Manitou Gold Inc. Provides Outlook for 2012 Exploration Activities

SUDBURY, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire - Jan. 9, 2012) - Manitou Gold Inc. (TSX VENTURE: MTU) ("Manitou") today provided an update on planned exploration activities for 2012, as well as a summary of advancements made in 2011.

The 2012 exploration season for Manitou Gold is now underway. The camp for the Gaffney Extension drill program is in place and construction of the ice road and drill pads is proceeding. Drilling this winter at the Gaffney Extension project will employ multiple diamond drills and will start as soon as the pads are completed later this month. In conjunction with the drilling, the Company is completing a detailed three-dimensional model of the gold mineralization at the Gaffney Project.

At the Kenwest property, drilling has begun. This drilling at Kenwest will continue through January, until the ice pads are completed at the Gaffney Extension property.

During this past year, Manitou Gold advanced a number of projects within the Manitou Straits Deformation Zone. Some exceptional exploration results have provided the Company with the confidence to increase our land position, with the addition of the Gaffney Extension, Mosher Bay, Merrill Patents and West Limb projects. Preliminary work, including trenching, prospecting, and drilling, has already been completed on these new acquisitions.

Manitou Gold completed over 21,000 meters of diamond drilling in 2011, compared with our 2010 program, in which we drilled 12,000 meters. The additional property acquisitions and positive exploration results have been the driving factors behind this increase.

In 2012, Manitou Gold will have drill programs on the Gaffney Extension, Kenwest and Sherridon projects. We are working on some exceptional exploration targets, many of which Manitou has generated and which evolved over the short period of time since the Company was listed in 2010.

Manitou Gold has a treasury of approximately $6.5 million and is well positioned to undertake the upcoming drill programs. Todd Keast, President of Manitou Gold stated "I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to our shareholders who have provided us with comments, visited the property, and continue to provide invaluable support. In the near term, I look forward to sharing the results of drilling at both the Gaffney Extension and Kenwest properties through this winter."

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.


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.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Contact Information

Manitou Gold Inc.
Todd Keast, President
705-222-8800
705-222-8801 (FAX)
info@manitougold.com

Manitou Gold Inc.
Michael Murphy
Director, Corporate Communications
705-222-8800
705-222-8801 (FAX)
mmurphy@manitougold.com
www.manitougold.com