Rio Tinto Alcan salutes the opening of the Pointe St. Charles Pathways to Education stay-in-school centre, in Southwest Montreal, Quebec

MONTREAL, Nov. 4, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Rio Tinto Alcan officially launched the Pathways to Education centre in the Pointe St. Charles Borough, Southwest Montreal. This project is the result of months of preparation and will help bolster stay-in school efforts for youth living in the area.

"Pathways to Education is a proven program, demonstrated by the recent launch of the Centre in Shawinigan, Quebec, which has shown that this is one of the most efficient initiatives to keep kids in school," declared Rio Tinto Alcan Chief executive officer, Jacynthe Côté.

Rio Tinto Alcan will finance the Pointe St. Charles Pathways to Education project within its Ensemble pour la persévérance scolaire program, launched in Montreal in 2010. Pathways to Education provides educational, financial and social support to high school students, along with mediation services. The program aims to fight poverty and its effects by encouraging high school students to stay in school. By taking direct action within communities rather than only in schools, the Pathways to Education program has achieved unprecedented results and noteworthy direct benefits for the target communities.

Implementation of the second Pathways to Education Centre in Quebec represents an important milestone for Rio Tinto Alcan, in the pursuit of the goals set in 2010 when the Group announced its intention to make persistence in school its top priority on the social front, a 15-million dollar investment over five years.

In close cooperation with various educational experts and organisations, Rio Tinto Alcan takes persistence in school at heart, aiming to make a lasting difference. We provide financial support to these groups, which fully understand the importance of keeping teenagers in school, and the necessary remedial actions.

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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