Prospectors convention

The annual prospectors convention in Toronto is over for another year. I spent four days there talking to people, getting stories and meeting old friends. I have to say this one left me tired. It is held each year in the Toronto Convention Centre because the even is so much bigger now that when it was held at the Royal York back in the day.

I met more people than I had previously only because the company put out a news release advising that I was the new editor and they even put out a note on Twitter. I don't do the twitter thing, but I think it will be expected now.  

I found the convention a lot more business like this year. A lot of the investors spent time at the pitch sessions where prospectors and mining company execs were showing off their gold properties. There was lots of interest in gold and lots of interest in copper. Some folks were hoping for an announcement from Alan Coutts, the president of Noront Resources on the Ring of Fire. Nothing was said. I spoke to him a few times, but he was not revealing anything.
Still I was able to get three fresh stories for the newsroom and back up interviews for another half dozen more.
I was pleased that once again the Northern Ontario Mining Showcase was the largest single pavilion at the show, even bigger than the official Government of Canada pavilion. I did get the chance to sit in on the Prime Minister's speech last Tuesday, but security was very strict and he took no questions -- but the SNC Lavalin issue was what everyone was talking about.
What would the prospectors convention be without the parties? OMG I think that's why I was so tired. I was up early Sunday. Jenn drove me to the airport. When I got to Toronto I dropped off my stuff at the hotel and went right to the convention. Of course I got hooked into going to a party afterward. Closed the bar. Taxied to hotel. Up early Monday to cover the Northern Ontario stuff. I got back to the hotel to write two stories. Showered. Put on a fresh shirt and went to the Nortern Ontario party at Steam Whistle Brewery. It was packed and it was fun. All Northern foods, cheeses, breads, and treats. They even had vodka made in Hearst. Great band, good dancing.  Closed the bar. Taxied to the hotel.  Up early Tuesday to cover the investors forum and Trudeau. 

Toured the trade show and met with prospectors. Back to the hotel to write up Trudeau story. Grabbed a nap! YES! Then it was out to the Sudbury party and reception at the Royal York. Scotch was good, little trays of snack food were good. That wrapped up early at about 8:30 so i went down the street to the Loose Moose for supper. Waygu steak. Met a group of mining students who were in a party mood, but I left just after 11 p.m. Got back to my hotel and yes, there was another party! I couldn't say no. Closed the bar. Last day slept in until 8:30-ish. The flight back to Sudbury was at 5:15 and Jenn met me at the airport.