New Gold's New Afton Mine Recognized as a Corporate Champion for Aboriginal Business

VANCOUVER, July 27, 2012 /CNW/ - New Gold Inc.'s ("New Gold") (TSX,NYSE:NGD) New Afton Mine has been selected by the Industry Council for Aboriginal Business (ICAB) as a recipient of the Corporate Champion for Aboriginal Business award. New Afton, located near Kamloops, B.C., is being recognized for its leadership in fostering opportunities for Aboriginal people and economic development through its partnership with the BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association (BC AMTA).

The ICAB Recognition Awards honour individuals and corporations that demonstrate leadership in developing Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal business relationships. The Corporate Champion for Aboriginal Business award recognizes a non-Aboriginal corporation that has demonstrated leadership and best practices in establishing a working relationship with an Aboriginal business.

"The New Afton Mine management team has shown proactive leadership by working with BC AMTA to create employment and contracting opportunities for local First Nations that surpassed our expectations," said Laurie Sterritt, Executive Director, BC AMTA. "New Afton consistently challenged the status quo by making decisions based on the question 'What is the right thing to do?' and recognizing the financial benefits that result for First Nations and the company."

The New Afton/BC AMTA partnership has bridged employment gaps in Aboriginal communities, which Sterritt said has led to greater Aboriginal participation in the labour market while at the same time filling projected labour and skills shortages in the mining industry.

"Their efforts will have a positive and measureable impact on individuals, families and whole communities, as well as B.C.'s overall social and economic prosperity," Sterritt said.

Chief Shane Gottfriedson of the Tk'emlúps Indian Band agrees the partnership between BC AMTA and New Gold is a success story. Several of the band's members have participated in BC AMTA programs and are now working at the New Afton Mine.

"The partnership is an excellent example of how First Nations and the mining industry can work together to come up with solutions that work for us all. Economic development is the door to financial freedom and prosperity for First Nations, and this serves as a shining example," said Chief Gottfriedson.

"We are honoured to be recognized by ICAB," said Ann Wallin, Human Resources Manager, New Gold. "The partnership the New Afton Mine has created with BC AMTA exemplifies New Gold's commitment to working with people in the communities where we operate."

Wallin said supporting skills development and training in local First Nation communities is part of New Gold's vision to create shared value by offering economic opportunities for the community while also developing an experienced labour force for the project.

"It's more than just good business sense, it's the right thing to do," said Wallin.

The 2012 ICAB Recognition Awards were presented at a special fundraising event in Vancouver on July 26. For more information about the ICAB Recognition Awards, visit www.icab.ca.

About New Gold Inc. and the New Afton Mine
New Gold is an intermediate gold mining company. The company has a portfolio of four producing assets and two significant development projects. New Gold's New Afton project met its targeted June 2012 production start and is scheduled to begin commercial production in August 2012. New Afton is an underground gold, copper and silver mine, developed by New Gold at a cost of $760 million and expected to yield an average of 85,000 ounces of gold and 75 million pounds of copper annually over its 12-year mine life.  For further information on the company, please visit www.newgold.com.

SOURCE: New Gold Inc.

Hannes Portmann
Vice President, Corporate Development
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Email: [email protected]