HIGHLIGHTS:

- Additional assays received from phase 2 drilling of the Black Thor chromite occurrence include 43.7% Cr2O3 over 48.0 metres, 40.0% Cr2O3 over 38.0 metres, 42.3% Cr2O3 across 35.0 metres and 40.5% Cr2O3 over 23.0 metres

- Phase 3 drilling of the Black Thor chromite occurrence as well as the AT12 Extension nickel-copper-platinum group element zone is currently underway

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - (Oct. 15, 2009) - Mackenzie I. Watson, President and CEO of Freewest Resources Canada Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FWR) (the "Company") is pleased to report the remaining assay results obtained from the second phase (phase 2) of diamond drilling completed on the Company's wholly-owned McFaulds property (the "Property"). The Property, consisting of 1,036 hectares, comprises one of three properties in which the Company is exploring on its own and in joint-venture agreements in the "Ring of Fire" metals district.

The phase 2 drilling program consisted of 10,663 metres comprising 29 drill holes. Among them, 23 of them were completed on the Black Thor chromite zone. The Company released the assay results for six of the 23 drill holes in a news release dated September 16, 2009 (drill holes BT-0-52, 53, 54, 55, 59 and 60). Specifically, this news release documents the results of the remaining 17 drill holes (except drill hole BT-09-78 that has assays pending) completed on the Black Thor occurrence from the second phase of diamond drilling.

BLACK THOR DIAMOND DRILLING RESULTS:

Currently, the Black Thor chromite occurrence has been largely drilled at 100-metre centres over a 2600-metre strike length and to a maximum vertical depth of about 400 metres. It currently remains open-ended along strike and to depth (See Figure 1).

Figure 1 comprises part of this news release and is posted on the Freewest website at www.freewest.com.

Highlighting the new results are drill intercepts of 43.7% Cr2O3 over a core length of 48.0 metres (BT-09-74), 40.0% Cr2O3 over 38.0 metres (BT-09-69), 42.3% Cr2O3 over 35.0 metres (BT-09-73) and 40.5% Cr2O3 across 23.0 metres (BT-09-58). The details of the drilling results for the subject 16 drill holes at Black Thor are summarized in Table 1.

Twenty three (23) of the 23 drill holes completed during the phase 2 drilling program intersected economically significant chromite mineralization (100% hit-rate), attesting to the consistency and continuity of the Black Thor chromite occurrence. The drilling has also identified three separate domains along the 2600-metre strike length at Black Thor; such domains are likely separated by younger cross-faults and are known as the southwest, central and northeast domains. The southwest and northeast domains are characterized by the presence of 2 chromite horizons while the central domain consists of multiple chromite horizons.

Collectively, the primary goal of the phase 1 and 2 drilling program completed at Black Thor is to define a National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral resource as soon as practically possible. Such a resource estimate is currently underway with Company management being confident of a delivery of same, prior to year-end 2009.

METALLURICAL WORK ON BLACK THOR:

Scoping-level metallurgical work is currently being completed by SGS Lakefield Research Limited on Black Thor drill core in efforts to determine the beneficiation and metal recovery characteristics of the chromite ore. The preliminary results from this work should be forthcoming shortly. Results will be released as they become available.

In parallel, Cliffs Natural Resources is currently completing scoping geometallurgical studies on Black Thor and Black Label drill core. The purpose of this work is to determine the chemical and physical characteristics of the ore or, ore quality. Ore quality ultimately impacts on optimizing mine planning, plant performance as well as the final product quality. Although final results are pending, preliminary work suggests that both Black Thor and Black Label have desirable and marketable compositions having potentially deleterious elements TiO2, MgO and Al2O3 contents at lower levels than most chromite deposits (where published).

CURRENT DRILLING PROGRAM:

Currently, there are 2 drills operating on the Company's wholly-owned property. Both are completing shallow drilling (less than 100 vertical metres) on all 3 of the domains of the Black Thor chromite occurrence to help determine the location of a potential starter pit for eventual production.

A third drill will be added shortly, to continue testing the basal contact of the Ring of Fire ultramafic intrusion with underlying granodiorite, situated stratigraphically below the chromite zones. One of the target areas warranting further drilling is the AT12 Extension, where earlier drilling by the Company returned an intersection yielding 1.62% nickel, 1.24% copper and 5.22 grams/tonne total precious metals over 1.77 metres (platinum+palladium+ gold) at shallow depth. In addition to the AT12 Extension, the Company will target a number of conductors recently defined by an airborne ZTEM survey completed by Geotech Limited. Such targets are interpreted to occur proximal to the favourable contact between the ultramafic intrusion and underlying granodiorite at the base of the Ring of Fire intrusion. Results will be released as they become available.

INDEPENDENT QUALITY CONTROL AND ANALYTICAL PROTOCOL:


A thorough quality control program has been implemented for the McFaulds project including grouping samples into batches of 35 into which are added 2 certified reference material standards, 2 field blanks composed of barren drill core and a field duplicate. Coarse reject and pulp duplicates also from part of the Quality Control program. The Company is confident that all assays reported in this news release have passed rigorous control guidelines as set out by Freewest's independent Quality Assurance/Quality Control person.

All samples were submitted to Activation Labs (Actlabs) of Ancaster, Ontario for analyses. The samples were analyzed for multi-elements using a 4-acid digestion followed by ICP analyses. Gold, platinum and palladium were assayed by the Fire Assay method on 30 grams of prepared sample. All chromite-bearing samples are analyzed by fusion x-ray fluorescence (XRF). The X-ray emissions allow the composition of the sample to be determined by a high degree of accuracy. Additional information on the analytical techniques employed can be accessed on the Actlabs website at www.actlabsint.com.

Additional quality control measures have also been recently adopted for Cr and Fe including the insertion of a certified reference material SARM 8, purchased from Mintek in South Africa. This quality control method provides a check for high-grade chrome samples yielded by INAA analyses provided by Actlabs.

Donald Hoy, P. Geo. (Ontario), Vice President of Exploration and a Director of Freewest Resources Canada Inc. is the Qualified Person (under National Instrument 43-101) on the McFaulds project and is responsible for the preparation of this news release.

Freewest is a well-financed mineral exploration company with more than C$4.5 million in working capital as well as a C$10.8 million investment in Quest Uranium Corp. at current prices and no debt. It is actively exploring for gold, base-metals and chromite within eastern Canada. Corporate information can be accessed on the Internet at www.freewest.com. Freewest's shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol FWR.
For further information please contact:



The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Freewest Resources Canada Inc.
Mackenzie I. Watson
President and CEO
(514) 878-3551 or 1-888-878-3551
Fax: (514) 878-4427
info@freewest.com
www.freewest.com

or

Bay Street Connect
Michael D'Amico
Investor Relations
(647) 500-6023