Events

You're Invited to the CDDA 80’s Night Reception!  We’re taking it back to the 1980s as we celebrate a major milestone — the 80th Annual CDDA AGM & Convention in Québec City! Join us for an evening of 80's fun, big hair, bright neon, and great live entertainment as we throw it back to the 80's — all in honour of our 80th year of this annual event. What to expect:✨ Live Entertainment: Duo Painchaud ✨ Classic cocktails & hors d’oeuvres This reception is included with full convention registration — no additional ticket required. Each delegate and companion will receive two drink tickets. So grab your sunglasses, 80's outfit, tease your hair, and get ready to party like it’s 1980! 🔗 Still need to register for the Convention?Visit: www.cdda.ca/convention-registration Let’s make this a night to remember!

Axis Mining Technology is a Global Supplier Of Instrumentation, Data & Drilling Solutions For The Mining, Minerals Exploration & Drilling Industries. Their Mini Tradeshow Exhibitor Booth will display new product offerings. Axis, an Orica Digital Solutions company, is a global supplier of innovative and technically advanced drill-hole navigation and measurement technologies. Axis' focus is on delivering driller operated technology that transforms industry practice and improves the efficiency and financial outcomes for our client's projects.  

The Canadian Diamond Drilling Association is excited to reveal that our keynote speaker for the 80th CDDA AGM and Convention will be Patrick Leroux. Given that the event is taking place in the heart of Quebec City, we recognized the importance of selecting a speaker who can engage both our English and French-speaking members. Patrick will deliver a presentation that resonates with all attendees. Patrick Leroux CSP HoF believes that any person or organization has an extraordinary potential for success and is RESPONSIBLE for his destiny. He also believes that if a person or an organization wants to get superior results, it has to be a better LEADER, take more INITIATIVES, be UNIQUE, absolutely STEP OUT OF HIS COMFORT ZONE and DARE to do things that their competition is not willing to do. Successful entrepreneur, business coach and best-selling author of ten books on sales on personal and professional development, Patrick Leroux works with organizations that want to optimize the engagement and the performance of their teams. Patrick’s presentations offer solid, simple and original ideas and are renowned to be dynamic, funny, moving, and captivating. Bilingual speaker, Patrick’s ability to deliver a high energy message with passion and humor challenges […]

Forage Orbit Garant Drilling will present their booth as an Official Platinum Sponsor of Our 80th CDDA AGM and Convention in Quebec City. Celebrating 40 years of service, Orbit Garant Drilling is one of Canada’s largest drilling companies, providing both underground and surface drilling services in Canada and internationally. Headquartered in Val-d’Or, Québec with more than 185 drill rigs, Orbit Garant offers drilling services to major, intermediate and junior mining companies at every stage of mine exploration, development, and production. The Company also offers geotechnical drilling services to mining and exploration companies, engineering consulting firms, and environmental consulting firms as well as to government agencies. Orbit Garant Drilling employs approximately 1,000 specialized employees who are trained to meet their customers’ needs efficiently and professionally. They also manufacture high-quality drill rigs that deliver superior drilling precision and enhanced worker safety.

Émile Cloutier-Brassard, Mining Analyst, will present an overview of Quebec’s new Impact Exploration Authorization process at the 80th CDDA AGM and Convention in Quebec May 25-27, 2025. On May 6, 2024, a regulatory amendment to the Regulation respecting mineral substances other than petroleum, natural gas and brine came into force in the province of Quebec. The purpose of this regulatory amendment is to better take into account the concerns of populations affected by "impact" exploration work. Originally from Abitibi, Québec’s renowned mining region, Émile Cloutier-Brassard holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering. He has gained nearly two years of hands-on experience in mineral exploration and active mine operations. Currently, Émile leads mining-related initiatives at Eau Secours and serves on the coordination committee of the Québec Meilleure Mine Coalition. Passionate about the intersection of mining, society, and the environment, Émile is dedicated to analyzing and raising awareness about the social and environmental impacts of mining. His work focuses on promoting systemic changes in how we plan, explore, extract, and consume natural resources—striving for a mining sector that is responsive to society’s essential needs, respects planetary boundaries, and considers the voices of local communities affected by development. There's still time to register […]

Join us for the Technical Presentation: Science Behind Drilling Fluids and the Importance of a Successful Drill Program with Justin Bergh, IMDEX at the CDDA AGM and Convention May 25-27, 2025. This presentation will take place May 26, 2025 and provide a deep dive into the importance of Drilling fluids, which are crucial for successful drilling operations including: Hole stability,  Control of subsurface pressure, Remove cuttings, Cooling and lubricating the drill bit and Seal permeable formations. As well as the type of rock formations (lithology) affecting drilling fluid choice: Tailoring drilling fluids to the formation's lithology ensures efficient, safe, and cost-effective drilling.  This presentaiton will also cover off on new technologies around drilling optimization and the importance they play in the industry. Justin has been part of IMDEX, a Platinum Sponsor of this year's event, for over 15 years and held several roles in that time – from Lab assistant, R&D Chemist, Drilling Fluids Specials, Technical Sales Representative, and currently serving as Sales Manager for Drilling Optimization. Justin has played a part in developing several drilling solutions, monitoring the quality control of all existing products and provided global technical support both internally and for IMDEX clients. Since his beginnings as a […]

Hole Products is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high performance drilling supplies, tooling, and equipment to the Construction, Direct Push - Probe, Environmental, Geotechnical, Geothermal, HDD, Mineral Exploration, Rotary, Sonic, and Water Well drilling industries. We combine hundreds of years of manufacturing, drilling supply and service experience, a vast inventory, multiple stocking locations, and a worldwide distribution network. Our drilling tools are preceded by extensive R&D, field tested, and backed by our unmatched commitment to service and support. In addition, our diverse team offers industry leading inventory management, sourcing, logistics, troubleshooting, engineering, and product innovation solutions.

The CDDA is proud to announce our Bring it to the Surface Speaker, Clint Gore will be speaking at the 80th CDDA AGM and Convention May 25-27, 2025 in Quebec City.  At the Eastern Safety Meeting on December 4, 2024, in North Bay, Ontario, Clint Gore introduced himself to CDDA members as a new representative of the Bring it to the Surface initiative, the CDDA industry-wide initiative that aims to raise awareness, inspire action, and share valuable resources for mental health and wellness. At our safety meeting, Clint shared his personal journey as a lifelong seeker who has turned struggles into strengths by confronting anxiety, depression, and addiction. After hitting rock bottom at the age of 35, he experienced a profound awakening that compelled him to face his fears and rebuild his life from scratch. Through this transformative journey, he established healthy routines, embraced mindfulness, and discovered a newfound sense of self-worth that changed everything. Clint’s impactful story resonated deeply with the attendees of the meeting, leaving attendees motivated to prioritize mental health and wellness in their conversations with employees, family, and friends. At the 80th CDDA AGM and Convention, Clint will share his insights as a mindset and wellness […]

Join us for the Technical Presentation The Future of Drilling with Jody Conrad, KRUX Analytics at the CDDA AGM and Convention May 25-27, 2025. This presentation will take place May 26, 2025. In her presentation, Jody will discuss how the drilling industry can embrace the dynamic shift in industry workers, and how a diverse workforce, when supported by the right tools, can be a strength rather than a challenge. Jody Conrad, CEO of Krux Analytics, has seen firsthand how technology is the key to solving this workforce gap. By leveraging data-driven solutions, companies can capture, standardize, and share knowledge in ways that empower both industry experts and those newcomers. Technology fosters collaboration, bringing teams together, and ensuring industry expertise isn’t lost, but continuing to evolve. A problem solver to her core, Jody Conrad brings her unique combination of technical expertise, operational knowledge, and managerial accounting to Krux. She has extensive experience in equipment design, manufacturing, operational reporting, and system implementation. All this in combination with her 15+ years of drilling experience, have her perfectly poised to execute for Krux’s customers. Jody earned her Executive master’s in business administration from Queen’s, her Bachelor’s Degree in Technology from Memorial University, and her Diploma in […]

At the 80th CDDA AGM and Convention in Quebec City, May 25-27, 2025, Benjamin St Onge from Axis Mining Technology will present Innovation(s) in Drillhole Surveying Technology. His presentation will focus on the design and deployment of new drillhole surveying technology, with focus on workflow integration, cost savings and with safety in mind. New gyro hardware of increasing power and decreasing size is enabling more powerful measurement on drill sites, with electronics designed into in hardware packages that are increasingly more workflow integrated - improving safety & productivity alongside measurement quality. The new integrated design(s) eliminates and/or decreases exposure to typical hazards associated with driller operated surveying technologies and also, strengthen the software-enabled workflows that improve the quality of onsite measurements and enable better progress & quality tracking by geology teams. Ben St Onge is a registered professional geoscience in the province of Ontario as well as a health and safety practitioner. He has over 15 yrs of experience in mineral exploration and diamond drilling, which pertain to operation and consulting on of a variety deviation and geophysical downhole instruments and application within Canada and the Americas. This includes developing safe and effective deployment procedures of new downhole instruments and […]