Each year, the renowned PDAC Awards recognize outstanding performers in the Canadian and international mineral exploration and mining industry.

Dating back to 1977, PDAC Awards are a way to acknowledge exceptional contributors, in up to seven categories. Recipients are celebrated at a prestigious Awards Gala & After Party in Toronto every year in March during the annual PDAC Convention. Following are the deserving recipients of the 2019 PDAC awards.

2019 Bill Dennis Award

This award honours an individual or team of explorationists who have accomplished one or both of the following: made a significant mineral discovery; made an important contribution to the prospecting and/or exploration industry.

WINNER: Peregrine Diamonds Ltd. and BHP, Chidliak Discovery Team for the discovery of the Chidliak diamond district on Baffin Island, Nunavut

2019 Distinguished Service Award

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 PDAC; made outstanding contributions to the mineral industry in the field of finance, geology, geophysics, geochemistry research, or a related activity.

WINNER: Donald (Don) Bubar for his contribution to building awareness of Indigenous issues among PDAC members, his support of geoscience education in Canada, and his exploration successes.

2019 Environmental & Social Responsibility Award

This award honours an individual or organization demonstrating outstanding initiative, leadership and accomplishment in protecting and preserving the natural environment and/or in establishing good community relations during an exploration program or operation of a mine.

WINNER: NexGen Energy Ltd. for employing the latest technologies to reduce exploration’s environmental footprint and for fostering economic and social development in neighbouring communities through a variety of initiatives.

2019 Skookum Jim Award

Recipients of this award have demonstrated exceptional achievement and/or service in a Canadian 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 industry.

WINNER: Gordon Maxwell, Sachigo Lake First Nation, Ontario

2019 Thayer Lindsley Award

This award recognizes an individual or a team of explorationists credited with a recent significant mineral discovery anywhere in the world.

WINNER: Cardinal Resources for the 2014 discovery of the Namdini gold deposit in northeastern Ghana

2019 Viola R. MacMillan Award

This award, named in honour of PDAC’s longest serving president, is given to an individual or organization demonstrating leadership in management and financing for the exploration and development of mineral resources.

WINNER: Nemaska Lithium for demonstrating leadership in transforming a grassroots exploration property into a vertically integrated lithium operation in Québec that will provide a new source of supply for the surging lithium battery market.