For the first time since the pandemic began, the global mineral exploration and mining industry returned to Toronto on June 13-15, 2022, to attend the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention, in person once again.

Referred to as the world’s premier annual exploration and mining event, PDAC 2022 welcomed 17,445 investors, analysts, Indigenous leaders, mining executives, geologists, government officials, and students after more than two years of uncertainty for major events.

“Like most of the world, the mineral exploration and mining industry faced a variety of challenges during the pandemic, and yet its significance and resilience has remained admirable, and that pride was on full display at the PDAC 2022 Convention,” said Alex Christopher, PDAC President, reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic that forced PDAC 2021 to be a completely online event.

According to a PDAC press release, energy was widespread across the sold-out Trade Show and Investors Exchange, as well as highly-attended courses and programming that reflected conversations happening within the sector, including the dominant themes of equity, diversity and inclusion, Indigenous engagement, critical minerals, sustainability, and the industry's role in helping the world realize a low-emissions future.

“Critical minerals offer an enormous economic opportunity for Canada as the world transitions to a green and digital economy,” said the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, who participated in the convention’s opening ceremonies. “Our government is committed to making Canada a world leader in critical minerals, from exploration to recycling.”

This year, PDAC celebrated the 90th anniversary of its annual conference with more than 800 exhibitors, 200 hours of content, and a variety of networking events. PDAC noted that it had record attendance at the opening ceremonies and that many discussion sessions were so well attended there was only standing room. Additionally, PDAC noted that the Indigenous Program also saw high attendance, especially the session on navigating the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) correctly.

Other highlights from this year’s PDAC convention included the Women in Mining’s Annual Mining for Diversity Reception and the inaugural launch International Day of Women in Mining, which will celebrate the perseverance, contributions, talent, and spirit of women in the industry on June 15th every year. PDAC also hosted the 7th Annual International Mines Ministers Summit (IMMS), in partnership with the World Economic Forum, bringing together 20 Ministers responsible for mining from around the world to discuss the industry’s role in reducing global emissions.

On June 28-29, 2022, PDAC successfully completed the online portion of the event – its first-ever in-person and online convention in the same year.

The online event offered a customized platform where participants could navigate through exhibit halls, network with colleagues, and join sessions filled with captivating speakers and relevant programming that keeps attendees informed with current knowledge. The lineup included exclusive online-only sessions as well as select recordings of key notes and programming from the in-person event. Attendees can access content demand until July 29, 2022.

“The PDAC Convention is iconic for the world’s mineral exploration and mining industry, it is a staple in social calendars for those who work in our business because it is an event that simply cannot be missed,” said Alex Christopher. “That theory was tested when we shifted to an entirely online event in 2021, and then again when it moved from March to June for both an in person and online convention, and the feedback has been nothing short of positive from an industry that is eager to get back to doing business in a pre-pandemic manner.”

“The PDAC Convention is about connecting people, and that means offering a platform that allows the broader international mining and exploration community who may not be able to travel to Toronto, to still have access to the latest industry news, trends, and developments through our extensive programming,” said Lisa McDonald, PDAC Executive Director.

The next PDAC Convention will be on March 5-8, 2023, returning to its usual timing in early March. To learn more about the conference, visit www.pdac.ca/convention.