At present, the prospects for mining investors are glowingly optimistic, thanks to numerous key commodities showing strong signs of life.
This article is disseminated in partnership with the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada. It is intended to inform investors and should not be taken as a recommendation or financial advice.
At the top of the list, we have gold and silver, whose prices per ounce are in the midst of a generational run, up by 82 and 192 per cent year-over-year (YoY), respectively, responding to a widespread sense of uncertainty plaguing global markets stoked by major wars between Israel and Palestine, as well as Ukraine and Russia, plus the constant chaos at the heart of US president Donald Trump’s political philosophy.
We must also mention lithium, the battery metal par excellence, whose price has rebounded by 129 per cent YoY from overblown worries about slowing EV production, reigniting enthusiasm about reaching the United Nations’ goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Then there’s uranium, which has resumed its decade-long price momentum to the tune of 34 per cent YoY, and copper, an industrial pillar in woefully short supply, up by 31 per cent YoY, each bolstering their cases as key catalysts behind global decarbonization.
Add to these platinum, palladium, cobalt and the rare earth element neodymium, whose strong appreciation and widespread uses-cases from jewelry to essential technologies have operators across the mining lifecycle abuzz with excitement.
It’s against this value-accretive backdrop that PDAC 2026, the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada’s yearly convention, prepares to kick off from March 1-4 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, supported by some of the mining industry’s leading voices, including Rick Rule, Rob McEwen and Richard Carleton, CEO of the Canadian Securities Exchange, as well as representatives from top global mining companies including Cameco, BHP, Franco-Nevada and Agnico Eagle Mines.
PDAC, widely recognized as world’s top mining event, welcomed more than 27,000 attendees from more than 125 countries in 2025, offering a diversified mix of educational programming, networking events and business opportunities in support of a more competitive and conscious mining sector, and this year will be no exception. A quick browse through the programming schedule reveals a variety of interesting events, including:
- A commodity outlook from Gustavo Pimenta, chief executive officer of Vale, on Sunday, March 1.
- Greenland Day, a long-standing PDAC event co-hosted by the Government of Greenland on Monday, March 2.
- Valuation approaches for mineral projects on Tuesday, March 3.
- Cutting-edge geophysics for mineral exploration on Wednesday, March 4.
- The Discovery of the Year presentation on Wednesday, March 4.
Attendees will also be able to roam through the popular Investors Exchange, Core Shack, Prospector Tent and Trade Show exhibits, which will feature top mining companies from emerging to established ready to discuss their value propositions and explore potential collaborations.
For attendees looking to learn about new mining companies in a more formalized setting, investor presentations will be ongoing throughout the convention, highlighting gold, silver, base metal and critical metal players vying for a spot in your portfolio or on your watchlist. Notable participants include:
- B2Gold, Northisle Copper and Gold and Highland Copper Company on March 2.
- Almonty Industries, Nouveau Monde Graphite and McFarlane Lake Mining on March 3.
- Atlas Salt, Power Metallic Mines and New Found Gold on March 4.
Far from all work, PDAC also offers plenty of opportunities to unwind and have fun as you conduct due diligence and plant the seeds of new deals, while still gaining valuable insights about the current state of the mining industry. Here’s a quartet worth considering:
- Coffee Connections, a morning networking mixer scheduled throughout the convention.
- The Gold Rush Gathering networking event on March 1.
- The Mining for Diversity event hosted by Women in Mining Canada on March 3.
- The We Will Rock You convention finale on March 4.
At a time when millions of new people are recognizing precious metals for their safe-haven properties, and critical minerals for their roles as building blocks underpinning green energy technology, investors more than ever need an established forum to gauge the mining industry’s long-term potential. PDAC, founded in 1932, has provided that space for nearly a century.
Whether you’re interested in your next portfolio addition, the intricacies of top global mining jurisdictions, or hold higher aspirations to secure an earn-in, offtake or M&A agreement, the convention is undoubtedly THE place to be.
Click here to register and pick up your pass today to play your part in shaping the future of mineral exploration, development and production.
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Stockhouse does not provide investment advice or recommendations. All investment decisions should be made based on your own research and consultation with a registered investment professional. The issuer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the information contained herein.
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