AME BC Exploration Days 100th Anniversary Celebration

The Exploration Days centennial celebration at Britannia Mine Museum represented a landmark moment for British Columbia's mineral exploration community. Held at the iconic Britannia Beach location with its famous super haul truck visible from the Sea to Sky Highway, the event commemorated AME BC's evolution from the original Vancouver Mining Club founded in 1912 to the province's predominant voice for mineral exploration and development. The celebration featured presentations highlighting the association's rich history and the remarkable growth of BC's mining sector, from $32 million in mineral production in 1912 to $9.9 billion by 2011. Industry leaders, including AME BC Chair Michael McPhie and President Gavin C. Dirom, addressed attendees about the thousands of professionals who have contributed to the industry's success over the past century. The event also showcased the association's ongoing advocacy work and future priorities, including land access issues, permitting improvements, and public education initiatives. With representatives from the association's nearly 5,000 members spanning 37 countries, the celebration emphasized BC's position as a global hub for mineral exploration companies and the industry's contribution of over $700 billion to the provincial economy throughout its history.