LaFleur Minerals (CSE:LFLR) has made two appointments to strengthen the company’s technical, operational, and capital markets expertise, as it advances its Swanson Gold Project and the Beacon Gold Mill in Canada.
The company has appointed Marc Ducharme as Vice President of Exploration and Mike Petrina as Vice President of Mining Operations for their respective experience in discovery, project development, and mine operations.
Ducharme’s most recent role was as Vice President of Exploration at Probe Gold, ahead of its C$770 million ($782.2 million) acquisition by Fresnillo (LSE:FRES) in January 2026.
As an exploration geologist with more than 35 years of experience in Québec’s Abitibi region and across international jurisdictions, he has led numerous exploration campaigns, from grassroots discovery to advanced-stage development.
Chairman Kal Malhi says the company is delighted to welcome Ducharme to the team at “such a transformative time”.
“We see tremendous upside at both the Swanson Gold Project and the newly acquired McKenzie East Gold Project,” Malhi says.
“Marc was instrumental… in Probe Gold’s success across projects, such as Novador, McKenzie Break, Croinor, and Beaufor, [and] underscores his ability to drive discovery and value creation.
“Marc’s deep familiarity with the Abitibi region, combined with his proven exploration leadership, will enable us to accelerate our regional programs and unlock the full potential of our expanding Val-d’Or land package.
“Marc will be part of our continuing initiative to prioritize the discovery of new and higher-grade discoveries within the Val-d’Or land package.”
Meanwhile, Petrina has over 40 years of experience in the mining industry, working with underground and open-pit operations, engineering, and project development.
He previously acted as COO at Probe Mines, Vice President of Operations at MAG Silver Corp, ahead of its acquisition by Pan American Silver (TSX:PAAS), and Vice President of Mining at Hawthorne Gold Corp.
Petrina is registered as a professional engineer in British Columbia and Ontario, holding a degree in mining engineering from Queen’s University.
CEO Paul Ténière says Petrina’s operational expertise will be critical in ensuring a “seamless and efficient transition” to restart production at the Beacon Gold Mill.
“His depth of experience across mine development and operations will strengthen our execution capabilities and support our objective of maximizing operational efficiency,” Ténière says.
“We are excited to welcome both Mike and Marc, whose combined experience in the Val-d’Or region positions LaFleur for continued growth and success.”
LaFleur Minerals is a mineral developer focused on its portfolio of assets located in the Abitibi Gold Belt near Val-d’Or, Québec.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: LaFleur Minerals
