The Ontario Prospectors Association (OPA) has launched a major leadership renewal led by William MacRae, who now serves as Interim Executive Director and President. He replaces long‑time executive Garry Clark. The transition is part of a broader revitalization strategy designed to modernize governance, rebuild the Board, increase transparency, and enhance public visibility of grassroots prospecting.
MacRae—a veteran geologist based in Timmins and original stakeholder from the OPA’s founding in 1988—says the organization aims to change its public image from solitary prospectors in the bush to a respected and understood contributor to Ontario’s modern materials supply chain.
The OPA plans to recruit a permanent Executive Director within months, expand staffing to include an office manager and part‑time bookkeeper, establish a standalone office (ideally in Timmins), and operate under a $400,000 annual budget (with $150,000 allocated for restructuring).
These changes seek to position the OPA as a more effective lobby voice for prospectors, particularly in policy participation and mining legislation. The Board intends to strengthen ties with Indigenous communities, host communities, and key organizations such as PDAC, MAC, OMA, and the Ontario Ministry of Mines, reinforcing the role of prospectors in Ontario’s mineral exploration ecosystem.