Mr. Kiran Patankar reports

MAPLE GOLD ACCELERATES GROWTH STRATEGY WITH SENIOR EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT AND FULL CONSOLIDATION OF JOUTEL

Maple Gold Mines Ltd. has appointed Alex Rodriguez, MBA, ICDD, as senior vice-president, corporate development and strategy. Mr. Rodriguez brings over 15 years of experience in corporate development, strategic planning, and M&A (merger and acquistion), with a strong record of driving growth, executing strategic initiatives and creating shareholder value. The company is also pleased to announce that it has fully exercised its option to acquire a 100-per-cent interest in the Eagle mine property, successfully consolidating the past-producing, high-grade Joutel mining complex within the company's wholly owned Joutel gold project located along Quebec's prolific Casa Berardi-Douay gold trend.

"We are thrilled to welcome Alex to Maple Gold as we achieve full consolidation of Joutel," stated Kiran Patankar, president and chief executive officer. "Alex has a proven execution track record, highlighted by his contributions at O3 Mining where he advanced the Marban gold project and led O3's successful $204-million acquisition by Agnico Eagle. His experience will strengthen our leadership team as we aggressively scale our operations, pursue new growth initiatives and work to deliver long-term value for shareholders."

Alex Rodriguez, senior vice-president, corporate development and strategy, added: "Joining Maple Gold at this pivotal stage represents a tremendous opportunity. The consolidation of Douay/Joutel under a single ownership structure creates a compelling platform to unlock value through exploration success, resource growth and disciplined project advancement. I look forward to working with our exceptional team and contributing to the future success of the company."

Alex Rodriguez, MBA, ICDD -- SVP, corporate development and strategy

Mr. Rodriguez brings over 15 years of mining corporate development, M&A (merger and acquisition), strategy, and investor relations experience across Canada, the United States, Peru and Chile. He previously led business development at VerAI Discoveries, overseeing strategic partnerships and asset portfolio growth across the Americas. Prior to that, Mr. Rodriguez served as vice-president, corporate development, at O3 Mining Inc., where he played an integral role in advancing the Marban gold project and spearheading a $204-million acquisition by Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. Earlier in his career, he served as head of business development at Volcan Compania Minera, where he led M&A, streaming and financing initiatives with an aggregate value of more than $1-billion. Mr. Rodriguez holds a BA in economics from Universidad Nacional de Trujillo (Peru), an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and the ICDD designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Completion of Eagle acquisition

The company is pleased to announce that it has acquired a 100-per-cent interest in Eagle, a core inlier claim at Joutel that hosts the historical Eagle underground mine. Pursuant to the option agreement dated July 16, 2021, between Maple Gold and Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. (see news release dated July 19, 2021), the company completed cash and share payments to Globex totalling $1.2-million and incurred $1.2-million in cumulative exploration expenditures prior to the five-year anniversary of the option agreement. Legal title to the property, together with all its associated rights, interests, applicable permits and reclamation bonds, will be transferred to the company. Globex will retain a 2.5-per-cent gross metal royalty (GMR), which is subject to a right of first refusal and can be reduced to a 1.5-per-cent GMR in consideration for a cash payment of $1.5-million.

The current mineral resource at Eagle, which forms part of the company's updated Douay/Joutel project mineral resource estimate (MRE) (see news release dated April 27, 2026), consists of 73,000 ounces (oz) of gold (Au) indicated (500,000 tonnes (Mt) at 5.04 grams per tonne (g/t) Au) and 386,000 oz Au inferred (3.0 Mt at 4.07 g/t Au). The MRE was calculated by Denis Decharte, PEng, of SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd., an independent qualified person as defined under NI 43-101, on behalf of Maple Gold.

Compilation of historical data combined with new drilling indicates that high-grade gold mineralization at Eagle extends well beyond the historical underground workings and that the system remains open in multiple directions with strong potential for expansion through follow-up drilling. The company is planning aggressive, fully financed stepout drill programs at Eagle and Joutel in H2 2026 and 2027.

Equity incentive grants

Pursuant to the company's equity incentive plan dated Dec. 17, 2020, as amended, and TSX Venture Exchange policies, Maple Gold's board of directors has approved the grant of stock options to an employee to purchase an aggregate of 200,000 common shares of the company, with an exercise price of $2.55 per common share. The options will vest in three equal tranches over a 24-month period. Once vested, each option is exercisable into one common share for a period of five years from the date of the grant.

The company's board of directors also granted a total of 50,000 restricted share units (RSUs) to an employee. The RSUs will vest in three equal tranches over a 36-month period. Once vested, each RSU entitles the holder to receive either one common share or a combination of cash and common shares, as determined by the company in accordance with the terms of the plan, net of applicable withholdings.

Qualified person

Ian Cunningham-Dunlop, PEng (PEO/EGBC), executive vice-president of Maple Gold, has reviewed, verified, and approved the scientific and technical information related to exploration and mineral resource matters contained in this news release. No limitations or failures to verify were identified. Mr. Cunningham-Dunlop is a qualified person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101.

About Maple Gold Mines Ltd.

Maple Gold Mines is a well-financed Canadian gold exploration company focused on advancing its 100-per-cent-owned, district-scale Douay/Joutel gold project located in Quebec's prolific Abitibi greenstone gold belt. Douay/Joutel benefits from exceptional infrastructure access and boasts approximately 481 square kilometres of highly prospective ground including an established, multimillion-ounce gold mineral resource at the Douay and Joutel deposits, both with significant expansion potential, as well as the past-producing Eagle and Telbel mines at Joutel that were key parts of the historical Joutel mining complex. The total Douay/Joutel mineral resource estimate now stands at 905,000 oz Au indicated (19.1 Mt at 1.48 g/t Au) and 4,297,000 oz Au inferred (130.2 Mt at 1.03 g/t Au).

Maple Gold's property package also hosts a significant number of regional exploration targets along a 55-kilometre strike length of the Casa Berardi deformation Zone that have yet to be tested through drilling, making the property ripe for new gold and VMS (volcanogenic massive sulphide) discoveries. The company is currently focused on carrying out exploration and drill programs to grow mineral resources and make new discoveries to establish an exciting new gold district in the heart of the Abitibi.

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