Nordique Resources (NORD.C): Finland gold hunt begins—but let’s not forget the Balbir Johal stain

Nordique Resources (CSE: NORD), newly rebranded from its former incarnation as Brascan Resources, has officially launched its exploration program at the Isoneva Gold Project in Western Finland. It’s a big step forward for a company that once pitched itself as everything to everyone—lithium, nickel, gold, even Brazil.

Now? It’s apparently boots on glacial ground in Europe with a gold story, an exploration plan, and (finally) a clear direction.

But before we get into the nuts and bolts of Finland, let’s set the record straight: this company didn’t come out of nowhere and where it came from was a load of bullshit.

From Brascan to Nordique: A Bait-and-Switch Origin Story

This isn’t Nordique’s first rodeo. Under the Brascan name, the company was peddled to retail investors as a high-upside, multi-sector play with projects in Atlantic Canada, Brazil, and a whole lot of breathless promotion.

At the center of that hype machine was Balbir Johal—an old name in Canadian capital markets who’s made a career out of short-cycle stories and long-term disappointment. He pitched to me that Brascan was his legacy, that he had made a long line of other people rich in his career but now it was his turn to leave a mark.

He left a mark, alright; a deep scar right across the gut of anyone who believed a word he said.

Johal positioned Brascan as a mineral buffet: a little lithium in Quebec, a sniff of nickel in Newfoundland, a “green energy” JV in Brazil. There were slideshows, cheap paper, and bold claims about asset value, but little of it stuck. Deals were diluted, direction was scattered, and deliverables were thin. Retail holders were left holding a bag full of LOIs and promises when Balbir pretended he’d had a jammer and bailed overnight.

I saw him last at the VRIC conference, dressed in a cheesy multicoloured suit as usual, and showing a clean pair of heels when he saw me above the crowd, headed in his direction.

I can’t tell you if Johal is still involved in this outfit, but I do know he offered me pennies for the stock I unfortunately still held, just after the name change, so you can trust his greasy chiclets are still clutching the leg of this thing somewhere.

Fast forward to now: the brass plate on the door has been changed, the domain name updated, and Nordique has been born. Same shell, different skin.

To their credit, the new crew has shed the sprawl and zeroed in on one legit project with proper geology. And honestly? That’s an improvement, though it would have been a step up from Balbir if they’d got into the meth business.

Isoneva Gold Project: A Real Exploration Plan at Last

Now under the Nordique banner, the company has secured the rights to earn 100% of the Isoneva Gold Project in Finland’s Western Gold Belt. The property spans 1,100 hectares and sits within proximity of the Laiva Gold Mine. It’s road-accessible, with power, port, and industrial infrastructure within striking distance.

This time, there’s a plan, which includes:

• Base-of-Till (BOT) drilling starting Q3 2025. That’s a cost-efficient way to sniff out bedrock gold signatures beneath glacial debris—common practice in Scandinavia.

• Follow-up diamond drilling in winter 2026. That allows them to get into boggy terrain on frozen ground without tearing up the landscape.

• Over 500 BOT holes targeting zones defined by previous boulder sampling (some grading up to 462 g/t gold) and anomalous gold-in-till readings.

For once, there’s actual geology driving this story—not marketing PowerPoints and wraparound shades. The technical team behind the drill program is seasoned and includes folks from Gemdale Gold, who know the terrain and the tools.

Why Finland, and Why Now?

Finland has quietly become one of the most attractive jurisdictions in Europe for gold exploration. It’s safe, mining-friendly, and has underexplored terrain with solid historical potential. Plus, gold prices hovering above USD $3,200/oz add extra incentive to swing hammers in the north.

The Isoneva project has every hallmark of a legitimate early-stage gold asset: strong structural controls, proven gold-bearing systems, and access to infrastructure.

New Team, New Direction—But the Stains Linger

Let’s be clear: the Nordique of 2025 is not the Brascan of 2023. There’s a focused asset, a credible plan, and less bluster. The addition of Sharyn Alexander as CEO and Angus Campbell to the board gives the company at least a chance at turning this into something long-term.

But that doesn’t erase the past. Brascan was sold as a rocket ship to retail investors, and Balbir Johal was the one lighting the fuse. The truth is, that fuse led to nothing but smoke. That sort of bait-and-switch branding, built on fast flips and soft detail, is exactly why investor confidence in junior explorers is eroding. If Johal’s out for good, good riddance, but there’s likely still folks in this thing who are far underwater.

Bottom Line

Nordique Resources finally looks like it has a real project with a real plan. For early-stage speculators, Isoneva offers legitimate geological upside in a safe jurisdiction—and that’s rare enough in this market to take notice.

But don’t forget the road it took to get here. If this is truly a new leaf, it’ll show in the drill results—not in the press releases. Until then, keep one eye on the rig and one eye on the share structure.

— Chris Parry

FULL DISCLOSURE: No commercial connection, but obvious grudges from what I and others were put through.