Geoscience BC Appoints Two New Directors to the Board

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 21, 2011) - Geoscience BC is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Cathro and Brian Kynoch to its Board.

Mike Cathro is a Kamloops-based geological consultant and Vice-President - Exploration for Virginia Energy Resources Inc., a TSX Venture Exchange company exploring for uranium in Canada and USA. He is a registered professional geoscientist in British Columbia and holds a B.Sc (Honours, Geological Sciences) from Queen's University and a M.Sc. (Geology) from the Colorado School of Mines. Mr. Cathro's career has included work as an exploration geologist in Canada and overseas, and 17 years in technical and managerial roles with the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. Prior to leaving government in early 2008, Mike led the team that successfully completed the aboriginal consultation and environmental review of the $600 million New Afton underground copper-gold project, now under construction. Mr. Cathro also serves as Director of the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC), Director and Past-President of the Kamloops Exploration Group (KEG), and member of the BC Geological Survey Technical Liaison Committee.

Brian Kynoch is President of Imperial Metals Corporation, a company active in the acquisition, exploration, development, mining and production of base and precious metals in British Columbia. Brian has spent over 30 years in the exploration, permitting, development, commissioning, operation and reclamation of numerous mines and mineral properties including the Mount Polley, Nickel Plate, Goldstream, Huckleberry, Castle Mountain and Sterling mines. He has strong technical discipline and a practical approach apparent in the planning, design and execution of all the projects he has been associated with. In 2007 Brian received the E.A. Scholz Medal for outstanding contribution to the development and sustainability of mines in British Columbia by AME BC. Brian is a Civil Engineer (B.Ap.Sc. UBC) and a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of BC and the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

These new directors join the following continuing Directors: John Thompson, Vice President, Technology and Development at Teck Resources Limited and Chair of the Board; David Caulfield, Co-Chairman and Director of Business Development of Kiska Metals Corporation; Richard Dunn, Vice President, Regulatory and Government Relations Canadian Division, Encana; Tony Fogarassy, energy and natural resources lawyer and geologist, and principal of Dunbar Law Corporation; Geoff Freer, principal of Firth Group; James D. Gray, Partner of De Visser Gray Chartered Accountants LLP; Calvin Helin, principal of Calvin Helin Personal Law Corporation; Stephanie Killam, Mayor of the District of Mackenzie; David Taylor, Vice President, Business Development and Exploration, Parex Resources Inc.; and 'Lyn Anglin, President and CEO of Geoscience BC.

David James, Senior Consultant to the oil & gas industry and formerly Manager of Geology with Anadarko Canada, and David Strong, consultant and former President of the University of Victoria, have completed two terms as Directors and are stepping down from the Board at this time.

"The Board of Geoscience BC has played a vital role in assisting the development of this first-class organization that continues to attract mining and oil & gas investment to British Columbia. We thank David James and David Strong for their efforts on behalf of Geoscience BC and welcome the appointment of Mike Cathro and Brian Kynoch, two accomplished individuals who will maintain the strength of Board" said Dr. John Thompson, Chair of the Board of Geoscience BC.

For more information about Geoscience BC's Board, including biographies, please visit our website at www.geosciencebc.com.

About Geoscience BC

Geoscience BC is an industry-led, industry-focused, not-for-profit society. Its mandate includes the collection, interpretation and marketing of geoscience data and expertise to promote investment in resource exploration and development in British Columbia. Geoscience BC is funded through grants from the Provincial Government and works in partnership with industry, academia, government, First Nations and communities to attract mineral and oil & gas investment to B.C.