Rio Tinto Alcan celebrates the opening of the Mashteuiatsh Pathways to Education stay in school centre, in Lac Saint-Jean

MONTREAL, Feb. 21, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Rio Tinto Alcan welcomes the inauguration of a third Pathways to Education centre in Quebec. Located in Mashteuiatsh, in the heart of the Lac Saint-Jean Innu community, the program aims to implement measures at the community level, by providing homework assistance and tutoring services, as well as one-on-one support for participating students.

"Like Rio Tinto Alcan, the Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan community made education a top priority. We all want to play a leading role in promoting academic persistence, in addition to contributing to and supporting initiatives in this field," stated Jacynthe Côté, Chief Executive at Rio Tinto Alcan. "What makes me the proudest, is to see all of you gathered here and that we are striving towards the same objective: to give each and every one of our children a chance to succeed."

Pathways to Education is directly involved in its host communities, not only in schools. Over the past few years, the Canada-wide results achieved by the Pathways program are well beyond the one originally targeted; that of reducing dropout rates. Indeed, graduation rates have more than doubled, and the number of students pursuing post-secondary studies has now reached 300%.

"Today's announcement is a first-of-a-kind in Canada for Pathways to Education. It is the first educational and social support project to be launched in a First Nations community. Pathways to Education is delighted with the achievement, which would not have been possible without Rio Tinto Alcan's exemplary commitment. This long-term partnership will help the community's students attain their full potential," highlighted Pierre Côté, President and Executive Director - Pathways to Education Quebec.

The implementation of a third Pathways to Education centre in Quebec represents a significant milestone for Rio Tinto Alcan. This accomplishment is fully in line with goals set in 2010 when the Group announced its intention to make persistence in school a top priority through a $15 million investment over five years. Thanks to Rio Tinto Alcan's support, a first Pathways to Education centre was set up in Shawinigan, in 2012, and a second one was inaugurated last week at Pointe Saint-Charles, located in the Greater Montreal area.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.

SOURCE: RIO TINTO ALCAN - EN

Media relations
Rio Tinto Alcan
Bryan Tucker
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Media relations
Rio Tinto Alcan
Claudine Gagnon
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[email protected]

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