VANCOUVER, BC, December 23, 2021 /CNW/ - B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO)
(NYSE AMERICAN: BTG) (NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") is
pleased to announce that the Company is providing further financial
support to community organizations in Metro Vancouver and other
areas of British Columbia in order
to help the region's most vulnerable and at-risk local communities.
Through its More than Mining Fund, this year, B2Gold is
donating CDN$1,000,000. This
includes CDN$100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to
support the ongoing relief efforts, long-term recovery, resiliency
and risk reduction activities in response to the heavy rains,
flooding and mudslides across British
Columbia last month.
As part of its ongoing commitment, B2Gold is allocating
CDN$750,000 to provide further
financial support to four partner organizations in Metro Vancouver
to assist with their continued response to address the social
issues in Metro Vancouver that are further impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic:
- CDN$250,000 is being donated
to Greater Vancouver Food Bank ("GVFB") to support people who are
struggling to meet their need for food:
Since the onset of the COVID-19
pandemic and the rising unemployment rate and consequent loss of
income, the demand for food support in the local community has
increased dramatically – and continues to rise. In order to meet
this demand, the GVFB provides healthy food to those in need,
supporting 10,000 clients and 110 Community Agency Partners each
month across Greater
Vancouver;
- CDN$200,000 is being donated
to Covenant House Vancouver ("Covenant House") to help provide
shelter and crucial support to homeless and at-risk
youth:
The ongoing opioid crisis and the
COVID-19 pandemic have been extremely challenging for youth
experiencing homelessness and have compounded the trauma that many
individuals already faced. Covenant House offers a continuum of
services, based on evidence-informed theories and practices, that
care for the entire person. Programs range from outreach, drop-in
and supported housing, to integrated mental and physical support
services that enable youth to transition to independent living;
- CDN$200,000 is being donated
to PHS Community Services Society ("PHS") and
CDN$100,000 is being donated to The
Bloom Group Community Services Society ("The Bloom Group") to
assist with housing, health care, harm reduction and
poverty:
Vulnerable communities in Metro
Vancouver, such as Vancouver's
Downtown Eastside, have long struggled with issues of homelessness,
poverty, mental health and substance dependencies. COVID-19 has
escalated these issues, as evident by the spike in community
overdoses since the pandemic began and associated community safety
concerns. PHS and The Bloom Group provide housing solutions, health
care, harm reduction and health promotion for some of the most
at-risk, under-served and often overlooked residents in
Vancouver and Victoria.
B2Gold is also donating to various other initiatives that align
with the Company's More than Mining Fund criteria. Funds are being
donated to PLEA Community Services' Children of the Street
Program to support the delivery of their prevention programs and
services that give children and families information and practical
tools to help keep young people safe from all forms of sexual
exploitation; Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon to support the equipment needs for
their Musical Therapy Program for children with cancer; and YWCA
Metro Vancouver to support their Violence Prevention Program
for women.
In addition, the Company is donating CDN$100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to
support the ongoing relief efforts, long-term recovery, resiliency
and risk reduction activities in and beyond the region at the
individual and community levels in response to the heavy rains,
flooding and mudslides across British
Columbia last month which impacted people, animals and
livestock, businesses and critical infrastructure. The Federal
Government of Canada and the
Provincial Government of British
Columbia will each match every dollar donated to the
Canadian Red Cross 2021 British Columbia Floods & Extreme
Weather Appeal until December 26,
2021. This means that B2Gold's donation to support those
affected by the floods and extreme weather conditions will equate
to $300,000.
"The devasting flooding and extreme weather events that occurred
for several weeks, starting in November, impacted the lives of
thousands of British Columbians," said Pat
Quealey, Canadian Red Cross Vice President for BC and
Yukon. "The Canadian Red Cross is
grateful for this generous contribution, as these funds will help
the people directly impacted by this disaster along their journey
to recovery."
"Once again, as a Canadian company based in Vancouver, we are pleased to be working with
valuable local community organizations that provide the much-needed
social programs for food security, mental health services, shelter
and housing to Metro Vancouver's most vulnerable," said
Liane Kelly, a company director and
advisor for B2Gold's More than Mining Fund. "Since the beginning of
last year, COVID-19 has presented many local businesses, families
and individuals in our communities with many unexpected challenges.
In addition to grappling with the continued impact of the pandemic,
the effects of this year's extreme weather have led to
unprecedented natural disasters – from a historic deadly heatwave
to catastrophic heavy rains. These have ravaged the province and
impacted the lives of so many, which has been incredibly
devastating and heartbreaking. We are relieved to know that our
CDN$1,000,000 contribution will again
help make a difference again for these crucial local community
organizations in dealing with such complex challenges."
About B2Gold
B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold producer
headquartered in Vancouver,
Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold
mines in Mali, Namibia and the
Philippines and numerous exploration and development
projects in various countries including Mali, Colombia, Finland and Uzbekistan. B2Gold forecasts total
consolidated gold production of between 1,015,000 and 1,050,000
ounces in 2021.
About More than Mining Fund
B2Gold is a responsible Canadian mining company that
demonstrates leadership by going beyond industry standards and
continuing to raise the bar on its own performance. The Company's
principles of fairness, respect, transparency and accountability
form the basis of its corporate culture and are applied to each of
its corporate social responsibility ("CSR") projects around the
world where it operates.
B2Gold is also committed to supporting CSR projects where the
company is headquartered and, in 2019, established the More Than
Mining Fund with the aim to address complex social issues
locally in Vancouver, Canada. To
date, B2Gold's Fund has invested over $2,000,000 in programs run by Canadian
organizations that are on the frontlines in assisting youth, people
at risk, and the most vulnerable who are dealing with challenges
associated with poverty, mental health, addiction, violence and
abuse.
ON BEHALF OF B2GOLD CORP.
"Clive T. Johnson"
President & Chief Executive
Officer
For more information on B2Gold, please visit the Company website
at www.b2gold.com or contact:
Ian
MacLean
|
Katie
Bromley
|
Vice President,
Investor Relations
|
Manager, Investor
Relations & Public Relations
|
+1
604-681-8371
|
+1
604-681-8371
|
imaclean@b2gold.com
|
kbromley@b2gold.com
|
The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC neither
approve nor disapprove the information contained in this news
release.
Production guidance presented in this news release reflect
total production at the mines B2Gold operates on a 100% project
basis. Please see our Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2021 for a discussion of our ownership
interest in the mines B2Gold operates.
This news release includes certain "forward-looking
information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively
forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable
Canadian and United States
securities legislation, including: projections; outlook; guidance;
forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or
estimated financial and operational performance, gold production
and sales, revenues and cash flows, and capital costs (sustaining
and non-sustaining) and operating costs, and including, without
limitation: total consolidated gold production of between 1,015,000
and 1,050,000 ounces in 2021. All statements in this news release
that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the
future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
are statements that are not historical facts and are generally,
although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan",
"anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule",
"forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar
expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or
conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might"
occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the
opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements
are made.
Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions,
risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond B2Gold's
control, including risks associated with or related to: the
duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of
preventative measures and contingency plans put in place by the
Company to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not
limited to, social distancing, a non-essential travel ban, business
continuity plans, and efforts to mitigate supply chain disruptions;
escalation of travel restrictions on people or products and
reductions in the ability of the Company to transport and refine
doré; the volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares;
changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration,
development and mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and
resource estimates; not achieving production, cost or other
estimates; actual production, development plans and costs differing
materially from the estimates in B2Gold's feasibility and other
studies; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits,
consents or authorizations required for mining activities;
environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex
regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and
climate change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves
and identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of
companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate
new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability
of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential
restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and
the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in
foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign
laws, including those associated with operations in Mali, Namibia, the Philippine and Colombia and including risks related to
changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and
local ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally,
including in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; remote operations
and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in
price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for
mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary
equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and country
risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the
effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and
joint venture partners; the lack of sole decision-making authority
related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns the Masbate
Project; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on
key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled
personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse
climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; competition with
other mining companies; community support for B2Gold's operations,
including risks related to strikes and the halting of such
operations from time to time; conflicts with small scale miners;
failures of information systems or information security threats;
the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial
reporting as required by law, including Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and
sanctions or other similar measures; social media and B2Gold's
reputation; risks affecting Calibre having an impact on the value
of the Company's investment in Calibre, and potential dilution of
our equity interest in Calibre; as well as other factors identified
and as described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in
B2Gold's most recent Annual Information Form, B2Gold's current Form
40-F Annual Report and B2Gold's other filings with Canadian
securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"), which may be viewed at www.sedar.com and
www.sec.gov, respectively (the "Websites"). The list is not
exhaustive of the factors that may affect B2Gold's forward-looking
statements
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the
applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable
as of the date hereof, based on the information available to
management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but
are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to B2Gold's
ability to carry on current and future operations, including: the
duration and effects of COVID-19 on our operations and
workforce; development and exploration activities; the timing,
extent, duration and economic viability of such operations,
including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the
accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts,
studies and assessments; B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve
estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of
inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign
exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary
approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future
obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable
terms when required; the current and future social, economic and
political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally
associated with the mining industry.
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the opinions
and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations
regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as
of the date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any obligation to update
forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's
beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as
required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual
results, performance or achievements could differ materially from
those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking
statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events
anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or
occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold
will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue
reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
statements.
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SOURCE B2Gold Corp.