Toronto – The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is pleased to announce award recipients in seven categories for 2017. These top international and domestic performers will be honoured with a prestigious award in recognition of their excellence.
The annual PDAC Awards showcase exceptional leaders in the mineral exploration and mining industry, and will be celebrated at the Awards Gala & After Party at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. This event will now be held on the new day of Tuesday, March 7 during the PDAC 2017 Convention.
More information about PDAC 2017 Award recipients and some of their accomplishments are highlighted below.
Bill Dennis Award: Val d’ Or Exploration Team, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
For discovering the Amaruq gold deposits in the Amer Lake Basin in Nunavut, one of the few recent and significant finds in Canada. Agnico’s Val d’ Or Exploration Team made the discoveries between 2013 and 2016 while prospecting a virtually unexplored part of the Woodburn Lake Belt. Amaruq includes three gold zones with inferred resources estimated at 16.9 million tonnes at 6.05 g/t gold for a total of 3.3 million ounces of high-grade gold mineralization (as at December 31, 2015).
Distinguished Service Award: Neil Gow
Neil Gow is a geologist who has volunteered on the PDAC Convention Planning Committee the past 12 years and chaired numerous Technical Sessions at the PDAC Convention. For around 15 years Neil was Secretary-Treasurer of the Toronto Geological Discussion Group, served as Chairman of the CIM Mineral Resource and Reserves Committee, and provided assistance for the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines—all on a voluntary basis.
Environmental & Social Responsibility Award: Teranga Gold Corporation
Teranga has operated the Sabodala Gold Mine in Senegal, West Africa since 2009. The mine employs more than 1,000 people from Senegal and delivers more than 40 training programs to develop employee skills, literacy and numeracy. Women comprise 9% of the workforce and are represented across all departments. Teranga has health initiatives for it employees and the surrounding communities.
Skookum Jim Award: Peter Moses
Peter is credited with fostering positive relationships between industry and Aboriginal communities. He has spent more than 35 years as a prospector and has successfully promoted, negotiated and executed 34 option agreements for junior and major mining companies throughout Canada and the USA. He provided prospector training, staking and geoscience information workshops to 123 of the 134 First Nation communities in Ontario, as well as the Métis Nation of Ontario.
Special Achievement Award: Women’s Association of the Mining Industry of Canada (WAMIC)
WAMIC was founded in 1921 to promote friendship among women connected to mining. While the role of the association has evolved, it continues to makes a significant impact. Hundreds of Earth science and mining-related students receive financial contributions through WAMIC scholarships and bursaries. They have distributed more than $1.8 million in support of young people’s education over their 96 years.
Thayer Lindsley Award: Peter Megaw, Mag Silver
Peter Megaw, a Professional Geologist and co-founder of MAG Silver, made a blind discovery, known as the Juanicipio silver deposit, containing more than 200 million ounces silver. The discovery resulted from an understanding of structural controls and mineral zoning patterns of epithermal vein systems and persistent application of field-based exploration methods. It was discovered in the 500 kilometre Fresnillo epithermal belt in Mexico. The discovery renewed exploration of the region and led to the discovery of further 600 million ounces silver.
Viola R. MacMillan Award: De Beers Group of Companies & Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. for the Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine
Located in the Northwest Territories, the Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine—a joint venture between the De Beers Group of Companies and Mountain Province Diamonds—officially opened in September 2016. It is the world’s largest new diamond mine in 13 years and is expected to produce around 54 million carats of rough diamonds during its lifetime. It is on track to reach full-commercial operation in the first quarter of 2017 and will account for 3% of the global diamond market.
PDAC’s Board of Directors select recipients based on recommendations of the association’s Awards Committee. More information about the 2017 award recipients is available on the PDAC website at www.pdac.ca/programs/awards/2017-award-recipients
About the PDAC
The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is the leading voice of the mineral exploration and development community. With over 8,000 members around the world in all sectors of the mining industry, the PDAC’s mission is to promote a globally-responsible, vibrant and sustainable minerals industry. As the trusted representative of the sector, PDAC encourages best practices in technical, operational, environmental, safety and social performance. PDAC is known worldwide for its annual PDAC Convention, regarded as the premier international event for the mineral industry. The PDAC Convention has attracted over 25,000 people from 125 countries in recent
years and will next be held March 5-8, 2017 in Toronto. Please visit www.pdac.ca.
Media Contact
Kristy Kenny
416-362-1969 x 233
kkenny@pdac.ca