Vancouver, B.C. - August 9, 2011 - Westhaven Ventures Inc. (WHN-TSX:V) is pleased to announce that it has commenced work on its Shovelnose gold property, located approximately 30 km south of Merritt, British Columbia.

The 10,666 ha Shovelnose gold property is a Au-Ag epithermal-style exploration target that covers prospective stratigraphy in the southern Spences Bridge Gold Belt (SBGB), a 110 km northwest-trending belt of felsic to intermediate volcanic rocks of the Cretaceous Spences Bridge group. Surface grab samples have returned values as high as 119.37 g/t Gold (Au) and 271 g/t Silver (Ag).

Shovelnose Program Objectives

• Exploration field work: including soil sampling, trenching, prospecting and mapping
• Build access roads for a subsequent fall drill program
• Collect approximately 1000 soil geochemical samples, 150 prospecting rock grab samples and 100 trench rock chip samples

A detailed soil sampling program is now underway and approximately 1000 geochemical samples will be collected to help delineate further drill targets. Mechanized exploration trenching, prospecting and mapping have also commenced, along with the construction of diamond drill access trails to prepare for a fall drill program. The initial work program is scheduled to take approximately three weeks and will be conducted by APEX Geoscience Ltd. Please refer to Westhaven’s website (www.westhavenventures.com/projects/detail) for more information on the property.

quot;With the approval of Westhaven’s qualifying transaction, we are eager to begin work on our Shovelnose gold project. We are keen to test areas of the property that have had relatively little work done in the past and potentially delineate new drill targets for the fall drill program”, stated Shaun Pollard, CFO and Director.

On behalf of the Board of Directors?WESTHAVEN VENTURES INC.??"David Grenville Thomas"

David Grenville Thomas, President & CEO, Director

About Westhaven Ventures Inc.

Westhaven Ventures Inc. is a resource focused exploration and development company that intends to generate shareholder value through the combination of experience and analysis in the identification, acquisition and development of high caliber resource properties. Westhaven is advancing its Shovelnose gold project in British Columbia and reviewing several potential acquisitions. The Company has no debt and is well financed. Westhaven trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol WHN.

For further information, please contact Gareth Thomas at 604-681-5558 or visit Westhaven’s website at www.westhavenventures.com

Qualified Person Statement

Work on the Shovelnose property is supervised by David Gale, P.Geo (BC), Vice-President of Exploration for Strongbow, who is the qualified person for the project as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Gale has reviewed the portion of the technical content of this news release as it relates to the Shovelnose property.

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.