PDAC International Convention takes place March 1-4, 2015

PDAC gathers more than 1,000 exhibitors and over 25,000 participants from 100 countries over four days. — Photo courtesy envisiondigitalphoto.com.

The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) says if you only attend one conference in 2015, it ought to be theirs. The association is readying for the annual PDAC International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange, held March 1 to 4, 2015 at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre, which gathers more than 1,000 exhibitors and over 25,000 participants from 100 countries over four days.

Over its 83-year history, the convention has grown exponentially and this year is no exception, said PDAC president Rod Thomas.

PDAC President Rod Thomas speaking at the PDAC 2014 convention. — Photo courtesy envisiondigitalph

“PDAC 2015 will be extending into the North Building of the MTCC to host additional exhibit space, as well as the Core Shack,” he said. “Entrance to Trade Show North will be complimentary during the inaugural year, and show hours have been extended so attendees can cover both the North and South buildings of the MTCC.”

The conference promises something for every interest including a series of topical Short Courses, Workshops and Technical Sessions designed to showcase the challenges and trends facing the industry.

“This year we will have 19 Technical Program sessions led by industry experts, over 500 exhibitors promoting technology, products and services, and more than 540 exhibitors in the Investors Exchange,” said Thomas. “There really is something for everyone.”

PDAC gathers more than 1,000 exhibitors and over 25,000 participants from 100 countries over four days. — Photo courtesy envisiondigitalph

Technical sessions highlight a wide range of topics including commodities and the market outlook, innovation and government funding, and renewable energy. Regionally specific topics cover Mexico, Latin America, Central Africa and Canada’s North, while commodity-specific talks discuss gold, nickel and specialty metals.

PDAC Short Courses offer cutting-edge education opportunities. One- and two-day courses cover geology of copper and gold deposits, sorting geochemical data, investment fundamentals, and health and safety, while others impart useful techniques and tips for avoiding estimation pitfalls, advancing exploration projects to production and implementing anti-corruption tools.

Thomas said money will be an important theme at the 2015 conference. “From access to capital, to capital allocation, margins, and profitability, money is on everyone’s minds,” he said. “The junior sector is struggling to raise exploration funds, and operators are pulling back on growth and trying to reduce costs and improve profit margins as a means of attracting further investment.”

Apart from the conference’s annual Mineral Outlook Luncheon, this year will also feature a Panel Luncheon on alternative investment funds.

The PDAC Convention also has a dedicated Student Program, which includes the free Student-Industry Networking Luncheon, an opportunity to connect with over 900 students and industry professionals, and the Student-Industry Forum.

“The Student-Industry Forum, in its fourth year, offers students an opportunity to explore various careers in the industry through a keynote address and panel discussion, followed by a question-and-answer session with industry experts,” said Thomas.

The Convention also hosts a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Event Series and an Aboriginal Program, which includes the Aboriginal Forum and the Skookum Jim Award.

This year’s Aboriginal Program highlights issues relating to community engagement in Canada’s diverse mining environment. Programs on Monday and Tuesday discuss aligning priorities for mutual benefit, examining experiences from Canada’s north, issues in Aboriginal law, and reaching agreements through engagement and Aboriginal participation.

For more information, please visit PDAC online at www.pdac.ca.