FOR IMMEDIATE 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