Winsome Resources (ASX:WR1) has taken a new step in Quebec with the official opening of its first local office, demonstrating the Company’s long-term commitment to the region.

The dedicated office in Val-d’Or will bolster Winsome’s presence in the area, and adds to the current operations base, Camp Winsome, located six kilometres from the La Grande-4 Airport in Eeyou Istchee.

More than 50 guests attended the inaugural office opening, marking a significant milestone in Winsome’s sustained commitment to providing local representation in Quebec.

Winsome Resources General Manager (Canada) Carl Caumartin said Val-d’Or was at the heart of the Quebec mining industry and remains a crucial technical and logistics hub for Winsome’s projects.

“The proximity of our new office to the many employees, consultants and key suppliers based in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region will strengthen ties between Winsome and regional partners,” Carl said.

“This will add to our Camp Winsome location, which enables consistent dialogue and collaboration with local communities, particularly the Cree communities of Eeyou Istchee.”

Winsome Resources Managing Director Chris Evans said the Val-d’Or office was an important step for the Company, which is already considering opening additional regional offices in Mistissini and Chibougamau.

“Over the past week, I visited the Mistissini community and met with tallymen and their families from the territories where our projects are located, to emphasise the collaborative approach we are taking to our exploration activities,” Chris said.

“We are committed to providing a local presence to encourage greater engagement and consultation with local communities, as Winsome works to develop the critical minerals industry in Quebec.”

Winsome Resources’ Vice-President Sustainable Development and Regulatory Affairs Geneviève Morinville has been criss-crossing the territory to meet Cree families, build relationships, listen to locals and integrate their knowledge into the projects under development.

“Our mission at Winsome is to produce the minerals the world needs in the way the world demands it, and our approach involves listening to local communities and integrating their diverse perspectives,” Geneviève said.

Winsome Resources Vice-President Exploration Antoine Fournier said the recent fires had severely affected the Cree community and resulted in exploration activities being postponed for several weeks.

“During this time, we continued to forge ties with members of Mistissini community, particularly the tallymen and their families, with our meetings making tangible contributions to our project plans,” Antoine said.

“We have also taken steps to recruit members of Cree communities to join the Winsome team as we reembark on our exploration activities, which have returned promising initial results.”