PDAC isn’t just another conference—it’s a full-scale mining ecosystem that takes over downtown Toronto. PDAC 2026 runs March 1–4 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), drawing 27,000+ attendees from 125+ countries, with 1,300+ exhibitors and 700 presenters across programming, exhibits, and nonstop networking.
For Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario companies, suppliers, students, and job-seekers, PDAC is where financing, partnerships, procurement, and next-season planning get real—often in 25-minute meetings, hallway chats, and coffee-line introductions.
Below are field-tested tips to help first-timers get value from “the largest mining show on earth”—without getting swallowed by it.
1) Decide what “success” looks like before you arrive
PDAC is too big to “just wander.” Pick one primary goal and two secondary goals.
Examples:
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Raising capital: prioritize Investors Exchange/Core Shack conversations and pre-booked meetings.
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Finding clients: target suppliers, service firms, and decision-makers on the trade show floor.
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Job hunting: focus on student/early-career programming, mentoring, and mixers.
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Learning: choose one program track per day (technical, sustainability, Indigenous, markets, etc.).
Pro move: Write a 1–2 sentence “why I’m here” pitch and a short list of the people you must meet.
2) Build a schedule that matches PDAC’s geography (not your optimism)
The MTCC is effectively two conventions stacked on different levels—plan your day by floors, not just sessions.
Know the map:
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Level 300: Trade Show North (also includes Indigenous Artisans and the PDAC-SEG Student Minerals Colloquium)
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Level 800: Trade Show + Investors Exchange (including Core Shack and Prospectors Tent)
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Some Events & Networking also happen offsite, including at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
Use PDAC’s planning tools: PDAC publishes Schedule-at-a-Glance PDFs, exhibitor listings/floor plans, and MTCC maps—print them or save offline so you’re not hunting for Wi-Fi mid-crowd.
3) Beat the badge line: arrive early and know where to go
First timers often lose half a morning to registration friction.
What to know (2026):
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Registration desks: Level 200 (North Building) and Level 600 (South Building)
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Registration desk hours start as early as 7 a.m. on key days (and end at 12 p.m. on Wednesday).
Tip for Thunder Bay travellers: If your flight timing allows, arrive the day before your “must-do” meetings. PDAC mornings start early, and downtown weather + transit + crowds can turn “I’ll be there at 9” into “I’m sprinting in at 9:20.”
4) Treat the exhibitor directory like a prospecting database
With 1,300+ exhibitors, “we’ll see who we bump into” is not a strategy.
Do this instead:
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Make a hit list of 25 booths:
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10 must-see (high priority)
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10 strong maybes
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5 wildcards (new tech, new regions, new investors)
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Block two exhibit-floor windows per day (example: 10–12 and 2–4) and protect them like meetings.
Thunder Bay angle: Add a “home-region” slice to your list—Northwestern Ontario explorers, Indigenous partners, and supply-chain/service firms. PDAC is where out-of-region decision-makers finally have time to hear what’s happening in the Northwest.
5) Networking that works: pre-book, then leave room for luck
PDAC is powered by planned meetings and serendipity. Do both.
The “bookends” method
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Morning: one scheduled meeting (fresh energy)
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Midday: exhibit floor roaming + quick intros
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Late afternoon: second scheduled meeting (decision time)
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Evening: one networking event (don’t try to do three)
Consider PDAC’s One-on-One Meeting Program (if you qualify)
PDAC runs a professionally organized program of 25-minute meetings that connects qualified investors with senior management, held Monday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 3. Advance registration is required and it’s by invitation/application.
6) If you’re a student or early-career attendee: use the shortcuts PDAC provides
PDAC isn’t only for executives—there are built-in accelerators for new entrants.
Look for:
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20-minute mentoring sessions hosted through the Student & Early Career Centre
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Guided tours of exhibits (a fast way to meet “student-friendly” companies across Trade Show, Investors Exchange, Core Shack, and Prospectors Tent)
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The PDAC-SEG Student Minerals Colloquium on Trade Show North
Local tip: If you’re coming from Thunder Bay (Lakehead students, new grads, apprentices, and junior professionals), don’t undersell your edge—Northwestern Ontario field experience and “remote reality” operations knowledge are valuable conversation starters.
7) Don’t get scammed on hotels (seriously)
PDAC explicitly warns attendees to be cautious of unauthorized websites claiming affiliation and notes it does notpartner with housing agencies or sell lists; PDAC points to its official websites for legitimate information.
Rule of thumb: If someone emails you “special PDAC hotel rates” and you didn’t request it, treat it as a red flag.
8) Pack like you’re going on a four-day site visit (but downtown)
You’ll walk a lot, talk a lot, and your phone will die at the worst moment.
First-timer essentials:
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Comfortable shoes (non-negotiable)
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Backup battery + charging cable
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Refillable water bottle (and snack plan)
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A small notebook (or one notes app you’ll actually use)
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Business cards and a QR code/LinkedIn quick-add option
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A one-page “leave behind” (for companies pitching investors/partners)
PDAC also highlights onsite services like complimentary Wi-Fi, lounges, food options, and water stations—use them to reset and avoid burnout.
9) The follow-up is where the ROI happens
PDAC conversations are fast. Your advantage is being the person who follows through.
Within 48 hours of each meeting:
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Send a short note: “Great meeting you at PDAC—here are the three things we discussed + next step.”
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Attach exactly one relevant item (deck, one-pager, link), not a data dump.
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Book the next call while PDAC is still fresh.
10) A simple PDAC game plan for Northwestern Ontario attendees
If you’re going from Thunder Bay/NWO, consider organizing your conversations around three themes:
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Capital & partnerships: who can fund or de-risk projects and programs?
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People & procurement: who can hire you, supply you, or subcontract to you?
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Community & credibility: who needs to understand Northwestern Ontario realities—distance, seasonality, infrastructure, and Indigenous partnership expectations?
PDAC is global—but your edge is local knowledge, local relationships, and the ability to translate big ideas into what works on the ground in the Northwest.
