Vancouver-based 1911 Gold has recommissioned the hoist system at its True North mine in Manitoba, unlocking underground access as it targets a restart of operations.

1911 Gold said Wednesday it had completed electrical and mechanical work to Level 16 of the A Shaft, at a depth of 695 m. The level will be used to support underground diamond drilling aimed at high-priority targets, including extensions of the SAM Southeast and West zones.

The company received regulatory approval on March 19 to begin hoist operations, with inspections and underground access following in the days after. 

“This achievement is a critical step forward for 1911 Gold in pursuit of our restart strategy,” president and CEO Shaun Heinrichs said in a statement.

“With access to Levels 3, 8 (340 m), and 16, we will be able to aggressively pursue our resource growth strategy with an efficient and productive drill programme from the underground,” Heinrichs said. 

“We are now closer to some of the best targets in the underground mine and have easy access to both new targets we identified as well as infill and extensions to the 43-101 resource released on November 20, 2024. This is the next phase for 1911 Gold, and our team is excited about the opportunity this presents.”

A Hancon Mining team completed an assessment of Level 16 on April 2, identifying ventilation and rehabilitation work needed before drilling can begin. Additional inspections of Levels 3 and 16 were completed in early April. Rehabilitation work — including realignment of rail tracks, ventilation installation, and reinforcement for drill pad sites — is expected to wrap up by late May.

The company also reported that its deepest level, Level 26 (1 145 m), was found to be dry, which could accelerate dewatering efforts and reduce costs associated with accessing mineralised zones at depth.

In January, 1911 Gold inspected the Hinge and Cohiba declines, which provide access to the 007, L-13 and L-10 deposits — areas flagged for resource expansion.

The company plans to use the newly accessible underground levels for a 30 000-m drill programme launched in late 2024, supported in part by a C$286 000 grant from the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund.

Seok Joon Kim joined 1911 Gold on March 25 to support underground redevelopment and planning alongside VP of operations Éric Vinet.

With underground access re-established, the company is now finalising plans for mine rehabilitation, target prioritisation, and potential near-term production.