TORONTO, Sept. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Mining Inc. (OSK:TSX) ("Osisko" or the "Corporation") is
proud to recognize and congratulate Robert Wares, one of the original founders of the Osisko group companies on the announcement of
his donation of $5 million to McGill University in Montréal, Québec. The following is an excerpt from yesterday’s McGill
press release.
As an entrepreneurial geologist, Bob Wares, (BSc’79, DSc’12), became a mining rock star when he discovered one
of Canada’s largest gold deposits in the Abitibi region of Quebec. Now, he is bringing that Midas touch to his alma mater in the
form of a landmark $5 million gift that will support research programs, fellowships, innovative research, a lecture series and
outreach efforts in McGill University’s Faculty of Science, with a particular focus on his home department, Earth and Planetary
Sciences (EPS).
The gift will provide immediate impact for students and faculty in five targeted areas:
- the Wares Science Innovation Prospectors Fund, designed to support innovative, high-risk
research by funding up to four promising projects a year from researchers across the Faculty of Science;
- a Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator Fund, supporting the activities of a coordinator to
liaise with CEGEPs and high schools in an effort to attract more students to EPS studies at McGill;
- the Wares Field Study Fund, supporting field studies in Canada and abroad for EPS
students;
- the Wares Postdoctoral Fellowships, which will provide funding for up to four EPS
postdoctoral fellows each year pursuing earth science research.
- an Annual Lecture Fund, to bring globally renowned keynote speakers to Montreal to discuss
earth science topics or areas of research.
“We would like to thank Bob Wares for this exceptional gift and for his continued support of McGill,” said
Suzanne Fortier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University. “This donation will make an immediate impact on our Faculty of
Science and will greatly enhance important research, education and out-of-classroom student experiences in the Department of Earth
and Planetary Sciences.
A graduate of EPS, Wares has been a longtime supporter of McGill, contributing to the Faculties of Science and
Medicine. In 2009, Wares and his company, Osisko Mining Corporation, contributed $4.1 million to endow two faculty research awards,
undergraduate and graduate level scholarships and a field trip fund in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, with part of
the gift matched by the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. Wares has supported McGill every year since 2009 and his latest gift
brings his total McGill support to date to over $10 million. As a volunteer and member of the Faculty of Science Advisory Board, he
has also been exceptionally generous with his time and insights.
“Bob has had a tremendous impact on our Faculty and I am grateful for his involvement, his ideas, and his
perspective as a business leader,” said Bruce Lennox, Dean of the Faculty of Science. “His continuing commitment to our students
and researchers is an invaluable asset, particularly to Earth and Planetary Sciences.”
A mining industry leader and innovator, Wares has been dubbed a ‘rock star’ in the field because of his
remarkable success in assessing, finding and launching various mining exploration projects over the course of his 40-year career.
Together with two associates, he founded Osisko Mining Corporation in 2003, and, against all odds, the fledging company eventually
developed the Canadian Malartic mine, which, to this day, remains the largest single gold producer in Canada, with initial reserves
of 11 million ounces of gold. In 2012, Wares received an Honorary Doctorate from McGill in recognition of his achievements in the
field of applied economic geology.
“I’m very pleased to have this opportunity to support McGill, the Faculty of Science and EPS,” said Wares, who
is currently Executive Vice-President of the new Osisko Mining and Executive Chairman of Osisko Metals. “I’m particularly pleased
to support field trips and experiential education, which are so important to students in Earth and Planetary Sciences.”
For further information, please contact:
John Burzynski
President and Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (416) 363-8653