Annual powerhouse mining event stays strong: PDAC's 2009 numbers mirror 2008.

• Author: Stewart, Nick
• Position: MINING

While the world waits on mineral markets to improve, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's International Convention, Trade Show & Investors Exchange, to be held in Toronto from March 1 - 4, is helping industry find solutions.

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"This offers an opportunity, more so than at other times, to see what's going on in Canada and around the world," says Joe Hinzer, chair of the PDAC's convention planning committee.

"There have been some challenges in our industry no question, but everything has gelled a bit, and people are trying to find their way forward from here. We've tried to develop a lineup that reflects that, and we think we've succeeded."

Hinzer is so confident in the draw of the event's networking opportunities that he expects this year's total to closely match those seen in 2008, where roughly 20,000 attendees walked through the doors.

This year's theme represents a focus not only on a "return to normalcy," but also on the world's continued need for Canada's world-leading expertise in mining innovation.

This refers not only to technical ingenuity, but also to leadership on corporate and social responsibility as well as health and safety.

As such, the event's keynote speakers have been chosen in an effort to reflect these realities, says Hinzer, who also serves as the president of the Toronto-based Watts Griffis and McOuatLtd.

Renowned investment advisor and author Marc Faber is expected to shine a light on the world's financial and foreign exchange markets. Meanwhile, Calvin Helin, a lawyer and president of the Native Investment and Trade Association, will speak on helping dependent populations to find self-reliance.

As is customary, this year's event features technical sessions which cover a broad range of subjects including Aboriginal participation in the mining industry, diamonds, as well as specific regions such as West Africa, Latin America, and Flin Flon, Manitoba.

The core shacks will feature a strong Northern Ontario presence, with exhibits from Brett Resources, Lake Shore Gold Corp., MetalCORP Limited, Vale Inco, and Premier Gold...