Boca Raton, Florida — July 2026 In the rarefied air of the Rick Rule Symposium, where mining’s sharpest minds gather to separate signal from noise, Craig Parry cuts a distinctive figure. The Executive Chairman and CEO of Vizsla Copper Corp. (TSXV: VCU) speaks with the quiet conviction of a man who has already delivered outsized returns and now bets his reputation — and millions of his own dollars — on copper’s coming dominance. “We’ve just sold Vizsla Royalty, which was a great win,” Parry tells interviewer Peter Gadsdon in an exclusive on-stage conversation. “We took it public at 50 cents 18 months ago. Just sold that to Elemental Royalty… at nearly four, a bit over $4 a share. So now we’ve delivered 8x returns for our shareholders there in 18 months.”
That blockbuster transaction — later confirmed at approximately C$327 million — de-risked Vizsla Silver’s flagship Panuco silver-gold project while injecting fresh capital into the broader ecosystem Parry has built through Inventa Capital. Yet the conversation quickly turns sombre. Earlier in 2026, tragedy struck Vizsla Silver’s Panuco project in Sinaloa, Mexico. Ten workers — colleagues and friends Parry had known since the company’s early days in the country — were abducted. Most were later confirmed dead.
“It’s been very tough on us all and horrible,” Parry says, voice steady but eyes reflecting the weight. “Our focus has been working with the government and all stakeholders to look after the families of our murdered friends… We’ve done everything right with the permitting authorities… We remain determined. The government… understands the importance of the mining sector to providing well-paid, safe jobs.”Desktop engineering and detailed design continue. Permits are expected late this year or early next. Once secured, Vizsla Silver plans to honour its lost colleagues by building what Parry calls “one of the greatest undeveloped silver projects on the planet” — a high-grade asset with roughly 400 million ounces of silver at ~500 g/t that, at current prices, could generate on the order of a billion dollars in annual free cash flow.
The Copper Thesis: Supply Shock Meets Explosive Demand
Parry’s passion ignites when the topic shifts to copper — the metal he believes is “the most important… to the planet, to our life and our lifestyle and indeed human existence.”He lays out a stark supply-demand imbalance with the precision of a geologist who has studied cycles for decades. Exploration and development spending collapsed during the long downturn between roughly $2.20 and $3.50 per pound. Permitting has become far more difficult. Major expansions at existing giants like Escondida are largely complete. Meanwhile, demand drivers are accelerating: EVs, data centres, grid modernization, and the sheer replication of global electricity infrastructure. Parts of Western Canada already face daily blackouts from insufficient grid capacity.“The same supply-demand fundamental change that we went through from 2000 to 2013… but the supply side is so much more constrained this time around,” Parry argues. “I can’t see how… we’re at $6 today while the world’s a shaky place. Imagine when we’re roaring… data centres… EV rollout… replication of global grids.”His forecast is aggressive but grounded in precedent. Mentor Owen Hegarty (founder of Oxiana, later Rio Tinto Copper) once predicted $4 copper when the price was $1.20; it eventually reached $4.60. Parry sees a plausible path to $20–$30 per pound within four to five years — and even higher if history repeats on a larger scale.
High-Grade Reality on the Ground
Vizsla Copper is not waiting passively. The company is executing with nine or ten rigs turning across its portfolio as of the interview. At the Palmer VMS project in southeast Alaska — acquired in late 2025 for an initial $15 million plus deferred payments — two rigs are actively drilling. The asset sits at surface, on tidewater, just 40–60 km from the port of Haines. A standout historical intercept (drilled in 2023) returned 44.5 metres at 8.2% copper equivalent, with other holes hitting even higher grades in the high-grade core zones.
Parry is “sitting here with baited breath” for fresh assays. The project also benefits from strong political tailwinds: meetings with Alaska’s Governor Mike Dunleavy, Alaskan senators in Washington, and interest from the Departments of Energy, Commerce, and Defense. Similar U.S. government support has already propelled other Alaskan projects. In British Columbia, the focus is on large-scale porphyry systems.
Poplar: A major porphyry copper-gold system with a significant existing resource and multiple high-priority targets. Recent drilling has outlined what appears to be a very large mineralized system.
Woodjam: Hosts a substantial historical copper-gold resource (approximately 1.7 billion pounds of copper and nearly 1 million ounces of gold). Multiple rigs are testing new discovery targets alongside resource expansion.
Parry describes eight or nine priority targets being tested in the current window across Western Canada and the U.S. “We’re a good chance of making a further discovery,” he says. “We’re drilling in and around that high-grade mineralization. So there’s bound to be good news.”Vizsla Copper recently closed a $44 million financing (December 2025 context) and holds roughly $26 million in cash. With an aggressive drill program underway, the treasury is expected to tighten by year-end, but Parry and his partners have consistently supported raises. “We don’t seem to have any trouble” accessing capital in the current environment.
Building Toward Mid-Tier Status
The stretch goal is clear: transform Vizsla Copper into a mid-tier copper producer within roughly four years through a combination of organic growth and smart acquisitions.“We’re still trying to find complementary projects that will build up a pipeline into what will become in record time a mid-tier copper producer,” Parry states. “That’s our stretch target.”He emphasizes discipline: test the highest-priority targets first before considering joint ventures or sales. High-grade, near-surface copper assets at surface are “as rare as rocking horse poop.” Palmer was one such serendipitous opportunity acquired before the broader market fully awoke. The team behind the effort is formidable. Parry highlights mine-building veterans including Simon Smukler (who has led the construction of 43 mines worldwide) alongside experienced technical and corporate leaders. Parry himself has a proven track record across uranium, gold (including involvement with Skeena Resources), and silver.“This is a very personal thing for me,” he admits. “I’ve put $8 million of my own money into the company so far… I’m determined to change [my track record on copper].”
This Time Next Year
When asked where he hopes Vizsla Copper will be in 12 months, Parry is specific and ambitious:
Significantly expanded high-grade resource at Palmer sufficient to launch development studies.
One or two new discoveries from the Poplar and Woodjam porphyry targets.
Copper View and other BC targets fully tested.
Strategic decisions on the BC portfolio and at least one complementary acquisition that provides a clear development path.
“In six weeks’ time, if these drill programs go well, we’re going to be a very, very different company,” he predicts.
The Stakes Could Not Be Higher
Copper is not merely another commodity cycle for Parry. It is foundational to the energy transition, technological progress, and national security. Governments on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border are finally recognizing the supply shortfall — from U.S. federal support for critical minerals projects to Canadian funding for major developments. Vizsla Copper sits at the intersection of that awakening: high-grade assets in stable jurisdictions (Alaska and British Columbia), aggressive exploration, a battle-tested team, and a leader who has already delivered 8x returns while navigating profound personal and corporate challenges with grace and resolve. As the interview concludes, Parry’s message is unambiguous. The metal is in the ground. The demand is undeniable. The window to secure and develop supply is narrowing. Vizsla Copper intends to be among those who answer the call — in honour of lost friends, for shareholders who have already seen what disciplined execution can deliver, and for a world that desperately needs more copper. This article is based on Craig Parry’s on-stage interview with Peter Gadsdon at the Rick Rule Symposium, as transcribed and cross-verified with public company disclosures and project data. Vizsla Copper Corp. (TSXV: VCU | OTCQB: VCUFF) continues active drilling at Palmer, Poplar, and Woodjam with results expected in the coming weeks and months. Investors are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence.
Author
Ben McGregor authors the Weekly Roundup at CanadianMiningReport.com, providing sharp analysis of the metals and mining sector. With a talent for spotting trends, Ben distills complex market shifts into clear, engaging insights on TSXV junior miners. His weekly updates cover gold, copper, uranium, and more, blending data-driven perspectives with a knack for identifying opportunities. A vital resource for investors, Ben’s work navigates the dynamic junior mining landscape with precision.