PDAC 2016 convention brings 24,000 to Toronto

The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada promises world-class education and networking at its annual convention.

by Jessica Kirby — October 26, 2015

A photo of some of the 1400 exhibitor booths at the PDAC 2105 conference.

PDAC offers 1400 exhibitor booths. — Photo courtesy of envisiondigitalphoto.com.

Toronto will once again host one of the mining industry’s key events this spring, when PDAC 2016 Convention descends on the city March 6 to 9. The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) draws people, companies and organizations in or connected with mineral exploration to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

PDAC president Rod Thomas said last year’s event was a great success, with over 23,500 attendees from 116 countries.

“Outside of Canada," Thomas said, "the largest number of attendees came from United States, Australia, Peru, England, Mexico, Chile, China, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Germany.”

Last year's event featured 19 technical sessions and 1400 exhibitor booths, between Trade Show and Trade North, Investors Exchange and Mining Marketplace. For the second year in a row, Trade Show North will be in the North Building of the MTCC, duplicating the success of last year’s exhibition.

A man looking through a magnifying glass at a core sample.

“We are also in the preliminary stage of putting together an International Mines Minister Summit at the PDAC 2016 convention to bring together industry government leaders from around the world,” said Thomas.

The convention’s most popular offerings are the aboriginal program, CEO panel, keynote session, CSR event series and technical sessions, and the Core Shack is also a key highlight.

The aboriginal program actively promotes co-operation and understanding between aboriginal communities and the mineral industry, and the CEO panel presents current information on select exploration and development companies’ activities and investment potential.

This year’s technical session programming includes talks on commodities and the market outlook, and a keynote address entitled 2026—the future of exploration and development. Technical sessions offer a good range of general and specific areas of focus. On the general front sessions look at energy strategies and efficiencies, mining and integrated water management, specialty minerals and metals for energy storage, feasibility studies versus reality, and others on a broad spectrum. Talks also laser in on specific topics like Nevada gold deposits, diamond mining in South Africa, the evolving landscape of uranium, and financing and the China Factor.

PDAC 2016’s Capital Markets Program creates a forum for learning and dialogue on topics relating to mineral exploration financing—Canada’s capital markets holding a critical position in supporting local and global mineral exploration. As the national voice for the Canadian exploration industry PDAC reports on its work in advocating for capital markets raising capital fairly, affordably and effectively.

Besides injecting $70 million into the local economy, according to a Tourism Toronto study, the PDAC convention garners local and international attention, said Thomas, because “it’s the largest industry event for mining and minerals in the world and the top destination for networking and learning.”

Anyone undecided about attending the next convention can look forward to a fulfilling, educational and business-savvy experience that offers something for every attendee, said Thomas.

“It’s the Super Bowl event of the year for our industry,” he said. “You’ll learn all about the latest trends, technologies and personalities shaping the mineral exploration and development industry. It’s a must-attend event.”

Visit www.pdac.ca/convention for full details.