Calgary, Canada – Alpine Canada, the national governing body for alpine, para-alpine and ski cross racing in Canada, has joined forces with a Montreal-based mining company to “go for gold” in the lead-up to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Osisko Mining Corporation has signed a four-year sponsorship agreement with Alpine Canada. The deal runs through 2015. Osisko, which runs the open pit Canadian Malartic gold mine – Canada’s largest gold reserve in production, located in Malartic, Quebec – will help support programs for some of Canada’s top skiers.

“We’re delighted to announce this new partnership with Osisko Mining Corporation,” said Alpine Canada president Max Gartner. “We look forward to working together as both organizations go for gold.”

In addition to becoming a gold-level sponsor of Alpine Canada, Osisko has announced plans to support two athletes in their quest for gold through individual sponsorships. Marie-Michèle Gagnon, of Lac-Etchemin, Quebec, one of the most talented young technical skiers on the World Cup circuit, and ski cross star Dave Duncan, of London, Ontario, will both be sponsored by Osisko.

“I’m really excited to be working with Osisko,” said Gagnon, who is ranked in the top 25 in the world in slalom, giant slalom and combined, and is hoping to be a medal contender in Sochi. “It’s also very special for me to be working with a Quebec-based company.”

Duncan, an X Games silver medallist who has two career World Cup podiums, is hoping that his partnership with Osisko will help him make a push for the podium at the next Olympic Winter Games.

“I’m honored to have been chosen to be a representative of Osisko,” said Duncan, who missed out on the Vancouver 2010 Olympics when he was injured just days before the competition got underway. “Having Osisko come on board has helped me tremendously and enabled me to focus all my energy on preparing for the coming season. I have unfinished business at the Olympics and I’m excited that Osisko is joining me on my journey to Sochi.”

Alpine Canada’s 2011-12 World Cup teams include reigning world champions Erik Guay (alpine downhill), Chris Del Bosco and Kelsey Serwa (both ski cross). The Audi FIS Ski World Cup gets underway in Sölden, Austria, later this month, while the ski cross World Cup season kicks off in Italy in December. The first stop on the IPC para-alpine World Cup tour is in January 2012, also in Italy.

“We are thrilled to become sponsors of Alpine Canada and its athletes in their pursuit of gold,” said Sean Roosen, president and CEO of Osisko. “We believe our sponsorship will not only help the teams financially, but will encourage the individual athletes in their pursuit of excellence. The dedication, long-term sacrifice, discipline and determination required of the athletes, as well as the support from their families to achieve success at the national level, is inspiring to us all. As a corporation we believe that these same fundamental values are the key to the success of our business and the spirit embodied in our employees, our stakeholders and the communities we live and work in. We hope that our association with Alpine Canada will help inspire all those who take risks and have the courage to pursue excellence in any form.”