Westward Gold Announces Compelling Gold Mineralization Controls at SSD Target

Vancouver, British Columbia — August 18, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Westward Gold Inc. (CSE: WG, OTCQB: WGLIF, FSE: IM50) announced assay results from the first core hole completed at the SSD Target within its Toiyabe Hills Property in Lander County, Nevada. Core hole T2601, drilled to approximately 123 metres, aimed to characterize host rocks, hydrothermal alteration, and structure associated with gold mineralization at SSD. The hole also sought to verify the continuity of these features from surface expression downward, build upon data from recent trenching to determine controls on gold mineralization, and use these controls as vectors for upcoming deeper drilling and near-term target development.

Key findings from T2601 include the intersection of 12.0 metres grading 8.06 grams of gold per tonne within a broader 27.0-metre interval averaging 3.72 grams of gold per tonne in micrite and silty limestone of the Wenban Formation. This formation is part of a thick sequence of carbonate rocks known to host gold in the Cortez District.

The higher-grade sub-interval is associated with a high-angle fault zone and characterized by breccia, decalcification, shattered rock, clay, and elevated sooty pyrite. These alteration features and their association with fractured rock are typical of Carlin-type gold deposits found throughout northern Nevada. The gold mineralization is situated in the immediate footwall of the Roberts Mountains Thrust and an igneous dike, and is focused in the hanging wall of the N-Fault and the hanging wall of the G-Fault corridor. The down-dip projection of this gold setting is a primary target for upcoming reverse-circulation (RC) drilling.

Westward Gold noted that the recognition of high-angle structural controls on gold mineralization represents a significant development, as previous interpretations suggested gold was predominantly stratiform and/or parallel with the Roberts Mountains Thrust.

Robert Edie, Vice President Exploration for Westward Gold, stated, "We're very pleased with the results from this first core hole of 2026, primarily because it offers the first evidence that the gold controls we recently observed in the nearby trench still persist as we follow these structures into the sub-surface." He added that with the arrival of the first RC rig, drilling production will increase, and target models will be refined as more logging and assay results are incorporated. Edie also mentioned that limited deeper drilling in the greater SSD area has indicated a horizon of flat-lying gold mineralization ranging from 9.1 to 50.3 metres thick with gold grades between 0.34 and 3.03 grams of gold per tonne, often with oxidized mineralization. Intersections of high-angle controlling structures with the deeper low-angle structural zone will be the focus of the initial RC holes.

The company also reported that RC drilling is now underway at the SSD Target, with hole T2603 in progress from site SSD26-A to test the margins of the near-vertical Fault-G. Data from T2601, building on trenching results, has reinforced the significance of Fault-N, with down-dip tests planned from pads SSD26-J and SSD26-K. Results from core hole T2602, which are pending, are expected to further refine the model ahead of these deep vertical RC holes. Strategic step-out drilling will aim to enhance the Company’s understanding of the high-grade geometry at SSD and enable future drilling to target the highest-grade environments.

In other news, Westward Gold has engaged Senergy Communications Capital Inc. for digital marketing services for a four-month period, for which Westward has paid a fee of one hundred thousand Canadian dollars. The services include content creation, strategic messaging, corporate communications, and online marketing strategies, using publicly-available information.

The company implemented a QA/QC program during the drilling of T2601. Samples were prepared at Modern Land and Development in Carlin, NV, and analyzed by ALS Limited in Elko, NV, and Reno, NV, or North Vancouver, BC, for gold and 49 additional elements. Gold intervals were calculated using a 0.14 g Au/t cut-off grade, with potential internal dilution including up to 4.0 metres of material below the cut-off. True thicknesses of mineralization are currently unknown and estimated at 50-70% of reported thicknesses.

The technical information in the news release was reviewed and approved by Robert Edie, Vice President Exploration for Westward Gold, who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

Westward Gold is a mineral exploration company focused on the Toiyabe Hills Project in Nevada, and the Coyote and Rossi Projects in Nevada. The Company may also evaluate other mineral exploration assets.