The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) event is being held from 2-5 March in Toronto, Canada. The annual award-winning convention brings together up to 30,000 attendees from over 130 countries for its educational programming, networking events, as well as business and investment opportunities.
The PDAC convention is widely considered the ‘Super Bowl’ of the mineral exploration and mining community and is the leading event for people, companies and organisations connected to mineral exploration.
Today, it is the event of choice for the world’s mineral industry hosting more than 1,100 exhibitors and 700 presenters.
Mining.com.au is an official media partner for the upcoming event.
PDAC President Raymond Goldie, who was born and raised in New Zealand and continues to be a director of junior mineral exploration companies, says the convention’s influence continues almost 100 years after it was first launched.
“Since 1932, the convention has grown not only in size and influence, but also in its ability to foster critical discussions,unveil cutting-edge innovations, and connect industry leaders from across the globe,” Goldie says.
“This year, we are thrilled to build on the successes of PDAC 2024, where 27,000 attendees from 138 countries gathered to engage with top experts, network with peers, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
“PDAC 2025, our 93rd annual event, promises to be the most dynamic and expansive yet, spanning over 600,000 square feet at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.”
There is a growing contingent of ASX-listed juniors attending PDAC. This year, the likes of American Rare Earths (ASX:ARR), Kingsrose Mining (ASX:KRM), Solis Minerals (ASX:SLM), and Tempest Minerals (ASX:TEM) will be attending.
Speaking to Mining.com.au, Tempest Minerals Managing Director Don Smith says the company has flown to Canada to attend the past few years to engage with its North American shareholder base.
While Australia and Canada share plenty of similarities, Smith says Canada is vastly superior in its embracing of junior companies.
“They have a second stock exchange just for that, the TSX-V. I’m not saying we should go down that path in Australia, but it’s indicative of that,” he tells this news service.
“The Canadian market is far more willing to accept companies that are taking risks. That particularly applies to doing things differently and particularly, jurisdictional risk. So whenever a company operates in a place of some level of sovereign risk, you’ll see the Canadian companies are almost always there, way before any listed Australian company.”
With many companies in Australia increasingly becoming risk averse, Smith says PDAC offers a different perspective of the global market and provides an opportunity to gain insights from global peers and competitors.
North American juniors such as American Salars Lithium (CSE:USLI), Faraday Copper (TSX:FDY), Military Metals (CSE:MILI), Power Nickel (TSX-V:PNPN), Q2 Metals (TSX-V:QTWO), and Tinka Resources (TSX-V:TK) are also listed to attend PDAC 2025.
Smith tells Mining.com.au this year’s programming aligns with Tempest’s strategy and theme he will be communicating to existing and prospective investors.
“I always try to have a consistent theme for everyone. But the story for Tempest this year will be ‘Thanks for following us, we’ve been exploring our hearts off for the last five years and we found something and we’re going to push ahead with it. We’re going to continue exploring because we’re good at it, but we’re in a new phase of life as a company now’,” he continues.
“That’s pretty cool. It’s always about the Ps – people, we have a great team, and we have great projects, even compared to many of our peers, and then also our massive potential.”
For Tempest, that potential is it looks to be on a pathway to becoming a producer in the next couple of years.
Shifting priorities
PDAC’s President says this year’s programming reflects the industry’s shifting priorities, with sessions on sustainability, indigenous relations, and critical minerals development to name a few.
From the vibrant Trade Show to the in-depth Technical Program and the Awards Gala & Nite Cap, PDAC 2025 “has something for everyone – whether you’re an experienced executive, an emerging professional, or a student aiming to break into the field”.
Goldie notes event organisers remain committed to nurturing the next generation of mining professionals through initiatives like the Dr. Donald M. Leishman Student Convention Experience, the Student & Early Career Program, and the new Indigenous Ambassador Program.
Last year’s keynote presenters included Rio Tinto’s (ASX:RIO) Jakob Stausholm, The World Bank’s Michael Stanley, Caterpillar’s Denise Johnson, and Wojtek Wodzicki from the Lundin Group Vicuña Exploration Team.
In November 2024, the recipients of the 2025 PDAC Awards were announced. Since the awards were established in 1977, Goldie says they have been a symbol of excellence, recognising individuals, teams, and organisations that have made significant contributions to the global mining industry.
“The 2025 award recipients embody the expertise, passion and drive that define excellence in mineral exploration and development,” PDAC’s President says.
“Their remarkable accomplishments demonstrate the crucial role of innovation, resourcefulness, and leadership in uncovering the minerals that power our modern world.”
Recipients will be celebrated during the PDAC 2025 Convention at the Awards Gala & Nite on 4 March at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto.
2025 PDAC Award recipients
Bill Dennis Award: A Canadian discovery or prospecting success. Canadian Malartic Exploration Team for the discovery of the East Gouldie Deposit in Malartic, Quebec.
Skookum Jim Award: Indigenous achievement in the mineral industry.David Kritterdlik for groundbreaking work promoting Inuit values, cultural preservation, and sustainable development.
Sustainability Award: For outstanding leadership in environmental protection and/or good community relations. Teck Resources and UN Women: Originarias Program for its transformative impact onIndigenous women in Chile.
Thayer Lindsley Award: For an international mineral discovery.The Onto Discovery Team for the discovery of the Onto Deposit in Indonesia.
Viola R. MacMillan Award: For company or mined development. John Robins for lifetime leadership and significant contributions to the mining and exploration industry.
PDAC 2024 statistics
Convention attendees: 26,926
International attendees: 33.3%
Outside of Canada the largest number of attendees came from: US, Australia, UK, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Mongolia, Germany, Turkey, and Kazakhstan.
Countries represented: 138
Accredited media: 366
Sponsors: 35
Student attendees: 1,115
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Images: PDAC
