Ashton Appoints New Director.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Dr. David S. Robertson, Chairman of the Board of Ashton Mining of Canada Inc. (TSX:ACA) ("Ashton" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. G. Bernard Coulombe to the Board of Directors effective July 1, 2004.

A geological engineer by training, Mr. Coulombe resides in Asbestos, Quebec, where he was employed by Mine Jeffrey Inc. for more than 30 years in positions of increasing seniority including President and Chief Operating Officer from 1991 to 2002. Since that time, Mr. Coulombe has consulted to the Jeffrey Mine. He became a Director of Placer Dome Inc. in 1994 and has served on several committees of Placer's board. Mr. Coulombe is also Vice-Chairman and a Director of Niocan Inc. He is a member of the Order of Professional Engineers of Quebec, the Canadian Council of Engineers and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.

Based in North Vancouver, B.C., Ashton is committed to enhancing long-term shareholder value through the discovery or acquisition of diamond prospects capable of rapid advancement to development and production. The Corporation's most advanced project is located in the Otish Mountains region of north-central Quebec where Ashton and its joint venture partner, SOQUEM INC., are currently conducting an $18 million exploration program that includes the collection of a 600 tonne bulk sample.

Member companies of the Rio Tinto group currently hold approximately 58 per cent of the Corporation's issued and outstanding shares.