Mineral Exploration

Photograph : AME BC F A L L 2 0 1 5 9 President & CEO's Message Gavin C. Dirom We know times are tough for most A ME BC members. Although British Columbia continues to host 58 per cent of the mineral exploration and min- ing companies listed on the TSX and TSX-V exchanges, the ranks are thin- ning. Over the past two and a half years, from December 2012 to June 2015, the number of mineral exploration and min- ing companies listed on the TSX and TSX-V has declined by 15 per cent, from 1,673 to 1,421 companies. The number of companies headquartered in B.C. has similarly declined by 14 per cent, from 962 to 825 companies. Even during these challenging times, the fall is always a busy time for the Association. Preparations for AME BC's Mineral Exploration Roundup 2016 conference are in full swing. And as your advocates, members of AME BC will be attending the annual UBCM conven- tion, the Minerals South conference, the Alaska Miners Association fall convention and the American Exploration & Mining Association event. Now is a good time to communicate the importance of mineral exploration and development in B.C. to a greater audience. Following is a summary of our recent activities and news: Successful Exploration A s t he dow nt u r n in t he m ineral exploration and development indus- try continued, AME BC established the Taxation, Securities and Investment Committee to develop expertise and provide policy recommendations, sup- port and guidance for the industry. And A ME BC continued to advocate for access to land for mineral explora- tion and development in northwestern B.C., particularly in areas adjoining Alaska and along the north and central coast. Further, A ME BC launched its Transboundary Relations Committee to explore other opportunities for engaging Alaskan communities. Geoscience BC received $5 million from the provincial government to con- tinue its work in developing earth science data for mineral explorers and investors. Imperial Metals' Red Chris copper-gold mine has entered commissioning, and Pretium's Brucejack gold mine project has been granted federal environmental assessment approval. Note that AME BC will be hosting Robert Quartermain, Pretium's chairman and CEO, as our keynote speaker on September 23 at our Speaker Series luncheon event. Aboriginal Relations and Engagement A ME BC's continued leadership in A bor ig i na l engagement was ev i- dent through Aboriginal Relations Committee chair Lana Eagle's partici- pation at the Sustainable Development in the Minerals Industry seventh inter- national conference. We were also very pleased to support the Prince George Exploration Group's inaugural pros- pector training program in the com- munity of Tsay Keh Dene, as AME BC sees the growing Aboriginal workforce as a tremendous mutually beneficial opportunity for the mineral exploration and development sector. Public Awareness and Stakeholder Education A M E BC presented at t he Pacif ic Northwest Economic Region sum- mit in Montana to explain the mineral exploration and development process in B.C., as well as attended the 72nd Energy & Mines Ministers' Conference held in Halifax. This issue of Mineral Exploration focuses on education and training – even with the current down- turn and using conservative hiring fore- casts, the Canadian mineral exploration and mining industry is forecasted to require more than 100,000 workers over the next decade. Socially Responsible Exploration We are pleased to report that AME BC and PDAC have received 97 responses – the second-highest number ever – to our annual Environment, Health and Safety Survey, and results will be released at Mineral Exploration Roundup. A ME BC's Corporate Social Responsibility Committee was also active this sum- mer; read its take on the Government of Canada's new CSR strategy on page 21. Membership Engagement Mineral Exploration has long been one of our tools to engage members and share each other's experiences; I hope you enjoy reading about some of our corpor- ate and individual members involved in industry education. During the summer, AME BC hosted its annual Old Timer's Summer Luncheon, and we are plan- ning other events in the fall to further engage members. Mineral Exploration Roundup The program for A ME BC's Mineral Exploration Roundup 2016 conference, to be held January 25 to 28 under the Canada Place sails, is well underway. Check out our conference brochure (included with this issue, and available from AME BC). This coming Roundup will coincide with Cambridge House's Vancouver Resource Investment Conference, which will allow for respective conference delegates to attend both events. On behalf of the staff and board of AME BC, I thank you for your support of the Association as we strategically focus on key priority areas and advocacy work that builds a successful mineral explora- tion and development industry based in B.C. I also wish you a safe day, every day, wherever this message finds you! ■ Gavin C. Dirom, M.Sc., P. Ag., president and chief executive officer, Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC).

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