Since 1977, the PDAC awards have recognized excellence across multiple areas of the sector, celebrating individuals, teams and organizations whose work has made a lasting impact within the global mining industry. The award categories include the Bill Dennis Award, the Skookum Jim Award, the Sustainability Award, the Thayer Lindsley Award and the Viola R. MacMillan Award. 

This year’s recipients will be honoured for their contribution to mining at a gala during the PDAC 2026 Convention in Toronto on March 3, 2026. 

“The 2026 recipients demonstrate how passion and teamwork can turn ideas into achievement,” said Karen Rees, PDAC president, in a press release. “Their work reflects the determination, resourcefulness and shared commitment that keep our industry moving forward.” 

The 2026 PDAC Award recipients are as follows:   

The Bill Dennis Award recognizes an individual or exploration team for making a significant mineral discovery in Canada with potential economic viability or for a substantial contribution to the country’s prospecting/exploration industry. This year’s award goes to the Canadian Royalties Exploration Team for their 2021 discovery of the Inukshuk deposit in Nunavik, Quebec. 

The Inukshuk deposit is the most significant discovery in the Cape Smith Belt of northern Quebec in over 70 years. This high-grade deposit containing nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum, palladium, and gold will not only significantly expand Canadian Royalties’ mineral inventory but is positioned to impact northern development and reinforce Canada’s role as a key supplier of critical minerals globally. 

The Skookum Jim Award, which recognizes Indigenous achievement in mining, was awarded to the Des Nedhe Group for promoting Indigenous entrepreneurship and community-driven economic development in Saskatchewan’s mineral industry. 

Established in 1991 by the English River First Nation (ERFN) as a grassroots community initiative, the group has expanded into a major Indigenous-owned business enterprise, now operating a network of 21 companies spanning mining, construction, land development, infrastructure and professional services.  

The Sustainability Award recognizes an individual or organization for outstanding leadership and achievement in environmental protection during exploration, mine development, or operations. Blue Lagoon Resources is receiving this year’s award for its commitment to sustainable development and Indigenous partnerships at the Dome Mountain gold project in British Columbia. 

A major accomplishment for Blue Lagoon was the 2024 Mine Restart Agreement signed with the Lake Babine Nation. This agreement, built on years of consultation and trust, marked a key step towards restarting underground mining at Dome Mountain. Cultural values were actively integrated into the project’s operations, including large-scale murals by a Lake Babine artist on each building and educational materials for visitors about the nation. 

The Thayer Lindsley Award celebrates an individual or team of explorers responsible for a recent mineral discovery with potential economic significance anywhere in the world. The AngloGold Ashanti, Renaissance Gold and Callinan Royalties exploration teams are being recognized for their discovery of the Silicon and Merlin gold-silver deposits (now a part of the Arthur project) in Nevada, U.S. This deposit is considered to be one of the most significant greenfield discoveries in the United States in more than a decade.  

In 2014, the Renaissance Gold and Callinan Royalties teams identified promising targets using satellite and hyperspectral analysis, and reconnaissance mapping, which led to the delineation of the Silicon deposit and later the Merlin deposit. AngloGold Ashanti’s detailed mapping and drilling later confirmed high-grade gold and silver mineralization. 

The Viola R. MacMillan Award recognizes an individual or company for outstanding leadership in the management and financing of mineral resource exploration and development. This year’s award goes to Equinox Gold for its acquisition, financing and development of the Greenstone gold mine in Geraldton, Ontario. 

The mine, which reached commercial production in November 2024, is one of Canada’s largest open-pit gold mines. Equinox Gold originally gained a 50 per cent interest in the project in 2021 through its purchase of Premier Gold Mines, in partnership with Orion Mine Finance. The company then progressively consolidated full ownership by 2024 through a US$995 million transaction with Orion. The development of Greenstone required over US$1.2 billion in upfront capital, representing a substantial investment for Equinox Gold. Acquiring the mine has enhanced the company’s production capacity, with annual gold output projected at around 330,000 ounces during its first 15 years of operation.