Established in 1932, the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada represents the interests of the Canadian mineral exploration and development industry. The association is best known for its annual convention

Convention (meeting)

A convention, in the sense of a meeting, is a gathering of individuals who meet at an arranged place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common interest. The most common conventions are based upon industry, profession, and fandom...

 and trade show in Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

, known as the PDAC (formerly the P&D). In 2010, the show attracted about 22,000 attendees from more than 100 countries.

Based in Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, the Association has approximately 20 full-time staff.

PDAC Trade Show and Convention

The annual PDAC Trade Show and Convention is held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Metro Toronto Convention Centre , located in Downtown Toronto, Ontario at 255 Front Street West, has of space. The convention centre was completed in October 1984 and is home to the 1330-seat John Bassett Theatre...

 in downtown Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

 in early March. The show attracts exhibitors and visitors from across the Americas

Americas

The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...

 and around the world. Previously notorious for rough-and-tumble mining company parties at the Royal York Hotel, the annual show has grown into a respected institution with an international reputation for networking, deal-making and scientific exchange.

2010 Show

The 2010 annual trade show official website: http://www.pdac.ca/pdac/conv/index.html

2009 Show

The 2009 annual trade show official website: http://pdac2009.ca/?p=340

Comments on 2009 show: http://www.metalsnews.com/news.aspx?NewsID=55940

Previous Shows

Comments on previous shows:
http://www.republicofmining.com/2008/03/05/canadas-pdac-2008-convention-–-the-mining-boom-continues-stan-sudol/

Influencing Government Policy and Law

Comment and criticism of government policy regarding issues of concern to the exploration and mineral industry including access to land, mining and securities regulations, Aboriginal affairs, corporate social responsibility

Corporate social responsibility

Corporate social responsibility is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model...

, finance

Finance

"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...

 and taxation, geosciences, environmental issues, and health and safety.

Bill C-300

Recently, PDAC has urged for the rejection of Bill C-300, also known as the Corporate Accountability of Mining, Oil and Gas Corporations in Developing Countries Act, related to promoting responsible environmental practices and international human rights standards on the part of Canadian mining, oil and gas corporations in developing countries. PDAC's alternative system is its "Framework for Responsible Exploration", developed for use by its members who operate in over 100 countries around the world.

Membership

PDAC is a national organization with approximately 950 corporate members (including mining companies and mining industry service providers) and more than 5,000 individual members (including prospectors, developers, geoscientists, consultants, mining executives, and students, as well as those involved in the drilling, financial, and legal aspects of exploration).

PDAC Professional Liability and Business Insurance

In co-operation with third-party insurance providers, PDAC offers both Professional and Business Insurance coverage to independent geological consultants and consulting firms, and business insurance coverage to junior exploration companies, service and equipment providers, mine site developers and operating mines (only available to members of the PDAC).

PDAC In Brief

PDAC quarterly newsletter, "In Brief" http://www.pdac.ca/pdac/publications/inbrief.html

Exploration and Development Highlights

A publication distributed in May of each year to all members, containing articles on the previous year's exploration and development activities in Canada.

External links

• PDAC Association Website: http://www.pdac.ca/
• PDAC corporate membership list, by name: http://www.pdac.ca/pdac/members/corporate-members.html
• Metro Toronto Convention Centre website: http://www.mtccc.com/home.cfm

See also

• CAMESE
  CAMESE
  The Canadian Association of Mining Equipment and Services for Export is a Toronto-based trade organization supporting the export of Canadian mining exploration equipment and services to mining companies around the world...
  
  
• Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
  Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
  The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum is a technical society of professionals in the Canadian minerals, metals, materials and energy industries. It was founded in 1898. In 2006, the organization had 12,000 national members...
  
  
• Reflection seismology
  Reflection seismology
  Reflection seismology is a method of exploration geophysics that uses the principles of seismology to estimate the properties of the Earth's subsurface from reflected seismic waves. The method requires a controlled seismic source of energy, such as dynamite/Tovex, a specialized air gun or a...
  
  
• Geophysics
  Geophysics
  Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
  
  
• Exploration geophysics
  Exploration geophysics
  Exploration geophysics is the applied branch of geophysics which uses surface methods to measure the physical properties of the subsurface Earth, in order to detect or infer the presence and position of ore minerals, hydrocarbons, geothermal reservoirs, groundwater reservoirs, and other geological...
  
  
• Society of Exploration Geophysicists
  Society of Exploration Geophysicists
  The Society of Exploration Geophysicists is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the science of geophysics and the education of exploration geophysicists. The Society fosters the expert and ethical practice of geophysics in the exploration and development of natural resources, in...
  
  
• European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE)