Rio Tinto Alcan supports the educational mission of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

MONTREAL, June 5, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Rio Tinto Alcan is proud to co-present the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal and to support the festival's various music-oriented educational programs.

"We're serious about stay-in-school programmes and we're pleased to be able to continue supporting the educational mission of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal," said Erik Ryan, Senior Vice-President, Communications and External Relations, Rio Tinto Alcan. Eagerly awaited by jazz fans, the festival also provides a special opportunity to encourage and motivate young people in a festive atmosphere. "Rio Tinto Alcan supports innovative projects that demonstrate leadership, and using music as a way to educate our young people is a perfect example," Ryan added.

This year, in cooperation with Samajam, the largest percussion school in Canada, Rio Tinto Alcan is sponsoring brand new workshops at the festival under the theme Musique en Famille avec les ateliers Samajam. The workshops are sure to get youngsters and adults alike keeping the beat. Festival-goers are invited to participate in various workshops to be held Saturday, 30 June; Sunday, 1 July; and Saturday, 7 July.

In cooperation with Rio Tinto Alcan and Samajam, the Festival International de Jazz also previously launched the Projet persévérance scolaire Samajam: À mon école, je garde le rythme, which uses music education to encourage young people to stay in school. Over the last two years this programme has allowed more than 2,400 students from very disadvantaged neighbourhoods to take part in free percussion classes at Montreal schools.

In addition to sustaining its commitment to education, Rio Tinto Alcan is keen to reduce its ecological footprint and is participating in the Festival's sustainable development initiative by purchasing certified Gold Standard offset credits from Planetair to neutralise its carbon emissions during the event. Festival-goers are invited to visit the Parc musical Rio Tinto Alcan and the Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan — where various family-oriented and educational activities will be available free of charge.

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) 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.

Media Relations, Rio Tinto Alcan
Bryan Tucker
Tel. : [phone]
[email protected]
 
Website: www.riotintoalcan.com