Yamana Gold's Director of Community and External Affairs, gave the group some project updates: a review of the December 1 neighbourhood meeting, a presentation of alternatives being studied for the tailings facility and access roads to the main facilities site, and a presentation of the process of government authorizations for a new phase of advanced underground exploration.

    The group then resumed discussion of the main topic. Mr. Lavergne reported that his meeting with Yamana's senior management had been conducted in a manner consistent with the announced vision and that the proposed points had all been agreed to in principle. As a result, the PVMP would be effective retroactively to the date of Yamana's purchase of the Wasamac underground mining project and would apply until the site restoration period. Owners would be entitled to an enhanced amount: in addition to the guaranteed market value, normal relocation expenses could be reimbursed and the process would be simplified. Finally, the applicability area would be expanded (and possibly further still, when anticipated impacts have been mapped and known) to include the central part of that zone for residences at risk of high impacts. Homeowners whose properties are situated within the new area could, in the first few years of the project, receive compensation that is closer to replacement value. The applicability area will be more clearly defined when the project impact assessment has been completed.

    The January meeting will also include a presentation by a chartered appraiser of the different methods for appraising market and replacement values (value to the homeowner). A briefing on the various Canadian Malartic Mine co-existence programs will also be given to members in early 2022.

    Toward the end of the meeting, talk turned to proposals for the company's long-term contributions to the neighbourhood, based on suggestions made in the questionnaire circulated among members prior to the meeting. Also discussed were recognition of volunteer time, follow-up on citizens’ reports, and follow-up on the minutes of the November meeting.

    Summary of December 14th Meeting

  • Summary of November 23rd Meeting

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    Though a different topic had been planned, the seventh Task Force meeting revolved around the update of the Property Value Maintenance Program (PVMP) at the request of members. The PVMP sub-working group members wanted to return to the Task Force for further discussion. More permanent changes were also made to the meeting schedule to allow as much time as possible for discussion.

    The meeting began with a request for information, as several people mentioned seeing a helicopter do a series of low passes over the neighbourhood that day. Project superintendent Marcel St-Pierre said that this activity had not been sanctioned

    Though a different topic had been planned, the seventh Task Force meeting revolved around the update of the Property Value Maintenance Program (PVMP) at the request of members. The PVMP sub-working group members wanted to return to the Task Force for further discussion. More permanent changes were also made to the meeting schedule to allow as much time as possible for discussion.

    The meeting began with a request for information, as several people mentioned seeing a helicopter do a series of low passes over the neighbourhood that day. Project superintendent Marcel St-Pierre said that this activity had not been sanctioned by Yamana and that he had no other information on the subject.

    The meeting provided an opportunity for group discussion of the PVMP and its history, guiding principles, and objectives, Yamana's commitments and neighbourhood expectations. Several members indicated that they consider this a priority topic and that they want to expedite the process of updating the document. Yamana also took the occasion to more formally share with the group its intention to continue discussions of neighbourhood commitments with the aim of grouping them in a co-existence framework agreement. The PVMP would thus be a chapter within that agreement.

    The presentation began with Yamana's philosophy of co-existence and its four components: terminate, mitigate, compensate, contribute. This was followed by a reminder that the current PVMP proposal, which originated with Monarch Gold, addressed just one issue – the sale and acquisition of properties with a guarantee of market value for sellers. Yamana's vision for the PVMP is to improve the document to provide a framework that is transparent and equitable for all.

    The sub-group had already convened twice to update the program and had discussed several improvements. Presented to all Task Force members, these included elements regard the implementation and termination of the program, its retroactivity, simplification of the process for homeowners, limitations on Yamana's right of first refusal, an increase in refundable expenses, and proposals regarding monitoring and updating the PVMP. Several members asked that replacement value be considered for a homeowner who wishes to move.

    As many of these proposals represent significant changes to the terms, conditions, and objectives of the document, it was agreed that Marc-André Lavergne, Yamana's Director of Community and External Affairs, would bring them to the attention of senior management for further discussion at the next meeting. The group’s members also reiterated their desire to discuss opportunities for Yamana's contributions in the immediate vicinity of the project and emphasized the desire to make this topic a priority. Thus, the December 14 meeting, which had come close to being cancelled, went ahead with the agreement that members would resume these discussions.

    Summary of November 23rd Meeting