The Minerals North Conference and Trade Show will be coming to Quesnel next spring.
The annual gathering of northern B.C. communities and its minerals sector has not been held since 2019.
It will mark the first time being hosted in Quesnel.
“Mining has long been an important factor of the economy in Quesnel and the surrounding communities,” Mayor Bob Simpson said in a joint news release.
“After the last two years of restrictions on gatherings and social events, we are happy to have another opportunity to host this important annual conference in 2023.”
Quesnel was awarded the 2020 conference, which was nixed by the city and the Minerals North Conference Association (MNCA) due to provincial COVID-19 restrictions calling for the cancellation of events over 250 people.
MNCA president Andrew Webber said it essentially takes a year to organize the event, which attracts hundreds of people, including conference delegates and trade show personnel.
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Webber noted that the level of exploration activity, variety, and scale of mineral projects in northern B.C., particularly in the northwest, is very high.
“It has been a very active last couple of years in the mineral sector,” he recently told Black Press Media.
“Mineral prices have been high and there has been lots of exploration, so there’s lots to talk about and I can see that reflecting in having a very well attended conference.”
The joint news release described the conference as an ideal opportunity for learning about current mining and exploration in northern B.C., a venue for establishing business contacts and a forum for healthy dialogue leading to responsible resource development.
Webber said issues pertinent in the north, such as operating an industry while protecting the environment, being responsive to Indigenous rights, and increasing local participation in the overall mining sector, have been topics explored at previous conferences.
“Certainly, the mineral industry itself is talking a lot these days about how minerals are going to be important in the ‘new economy’ when we’re running electric cars, etc.”
The 32nd annual Minerals North Conference and Trade Show in downtown Quesnel is slated for May 31, 2023, to June 2, 2023.
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Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: rebecca.dyok@quesnelobserver.com
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