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News Release
The world’s mineral industry met at PDAC Convention 2006 The International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada broke all previous records at its 74th meeting in March 2006 and lived up to its reputation as the leading venue for people involved in global mineral exploration. A record 14,500 people from across the world packed the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for this annual event which has become a high point in the mineral industry’s calendar. Prospectors and geologists rubbed shoulders with Canadian and foreign government officials. Investors clamoured to hear company presentations and lined up to talk to company representatives about investment opportunities. Bankers, brokers, and analysts were out in full force as were suppliers of equipment and services to the industry. Exploration managers, lawyers, accountants, students, and media were also there. Technical presentations proved a huge draw, and there was an over-flowing audience to hear speakers in the keynote session talk on the subject that was evident throughout the convention: Mining’s Back! In all, delegates came from an estimated 100 countries. Of these, 40 countries sent national delegations headed by a senior government official. The reason for their presence was nicely summed up by Argentina’s Mining Secretary when asked why his country had sent a delegation of close to 100 people. The PDAC convention, he said, “provides an unrivalled opportunity to meet, negotiate and compare notes with the who’s who of mining.” Representatives of the 430 exhibiting companies in the Investors Exchange and the 280 companies in the Trade Show were kept busy throughout the four days of the convention talking about their prospects, projects, services and products. Traffic in the Investors Exchange, which offered free admission to the investing public, was heavy with attendance of over 3,400. PDAC president Peter Dimmell welcomed Canada’s newly appointed minister of natural resources Gary Lunn, who opened the convention. Mr. Lunn spoke to the importance of Toronto and Vancouver on the world’s mining stage [65% of all the world’s public companies are listed on Canada’s TSX and TSX-V exchanges]. Luncheon speakers included Donald Coxe, global portfolio strategist, BMO Financial Group, who delivered an optimistic message that the mining industry is facing a brighter future than ever before with the burgeoning Chinese economy. Another luncheon speaker, Mark Bristow, CEO of Randgold Resources, talked about the new world order for gold mining. This, he said, will require a well balanced, holistic approach which gives equal weight to commercial and social issues. The deal-making and networking were not restricted to daytime hours. The many receptions, hospitality suites, and social events organized around the convention provided further opportunities to do business as well as have fun. At the PDAC’s glittering awards evening, recipients of the association’s annual awards were recognized and honoured for their achievements in the industry or their contributions to the PDAC. A recurrent theme throughout the convention, in informal conversation or in presentations, was the growing skill and labour shortage that the industry is facing. The PDAC’s student affairs committee, in its efforts to encourage students to work in the industry, organized a highly successful student-industry networking lunch which attracted 250 people. Events, people, and companies were widely publicized by the 200 Canadian and foreign print, television, radio, and internet media representatives covering the show. The outstanding success of PDAC Convention 2006 was achieved through the contributions, support, and hard work of many people and companies, including our sponsors, exhibitors, delegates, volunteers, staff, and suppliers. To you all, thank you! |
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