Chilean mine rescue capsule to be on display in Toronto at upcoming Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention

Chilean mine rescue capsule to be on display in Toronto at upcoming Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention

TORONTO (March 4, 2011) – One of the three rescue capsules built to rescue 33 Chilean miners trapped underground last year will be on public display at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange, to be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (south building) from Sunday, March 6 to Wednesday, March 9.

The 21-inch wide, bullet-shaped capsule, called Phoenix 1, will be standing tall and proud on the ceremonial floor of the convention centre and will be a fascinating reminder of the remarkable rescue that kept a billion people around the world riveted to television screens and internet monitors last October as, one by one, the miners were brought to safety. They had spent a record 69 days underground. This is the first time that any of the three capsules has been on display in North America.

The PDAC will pay tribute to the team responsible for the rescue, believed to have been the deepest ever at 700 metres, by presenting a special achievement award to its leader, Laurence Golborne, Chile’s Minister of Mining, at an awards ceremony on Monday, March 7 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

Minister Golborne will be heading a large Chilean delegation attending this year’s convention, which attracts people and companies involved in mineral exploration from all over the world.  A record attendance of more than 22,000 is anticipated.

About the PDAC:
The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is a national association representing the mineral exploration and development industry. Its 7,000 individual and corporate members are involved in the exploration, discovery and development of new mines and new wealth. The association’s convention is the world’s largest annual gathering of the mineral industry.  PDAC Convention 2011 will be held March 6-9 in Toronto.

Contact information:
Saley Lawton
Director, Communications, PDAC
416.362.1969 ext 225slawton@pdac.ca 

Remarkable Yukon prospector to be feted at the world’s largest annual mining convention, Toronto,
Sunday, March 6 to Wednesday, March 9
TORONTO (March 4, 2011) – Shawn Ryan, whose prospecting success has caused a claim staking gold rush in Yukon and whose discoveries could be the origin of the gold found in the Klondike at the end of the 19th century, will be presented with one of the top awards at the upcoming convention of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC). The event opens on Sunday, March 6 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and goes until Wednesday, March 9.
The convention, which includes trade and mining investment shows, attracts people in exploration and mining from around the world. Attendance this year is expected to surpass last year’s 22,000.
Ryan’s attendance will be one of the highlights of this year’s event. Others include:

• Opening ceremonies (Monday morning) with Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo; Minister of Natural Resources Canada Christian Paradis; and PDAC President Scott Jobin-Bevans.
• 50+ international delegations, including Argentina, China, Chile, India, Mexico, and Peru.
• Keynote speakers include Eric Sprott on investment survival in a meltdown; Lawrence Solomon on the real social, environmental and economic costs of climate science; and Donald Coxe who will moderate a lunchtime panel on China and the sustainability of its economic growth.
• 1,000 company displays (exploration and mining, service and equipment suppliers)
• Seven awards presentations, including a special achievement award to Chilean Mining Minister Laurence Golborne for heading the rescue of 33 miners last year.
• Sessions and papers on mining and corporate social responsibility and Aboriginal engagement.
• Sunday commodity session when experts look at trends, pricing, and supply of gold, silver, uranium and base metals.
• A panel discussion on the proposed merger between the TMX and LSE.