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AVION GOLD CORPORATION ("Avion" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: AVR)(OTCQX: AVGCF)(PINK SHEETS: AVGCF) today announced the appointment of Michael McAllister to the position of Manager, Investor Relations, effective June 1, 2010.

Michael McAllister was a part of the BMO Investment and Corporate Banking Metals and Mining Group for the past five years where he provided client support. Prior to working at BMO, he was employed by CIBC World Markets and Bank of America Securities Canada. Mr. McAllister earned a Business Administration diploma at Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology.

In connection with his appointment, Mr. McAllister has been granted 100,000 stock options at a price of $0.60. The options shall vest quarterly over a period of two years with the first installment vesting on the date of grant, subject to a four month regulatory hold. The options shall be subject to regulatory approval and shall expire on June 1, 2015.

About Avion Gold

Avion is a Canadian-based gold mining company focused in West Africa. The Company holds 80% of the Tabakoto and Segala gold projects in Mali. The longer term goal of the Company is to ramp production to 200,000 ounces in 2012. Avion has a highly skilled management team, with a focus on growth and consolidation within West Africa.

Cautionary Notes

The ability of Avion to increase production to 200,000 ounces of gold per year has not been the subject of a feasibility study and there is no certainty that the proposed expansion will be economically viable.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the impact of the appointment on the Company,; statements with respect to the development potential and timetable of the Mali projects; the future price of gold; the estimation of mineral resources; conclusions of economic evaluation (including scoping studies); the realization of mineral resource estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production, development and exploration; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; currency exchange rates; government regulation of mining operations; and environmental risks. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; ability to successfully integrate the purchased properties; foreign operations risks; other risks inherent in the mining industry and other risks described in the annual information form of the Company which is available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NEITHER THE 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.

Contacts: Avion Gold Corporation John Begeman President & Chief Executive Officer (416) 861-5884 info@aviongoldcorp.com