Sudbury is one of the oldest (~1.8 Ga), largest, and best-exposed meteorite impact sites on Earth, hosts one of the world's premiere Ni-Cu-PGE mining districts, and is surrounded by a wide range of superbly exposed Archean, Proterozoic, Paleozoic and Quaternary rocks.

The City of Greater Sudbury, the largest city in northeastern Ontario, lies amidst glacially-shaped ridges, green boreal forests, and contains 330 lakes > 10 hectares and 110 lakes > 100 hectares. The success of more than 40 continuous years of environmental reclamation efforts has led to numerous national and international awards, including a Government of Canada Environmental Achievement Award, a United States Chevron Conservation Award, and a United Nations Local Government Honours Award.

The meeting was held on the Laurentian University campus, which is located on the traditional lands of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, 5 km south of downtown Sudbury, nestled between Lake Ramsey, Lake Nepahwin and the Idylwylde Golf Club, Bethel Lake, and the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area. The City of Greater Sudbury also includes traditional lands of the Wahnapitae and Whitefish River First Nations.

Technical sessions were in the Fraser Auditorium and Classroom Buildings. Posters and exhibit booths were held in the Parker Atrium. Workshops and Short Courses were held in the Harquail School of Earth Sciences and Mineral Exploration Research Centre in the Willet Green Miller Centre, which is across the road from the Fraser Complex, and which also houses the Ontario Geological Survey, the Ontario Geoscience Laboratories, and other offices of the Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Northern Development, Natural Resources, and Forestry.