Canadian Zinc Starts Underground Program at Prairie Creek

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Oct. 7, 2014) - Canadian Zinc Corporation (TSX:CZN)(OTCQB:CZICF) ("the Company" or "Canadian Zinc") is pleased to announce the start-up of its underground program at its Prairie Creek zinc, lead, silver mine located in the Northwest Territories.

Following a tender process, Procon Mining and Tunneling Ltd., ("Procon"), has been awarded the contract to carry out mine rehabilitation, exploration, mine development and initial production at the Prairie Creek Mine.

The Contract was signed at ceremonies held Monday in the Company's office in Fort Simpson, and in Nahanni Butte, NWT, to mark the occasion. Attendees included representatives of the local communities of Nahanni Butte and Fort Simpson, the President of Procon Mining, Jim Dales, and the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment of the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable David Ramsay.

Alan Taylor, Chief Operating Officer of Canadian Zinc said, "We are excited to be getting back to work underground and to be again working with Procon. This program marks the next step towards production at the Prairie Creek Mine."

About Procon

Procon Mining and Tunneling Ltd. has a long reputation of mining in the north of Canada including work in progress at Dominion Diamond Ekati Corporation's Ekati Mine in the Northwest Territories, Pretium Resource's Brucejack Project near Stewart, British Columbia and Yukon Zinc Corporation's Wolverine Project near Watson Lake in the Yukon Territory. Procon has direct experience with the Prairie Creek Mine having completed rehabilitation programs in 2004/5 followed by a continuous underground winter program during 2006/7 which involved the establishment of a new 650 metre-long exploration decline tunnel from which exploration drilling was undertaken.

Earlier this year Canadian Zinc undertook a tendering process with major mining contractors with the objective of optimising mine development and operating costs related to the Prairie Creek Mine. This involved the creation of a comprehensive mine tender package and an underground site visit to Prairie Creek by all prospective contractors, which led to tenders being developed by the contractors, with bids being submitted and assessed by the Company.