Kootenay Silver Inc. announced continued progress at the Columba project ("Columba"). Of the three land access agreements due for renewal this year, two are now signed with a third in the final stages of negotiation. Completion of these agreements will provide Kootenay access to drill vein targets out to the edges of the inferred mineralized system.

During 2023 surface exploration has continued to refine targets, drilling is anticipated to recommence upon completion of the land access agreements. To date Kootenay has completed 135 diamond drill holes at Columba for a total 27,000 meters, testing a series of northwest-southeast and northeast-southwest trending epithermal quartz-calcite veins. The extensive vein sets have been mapped over an area of approximately 4km x 4km.

The next phase of drilling will prioritize expanding the D Vein where there are multiple high grade hits over wide intervals open in both strike directions and to depth. 100-meter step out below CDH-22-122. Interval from 194.1 meters down hole averages 574 gpt silver with 0.19% lead and 0.66% zinc over 3.9 meters.

Extends D Vein additional 55m beneath previously announced drill intercept (CDH-20-079). individual assay grade of 956 gpt silver, 0.27% lead and 1.20% zinc over 0.72 meters. CDH-22-125.

34.45 meters of 540 gpt silver with 0.26 gpt gold, 0.37% lead and 1.56% zinc in a wide stockwork zone includes: 9.7 meters of 1,746 gpt silver, 0.88 gpt gold, 1.11 % lead and 5.2% zinc in D Vein with; 5,840 gpt silver, 3.0 gpt gold, 3.08% lead and 17.25% zinc over 2.45 meters, a project best intercept to date. Marks high-level expression of mineralized system at D Vein, an interpreted high-grade horizon preserved at depth. True widths are estimated at between 65% an 85% of the downhole lengths.

Supported by one of the junior portfolios of silver assets in Mexico, Kootenay continues to provide its shareholders with significant leverage to silver prices. The Company remains focused on the expansion of its current silver resources, new discoveries and the near-term economic development of its priority silver projects located in prolific mining districts in Sonora, State and Chihuahua, State, Mexico, respectively.