Noront Resources

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Feb. 18, 2009) - Freewest Resources Canada Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FWR) (the "Company") today announces the discovery of a new chromite zone located on its wholly-owned McFaulds property (the "Property"). The new chromite zone known as Black Label, was discovered during the latter part of the pre-Christmas diamond drilling program completed on the Property. The Property, consisting of 4 mineral claims comprising 1036 hectares, comprises one of three properties in which the Company is currently exploring on its own and in strategic joint-ventures in the emerging "Ring of Fire" metal district.

In addition to reporting on the new Black Label chromite zone, this news release also documents further assay results obtained from the Black Thor chromite zone and provides an update on the in-fill diamond drilling program currently being completed on it.

THE BLACK LABEL CHROMITE ZONE:

Prior to the Christmas break, 4 drill holes were completed stratigraphically below the Black Thor chromite zone (in the footwall) testing a series of conductors thought to be nickel-copper-platinum group element targets. The target known as F2 yielded significant though narrow zones of nickel, platinum and palladium mineralization (PGE) as well as appreciable to abundant chromite (see Freewest news release dated February 5, 2009). This new zone of chromite mineralization now known as Black Label, returned significant thicknesses of high-grade chromite highlighted by results from drill hole BT-08-08 yielding 32.4% Cr2O3 over a core length of 37.2 metres as well as 28.3% Cr2O3 over 28.8 metres. The Black Label chromite zone comprises 3 stacked chromite horizons hosted in serpentinized peridotite and dunite. Although the true widths of mineralization are not conclusively known, they are estimated to be about 80% of intersected widths. The details of the Black Label drill intercepts are summarized below in TABLE 1.

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TABLE 1 - BLACK LABEL DRILL RESULTS

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                                            From       To  Interval 

Hole No. Grid Coordinates          Dip   (metres) (metres)  (metres) %Cr2O3

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BT-08-06     L3000N, 560W  -50 degrees     263.0    275.5      12.5    24.3

                                       and 283.7    287.2       3.5    18.3

                                       and 317.1    325.8       8.7    13.3

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BT-08-08     L2900N, 562W  -50 degrees      34.9     72.1      37.2    32.4

                                       and 117.0    139.0      22.0    14.4

                                       and 195.0    223.8      28.8    28.3

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Black Label chromite mineralization is in part coincident with nickel-copper-PGE mineralization comprising the F2 target as reported by Freewest on February 5, 2009. As such, the respective styles of mineralization may have formed through the propagation of separate pulses stoping into a magma chamber resulting in an apparent superimposed style of chromite occurring together with nickel-copper PGE mineralization. Clearly, there is excellent potential for nickel-copper-PGE deposits existing in the Black Label chromite - F2 target locales and additional diamond drilling is warranted.

BLACK THOR CHROMITE ZONE DRILLING RESULTS:

Additional assays have also been recently received from the ongoing drilling program being completed on the Black Thor chromite zone. Highlighting the results is an intercept yielding 40.33% Cr2O3 over 30.0 metres in drill hole BT-08-15. This intersection is contained within a broader zone of mineralization assaying 30.7% Cr2O3 over a core length of 61.7 metres. Additionally, drill hole BT-08-10 returned an intersection assaying 24.3% Cr2O3 over a core length of 49.5 metres. The details of the drill intercepts are documented below in TABLE 2.

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TABLE 2 - BLACK THOR DRILL RESULTS

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                                            From       To  Interval 

Hole No. Grid Coordinates          Dip   (metres) (metres)  (metres) %Cr2O3

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BT-08-10     L1100N, 100W  -50 degrees     124.7    174.2      49.5    24.3

                                       including 

                                           124.7    146.9      22.2    24.7

                                             and

                                       including 

                                           153.7    174.2      20.5    30.0

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BT-08-15     L1200N, 200W  -50 degrees     253.0    314.7      61.7    30.7

                                       including 

                                           279.0    309.0      30.0    40.3

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In-fill drilling is currently being completed at Black Thor on 200-metre spaced centres, along a 1600-metre strike length spanning high-grade chromite mineralization obtained in drill holes BT-08-01 (on line 1100 North) and BT-08-03 and BT-08-05 (on line 2700 North). To date, visual chromite mineralization has been intersected in all but 2 of the drill holes completed (BT-08-04 and BT-09-21), displaying remarkable continuity over a large segment of the 1600-metre strike length. The drill holes containing visual chromite mineralization are situated on lines 1400, 1600, 1800, 2000 and 2200 North, respectively (see Map 1). Results from these drill holes will be released as they become available. It also should be noted that the Black Thor chromite deposit remains completely open-ended along strike and to depth.

POTENTIAL SIZE OF CHROMITE DEPOSITS:

Gravity surveys have played an important role in identifying and prioritizing the drilling of chromite mineralization particularly, at the Black Thor chromite zone. As demonstrated by diamond drilling, there is an excellent correlation between residual gravity anomalies and chromite mineralization over a 1700-metre strike length (between lines 1000 North and 2700 North). The residual gravity anomaly suggests that chromite mineralization at Black Thor has a potential strike length of close to 3.6 kilometres - from lines 0 North to 3600 North (see Map 1). Clearly, much drilling remains to be done to test the full potential of Black Thor.

Likewise, despite very limited diamond drilling at the Black Label chromite zone, a residual gravity anomaly is closely associated with the chromite drill intercept obtained in drill hole BT-08-08. The chromite intersections in this hole are located on the easterly fringe of a strong, continuous gravity anomaly suggestive of a potential 2.7 kilometre strike length for the Black Label chromite zone, from lines 700 North to 3400 North (see Map 1).

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

Taken as a whole, the Black Thor and Black Label chromite zones clearly have dimensions (strike length and width) that indicate the potential for a world-class chromite deposit existing on the Company's wholly-owned Property.

In other developments, the Company also wishes to announce that a third diamond drill is being mobilized to the Property. The additional drill will be utilized to test nickel-copper-PGE targets defined by a recent Crone Pulse EM survey completed in the footwall to The Black Thor chromite zone. It will also be used to assist in drilling off the Black Thor and Black Label chromite zones.

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 Control/Quality Assurance 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. For higher grade chromium analyses (greater than 1%), the samples are analyzed by the Neutron Activation method wherein they are irradiated prior to final reading. This method yields analyses in percent for elemental chromium, Cr2O3 and elemental iron. Additional information on the analytical techniques employed can be accessed on the Actlabs website at www.actlabsint.com.

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 corporation with over C$8.0 million in working capital. It is actively exploring for gold and base-metals 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:

Freewest Resources Canada Inc.

Mackenzie I. Watson

President and CEO

(514) 878-3551 or Toll Free: 1-888-878-3551

(514) 878-4427 (FAX)

Email: info@freewest.com

Website: www.freewest.com

or

Bay Street Connect

Michael D'Amico

Investor Relations

(647) 500-6023

or

AGORACOM

Investor Relations

Email: FWR@Agoracom.com

Website: agoracom.com/ir/freewest

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