SUDBURY, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 23, 2011) - Manitou Gold Inc. (News - Market indicators) ("Manitou") reports that diamond drilling has commenced on the Gaffney Extension Property. The barge supported drill program (see photos at www.manitougold.com/gaffney.html) is situated on the Lower Manitou Lakes Area of Northwestern Ontario. The drilling is expected to operate for the duration of the summer months, testing a previously identified zone of gold mineralization.

Gaffney Exploration History

The project hosts a prominent underexplored gold bearing shear zone, which has been traced along a strike length of 440 meters to a vertical depth of 243 metres. Diamond drilling by previous operators (1984, 1988) intersected multiple zones of gold mineralization, including 5.0 g/t Au over 21.9 m (TN-10), 5.3 g/t Au over 21.8 m (TN-29), and 6.0 g/t Au over 7.1 m (TN-23). A map and long section illustrating these intersections can be found in Gaffney Extension page of the Properties section of the Company's website (www.manitougold.com/gaffney.html). The zone remains open along strike to the northeast and the southwest and is open at depth.

Regional Exploration Update

Exploration activities continue at the Kenwest Property. The Company has recently completed a detailed high resolution induced polarization ground geophysical survey over the area that hosts the high grade gold intersected in KW-11-26 of 53.7 kg/t Au over 0.55 m, (see Press Release Feb 28 2011). The preliminary interpretation of the geophysical data has identified a geophysical response (see note below) that is 60 m in length and is centred around hole KW-11-26. The first 30 metres is a strongly anomalous response that trends southwest from the surface projection of KW-11-26 and the second 30 metres is a weaker or deeper IP anomaly that trends northeast of drill hole KW-11-26. 

The Company has completed a surface trenching program over the surface projection of the high grade gold bearing vein encountered in KW-11-26. A series of continuous quartz veins have been exposed on surface extending for 120 metres along strike length, which is coincident with the position of the above noted preliminary geophysical response. The vein displays "pinch and swell" variability ranging from 1.5 metres to 0.25 metres in width. Photographs of the trench and quartz veins are available on the Company's website (www.manitougold.com/kenwest.html). The quartz vein is contained within a chlorite sericite schist approximately 5 metres wide (#2 Shear Zone). The Company has commenced detailed geological mapping and surface channel sampling across the vein system in order to gather gold assay variability data on the vein. 

With the completion of the detailed ground geophysical surveys and the surface mapping and sampling the Company will begin diamond drilling this priority gold target at Kenwest in July and expects to continue drilling at the Kenwest property all summer. 

Line cutting on the Sherridon project has been completed as part of an overall expansion of the exploration area. Multiple visible gold intersections in the past two phases of diamond drilling suggest the potential of a proximal larger gold bearing system. Ground geophysical surveys will be initiated later in the exploration season. 

Prospecting programs have commenced over the recently acquired Harper Lake and West Limb Properties. Approximately 132 grab samples have been collected and sent to the lab for analysis.

The Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this news release is Todd Keast, P. Geo., President of Manitou Gold Inc. Mr. Keast has verified all of the technical data contained in this release.

Geophysical surveys and the interpreted anomalies are exploration targets that are regularly tested in exploration programs. However the interpreted anomalies are not guarantees on the continuation of the gold mineralization in KW-11-26 or elsewhere, as other geological features may cause geophysical responses. 

The Company has implemented a quality control program to ensure best practice in sampling and analysis. Assayed samples are transported in security sealed bags for preparation and analysis at ALS Chemex facilities. ALS Chemex is an ISO 9001-2000 and ISO 17025 registered laboratory. Ccre samples were analyzed for gold by 30-gm fire assay with AA finish and by gravimetric methods. Samples with visible gold are assayed by screened total metallics Statements in this release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, risks associated with the uncertainty of exploration results and estimates and that the resource potential will be achieved on exploration projects, currency fluctuations, dependence upon regulatory approvals, the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing and exploration risk. Readers should also refer to the specific factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws.