Highvista Gold Inc. Commences Drilling at Canasta Dorada Gold Project

TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2011 - Highvista Gold Inc. ("Highvista" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:HVV), is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced at its Canasta Dorada Gold Project, located within the Sonoran Gold Belt, in Sonora State, Mexico. This initial phase will include up to thirty reverse circulation drill holes totaling 3,000 meters. Drilling will initially focus on three priority targets; Las Quintas, La Republicana, and the Big Pit.

The three target areas were generated from field exploration work conducted over the previous twelve months, and included mapping and sampling of over 30 historic mines, property-wide ASTER satellite image analysis, property-wide airborne magnetic survey interpretation, compilation and analysis of historic soil sampling data, and the collection and analysis of over 3,200 rock chip samples.

This initial drill program is expected to be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2011, with results released early in the first quarter of 2012.

Highvista owns 100% of a Mexican subsidiary that controls the 24,215 hectare Canasta Dorada Gold Project. This project is located in the Sonoran Gold Belt immediately adjacent to AuRico Gold's El Chanate Mine. "We are very pleased to have started our drill program so shortly after obtaining our listing on the TSX Venture Exchange" notes Rick Adams, President and CEO of Highvista Gold Inc., "and this speaks directly to the experience and effort of our exploration team in Mexico".

Details of Highvista's Canasta Dorada Project can be viewed at the Company's website at www.highvistagold.com.

Richard Adams, P. Eng., is the Qualified Person responsible for technical content of this release.


READER ADVISORY

Statements in this press release may contain forward-looking information including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's proposed drill program. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward looking statements. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect, including but not limited to, the ability of the Corporation to raise sufficient capital to pay the exploration and development costs on the properties, the availability of skilled labour, availability of equipment, and future capital and operating costs. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the risks of capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, inflation, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, health, safety and environmental risks, delays in the development of projects, uncertainties relating to the interpretation of the geology, unanticipated operational or technical difficulties and other factors. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by securities law.

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Contact Information

Highvista Gold Inc.
Richard Adams, President and CEO
(416) 504-3588
(416) 504-4129 (FAX)
www.highvistagold.com