PDAC MVV Content Block MISSION

Mission

As the voice of mineral exploration and development in Canada, PDAC works with its stakeholders to access the land, capital, and skills required to responsibly discover and develop minerals and metals.

PDAC MVV Content Block

Vision

As a result of our work, we want to see a competitive Canadian mineral exploration and development industry that operates responsibly in Canada and around the world.

PDAC Content Block Values

Values

In pursuit of our mission and vision: 

  • We value integrity, accountability and transparency.
  • We value partnership and mutual respect.
  • We value equity, diversity and inclusivity.
  • We value collaboration with all stakeholders and exchange experiences, information and knowledge.
  • We value the environment and communities where we work.
  • We value excellence in all we do and strive for adaptability in our approach.
  • We value open and honest engagement and evidence-based decision-making.

In 2023, the Board of Directors approved a five-year strategic plan for PDAC. The plan builds on the goals and objectives outlined in the previous (2017-2021) plan, while adding a greater focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship, as well as inclusion and diversity.

Read the 2023-28 Strategic Plan
PDAC About Us Our Roadmap Strategic Plan Content Block

PDAC believes that mineral exploration and development has always had the potential to make social and economic improvements within the communities where we operate. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are strategic priorities for PDAC and are at the core of our mandate and our values.

Access full policy file
Equity Diversity and Inclusion Policy
PDAC has proudly supported Canada's mineral exploration
and development industry since 1932.
1930s

1932 

 

Early on in the Great Depression, Walter Segsworth, a mining engineer, calls a meeting at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto to fight a proposed Engineers Bill put forth by the Ontario government that would require prospectors filing a work assessment to have the report signed by a mining engineer. They raise $168.45 and go on to lobby government. The bill is never passed.

 

1933 

 

The name of the association is changed to the Ontario Prospectors and Developers Association (OPDA). Membership swells to 900. No fee is required and throughout the 1930s annual meetings are held in the Oak Room at the King Edward Hotel. The meetings are followed by dinner ($1.25 per person) and dancing.

 

1938 

The association fights and defeats Section 32-B of the Income Tax Act that would treat all prospectors’ equity in a property as income and taxable immediately along with any shares the person might receive.

1940s

1941 

Walter Segsworth and a few members gather at the house of George and Viola MacMillan to discuss the upcoming general meeting. George is nominated president. Viola notes at the time that “George will make a very good president. I’ll see that he does.” Viola is elected Secretary-Treasurer.

 

1942 

 

Through the efforts of Viola, the annual meeting is expanded to a full-day convention that includes speakers, a four-course banquet and dancing. A $1 membership administration fee is introduced.

 

1943 

The OPDA Convention is expanded to a two-day affair in February and the first edition of the association’s bulletin comes out. The motto: “We Lead.”

 

1944 

 

With 1,700 members, the convention outgrows the King Edward Hotel and is moved to the Royal York Hotel. Viola takes over as president.

 

1948 

For the first time at the convention, government geological and geophysical maps are displayed.

1950s

1954 

The association’s office moves from 67 Yonge Street to a new building at 25 Adelaide St. West.

 

1957 

 

The association changes its name to the Prospectors and Developers Association (PDA). Geophysics is all the rage at the convention, especially when it came to presentations and discussions on the Bathurst Area of New Brunswick.

 

1959 

The convention is held jointly with the Geological Association of Canada (GAC) and the Mineralogical Association of Canada (MAC), two organizations the OPDA helped to form in 1947 and 1955 respectively.

1960s

1964 

Viola steps down as President and is convicted for wash trading in connection with one of her companies in what became known as the Windfall scandal. She would later receive a full pardon and be made a member of the Order of Canada.

 

1965 

No convention is held and the association almost disappears as the Ontario Securities Commission pushes forward to eliminate junior mine financing. The association survives thanks to Alex Mosher, Bill Dennis and a few others.

 

1966 

 

The first annual hockey game is held at Maple Leaf Gardens between the Prospectors No-Stars and the Keevil team, the Teck Terrifics. Funds raised went toward bursaries.


 

 

1969

 

Claude Taylor is hired as full-time General Manager. PDA Digest is published for the first time.

1970s

1972

 

 A record 2,830 registered delegates attend the convention, along with 350 students.

 

1975 

Under the leadership of President James Walker and Vice-President Ed Thompson, regular director meetings are scheduled on the second Tuesday of every month.

 

1977 

The PDA’s campaign to get a 100% flow-through share write-off is passed into law and remains effective for the next two years.

 

1978

 

The annual awards are introduced with the first being the Bill Dennis Prospector of the Year Award.

1980s

1983

 

Former PDA President John Hansuld and his company Canamax Resources Inc. organize the first issuing of flow-through shares. Between 1984 and 1990, $3.75 billion would be raised through flow-through share financing.

 

1987 

 

Tony Andrews is hired as Managing Director and the association’s name is once again changed, this time to the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada.

1990s

1992

 

For the first time ever, the convention is opened to the world and attracts a total 2,300 delegates, 37 of which are from other countries.

 

1994 

The association’s first strategic plan is undertaken.

 

1997 

 

The convention moves from the Royal York Hotel to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

 

1997

 

Mining Matters, a charity affiliated with the PDAC that educates students about rocks, metals, minerals and mining is established.

 

1998 

The PDAC takes part in the Mining Standards Task Force and the subsequent revision of National Instrument 43-101.

2000s

2000 

The convention is transformed for one year into the 2000 Mining Millennium—a joint venture between the PDAC and CIM.

 

2003 

 

The PDAC introduces e3 Environmental Excellence in Exploration, a field-proven guide of methods for exploration activities, community engagement and environmental practices.

 

2006 

The convention attracts 14,500 attendees from 100 countries and is now without question the largest international showcase for mining and exploration in the world. The Aboriginal Program is launched at convention. The PDAC Convention moves to the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

 

2007 

 

The PDAC celebrates its 75th anniversary, the Student Industry Mineral Workshop (S-IMEW) is launched in Sudbury, Ontario, and the Skookum Jim Award for Aboriginal achievement in the mineral industry is introduced.

 

2008 

 

Former PDAC Past President Patricia Dillon and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that lays the foundation for cooperation between the two organizations. The PDAC also moves its office to 135 King Street East.

 

2009 

The PDAC expands e3 to e 3Plus, a set of eight principles and three toolkits that exploration and mining companies can use to heighten their social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and health and safety.

2010s

2010 

 

PDAC plays a major role in defeating Bill C-300.

 

 

2011 

 

Ross Gallinger is hired as Executive Director.

 

2012 

 

A record-breaking number of attendees (30,369) attend the convention from 125 countries. The association develops a new strategic plan, and embarks on a rebranding process, that includes the creation of a new logo.

 

2013 

 

The PDAC launches its new brand at the PDAC 2013 Convention that features a new logo, website, quarterly magazine named Core, along with the association’s first ever Annual Report.

 

2014 

 

For the first time in the history of the PDAC Convention, Canada's Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, attends and takes part in a 45-minute Q & A session on the state of the minerals and developments industry with PDAC President Rodney Thomas in front of 600 invited guests at the MTCC.

 

2015 

 

Andrew Cheatle is hired as Executive Director.

 

2016 

 

PDAC 2016 welcomed 16 Mines Ministers from around the world to the inaugural International Mines Ministers’ Summit (IMMS). Led by Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Jim Carr, the IMMS provided an important setting for the international mining community to meet and collaborate, and was co-hosted with the World Economic Forum (WEF).

 

2018 

 

The association celebrates the Government of Canada’s announcement that the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (METC) is renewed until 2024. PDAC launches its new Strategic Plan that centres on enhancements in four key areas: leadership, engagement, competitiveness and influence. Lisa McDonald is appointed as Executive Director.

2020s

2021 

 

The annual convention was held entirely virtual for the first time in its 89-year history. At the PDAC 2021 Virtual Convention, all attendees had access to a customized platform where they could navigate through various exhibit halls, network with colleagues, and join sessions that were available on-demand shortly after airing.