Untold in the Underground: an unconventional treasure hunt @ PDAC

by | Feb 19, 2018 | MISN Update

Unearth Canada’s shameful industry secrets in Toronto’s most unconventional treasure hunt!

Drop by the starting point anytime between 1-4pm to get your top-secret mission. Then, go underground into the nearby convention centre to dig up some truths. There’s no cost to enter the game, and there’s a small “liquid gold” prize, from Turnview Farm Honey, for those who RSVP ahead!

When: Sunday, March 4th anytime between 1-4pm.

Where: Meet at Hoops Sports Bar (125 Bremner Blvd); treasure hunt at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre

PDAC: it’s been called the Superbowl or the Oscars of the resource extraction industry. Every year, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention comes to Toronto, claiming to promote responsible mining, facilitating relationships between companies and investors, and promoting pro-mining curriculum aimed at children and Indigenous communities. And every year we’re there, not letting them get away with the facade.

Want to know more? Venture underground into the heart of the world’s largest mining industry convention to dig up clues that will help you piece together how the Canadian mining industry came to be associated with assassination, sexual violence, police brutality, forced labour, union-busting, death threats, deliberate burning of crops and property destruction, forced displacement, environmental contamination and associated illnesses, and psychological trauma. Explore the trade show floor of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention to uncover lies, to see who is missing, and to meet some of this industry’s biggest villains first-hand. Use this treasure hunt to help you see through this industry’s powerful PR machine and understand how it all connects to what it means to be “Canadian”.

Want to join in? Here’s how:

  • Dress as yourself — no need to look fancy
  • Try to come with a friend or in a group — if you don’t have someone to come with and want us to connect you with a group, please let us know in advance!
  • Stop by Hoops Sports Bar & Grill (125 Bremner Blvd) any time between 1 and 4pm to obtain the instructions for your adventure — we’ll be set up at an easy-to-identify table!
  • The treasure hunt can take as little as an hour, but feel free to stay for as long as you want!
  • Once you’ve finished the treasure hunt, check back in with us at Hoops to tell us how it went and to retrieve your “liquid gold” prize (available only to people who RSVP in advance).

Bonus tips:

Our “liquid gold” prizes provided graciously by local Ontario bees (and harvested by Turnview Farm Honey)!

Accessibility details:

  • The entrance of Hoops (the starting point) is wheelchair accessible, and we will do our best to situate ourselves in a section of the restaurant that is accessible as well. On the off chance that this is impossible, just let the restaurant host that you’re here for the MISN folks and we’ll come meet you where you are to give you your instructions. The washrooms are not accessible, but you’ll be spending the majority of the treasure hunt elsewhere!
  • The nearby convention centre is fully accessible according to AODA standards: http://www.mtccc.com/facility/accessibility/
  • Let us know (at least a week in advance for interpreter requests) if there’s anything else we can do to make this event accessible for you (e.g. arranging for an ASL interpreters, sending you materials electronically, etc.). We’ll make sure there are large-print copies of all materials available.

For more information about the PDAC convention, click here: