Moose River, Nova Scotia (May 20, 2025) – St Barbara is pleased to announce it has selected a final proposal to acquire and preserve 228 hectares of high ecological value land in Nova Scotia. This fulfills and exceeds the terms of an agreement made with the Province of Nova Scotia to offsets the areas impacted by the Touquoy Gold Mine, now in reclamation.

This is a significant milestone. St Barbara and Atlantic Mining have been attempting to finalize the process to purchase lands with Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change since 2015, but delays in identifying and approving viable options have complicated the process. 

"We are excited to move forward with this important initiative that safeguards natural areas for future generations," said Andrew Strelein, Director of Atlantic Mining. "Through this process, we have identified exceptional properties that will now be permanently protected."

Following an open call for proposals from land trusts, community groups and the public, St Barbara thoroughly evaluated all 18 submissions. With approval from the Touquoy Community Liaison Committee, St Barbara has endorsed land parcels that meet the criteria for high ecological significance and conservation value. 

Atlantic Mining has completed the purchase of the 228 hectares of land on the province’s Eastern Shore with a private landowner. In April, Nova Scotia’s Department of Environment and Climate Change agreed to accept the land and place it into conservation status to the benefit of all Nova Scotians. The purchased lands abut current protected land masses, including Ship Harbour Long Lake and Tangier wilderness areas, which allows the provincial government to increase the size of existing protected areas. A third-party ecological review confirmed the land includes water courses, wetlands of special significance and has a high suitability for wildlife habitat. 

This achievement represents the successful completion of Atlantic Mining's obligation under the 2014 Touquoy Gold Mine Industrial Approval.

“The acquisition and future protection of an area of greater ecological value than those disturbed and now under reclamation is an important reassurance to the community and we are confident this process can run more timely in future,” said Strelein.  

For more information, please contact: communityrelations@stbarbara.ca