LaFleur Minerals Strengthens Leadership with Key Appointments as It Advances Swanson Gold Project and Beacon Mill Restart
LaFleur Minerals Inc. appointed Marc Ducharme as VP of Exploration and Mike Petrina as VP of Mining Operations to accelerate its mine-to-mill strategy and transition toward gold production in Québec's Abitibi Gold Belt.
LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) has announced the appointments of Marc Ducharme as Vice President of Exploration and Mike Petrina as Vice President of Mining Operations, bolstering its technical and operational leadership as the company advances its Swanson Gold Project and prepares for a near-term restart of its Beacon Gold Mill in Québec’s Abitibi Gold Belt. The move signals a strategic push to accelerate exploration and transition toward gold production, leveraging decades of experience from the newly appointed executives.
Ducharme brings extensive expertise in discovery and development, having previously led exploration at Probe Gold before its acquisition by Fresnillo for $770 million. Petrina, meanwhile, contributed to the advancement of the Novador project, enhancing LaFleur’s ability to execute its mine-to-mill strategy. These appointments are expected to strengthen the company’s capacity to ramp up exploration at the Swanson Gold Project and operational readiness at the Beacon Mill.
The Swanson Gold Project, approximately 19,214 hectares in size, encompasses several gold and critical metals prospects previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines, and Globex Mining. The consolidated land package sits along a major structural break hosting the Swanson, Bartec, and Jolin gold deposits, among others. The project is easily accessible by road, providing direct access to nearby gold mills and enhancing its development potential. A positive Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Swanson Gold Project and the planned restart of the Beacon Gold Mill was released on March 3, 2026 (press release).
The Beacon Gold Mill, recently refurbished, is capable of processing over 750 tonnes per day. It is being considered for processing mineralized material from Swanson as well as for custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects. The appointments of Ducharme and Petrina are crucial for LaFleur as it seeks to efficiently transition from exploration to production, a move that could create value for shareholders and position the company as a near-term gold producer in a historically productive mining region.
The Abitibi Gold Belt is one of Canada’s most prolific gold-producing regions, and LaFleur’s consolidated land package and mill infrastructure provide a distinct advantage. The company’s focus on a mine-to-mill strategy aims to reduce costs and shorten the timeline to production, which could be significant given the current gold price environment. Investors can follow the latest news and updates on LaFleur Minerals at the company’s newsroom (http://ibn.fm/LFLRF).
This announcement underscores LaFleur’s commitment to advancing its assets with a seasoned team, setting the stage for potential milestones in the coming months as exploration accelerates and the mill restart progresses.