NEWS RELEASE: PDAC Honours Industry Leaders with 2016 Awards

Toronto, December 8, 2015 – Industry leaders in seven categories will be honoured for their outstanding contributions to the mineral exploration and mining sector at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) 2016 Convention. The annual awards showcase the best domestic and international mineral discovery, mine development, Aboriginal achievement, exceptional environment or social responsibility effort, distinguished service, and special achievement.

Recipients will be celebrated at the Awards Evening at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto on March 7, 2016, during the 84th PDAC Convention.

The PDAC’s Board of Directors select recipients based on recommendations of the association’s Awards Committee. A summary of the awards and their recipients are listed below.

Bill Dennis Award for a Canadian mineral discovery or prospecting success

Robert Cudney, Stephen Roman and John Whitton are the recipients of this year’s Bill Dennis Award for the Bruce Channel gold discovery at the Red Lake Gold Camp in northwestern Ontario. The Bill Dennis Award honours individuals who have accomplished one or more of the following: made a significant mineral discovery; made an important contribution to the prospecting and/or exploration industry.

Distinguished Service Award

Patricia Sheahan is the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Service Award for her unique and outstanding contribution and dedication to Canada’s mineral industry. This award recognizes an individual who has achieved one or more of the following: made a substantial contribution to mineral exploration and mining development over a number of years; given considerable time and effort to the PDAC; made outstanding contributions to the mineral industry in the field of finance, geology, geophysics, geochemistry research, or a related activity.

Environmental & Social Responsibility Award

Lucara Diamond Corp., who recently discovered the second largest diamond ever on record, is the recipient of this year’s Environmental & Social Responsibility Award for their stakeholder initiatives, community engagement, and focus on sustainable practices and long-term benefits at their Karawoe mine in Botswana. This award honours an individual or organization that has demonstrated outstanding initiative, leadership and/or accomplishment in protecting and preserving the natural environment and/or in establishing good community relations during an exploration program or operation of a mine.

Skookum Jim Award for Aboriginal achievement in the mineral industry

Darrell Beaulieu is the recipient of this year’s Skookum Jim Award for his innovation, hard work and dedication to the mineral industry in his Yellowknife community. Recipients of this award have demonstrated exceptional achievement and/or service in an Aboriginal-run service business for the Canadian mining industry or a Canadian Aboriginal exploration or mining company, or have made a significant individual contribution to the mineral and mining industry.

Special Achievement Award

The Bjorkman family, of Bjorkman Prospecting, are the recipients of this year’s Special Achievement Award for their multi-generational dedication to geology, prospecting and diversity. From time to time, the PDAC presents a Special Achievement Award that recognizes exceptional contributions to the mineral industry.

Thayer Lindsley Award for international mineral discoveries

The Cukaru Peki discovery team from Reservoir Minerals Inc. and Freeport-McMoRan Inc. are the recipients of this year’s Thayer Lindsley Award for the discovery of high-grade copper-gold deposits in Serbia that may prompt explorers to look for a new class of mineral deposit. This award recognizes an individual or a team of explorationists credited with a recent significant mineral discovery anywhere in the world.

Viola R. MacMillan Award for company or mine development
Silver Wheaton Corp. is the recipient of this year’s Viola R. MacMillan Award for developing new and innovative business strategies that are a leading example for other companies and junior miners. This award is given to a person or company demonstrating leadership in management and financing for the exploration and development of mineral resources.

More information about the 2016 award recipients is available at www.pdac.ca/programs/awards.

About the PDAC

The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is the national voice of Canada’s mineral exploration and development industry. With a membership of over 8,000, the PDAC’s mission is to promote a responsible, vibrant and sustainable Canadian mineral exploration and development sector. The PDAC encourages leading practices in technical, environmental, safety and social performance in Canada and internationally. PDAC is known worldwide for its annual PDAC Convention, regarded as the premier event for mineral industry professionals. The PDAC Convention has attracted over 25,000 people from 125 countries in recent years and will next be held March 6-9, 2016, in Toronto. Please visit www.pdac.ca

Media Contact
Kristy Kenny
Coordinator of Communications, PDAC
416-362-1969 x 233
kkenny@pdac.ca