Rio Tinto Alcan Canada Fund announces first series of community-building investments totalling over C$15 million

The Rio Tinto Alcan Canada Fund's first series of community investments, totalling over C$15 million to be distributed over the next seven years, will be made to McGill University, Université Laval, Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, the Cancer Research Society, the Montreal Heart Institute, and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.

"These grants represent the fund's first set of contributions towards sustainable initiatives that improve the quality of life in our host communities," said Dick Evans, chief executive, Rio Tinto Alcan. "In keeping with its mandate, the fund is a major step towards fulfilling Rio Tinto's promise to build on Alcan's legacy of supporting the health, environment, education, and cultural capacities of communities in which we operate."

The Rio Tinto Alcan Canada Fund will be endowed with C$200 million over the next five years. The Fund is designed to hold the C$200 million indefinitely and rely on responsible investments of this capital as a source of regular income from which grants will be distributed. This structure ensures the long-term well-being of the Fund and provides a sustainable base from which community-building investments can be made.

The following projects, groups and institutions have been selected as the first series of investments:

o McGill University, to establish the L. Yves Fortier Chair in International Arbitration and International Commercial Law, honouring his leadership and exemplary contribution to this discipline by strengthening teaching and research. Mr. Fortier is a former chairman of the Alcan board of directors and is currently a non-executive director of Rio Tinto.

o Université Laval, for its cooperative programs in mining and mineral processing engineering and material and metallurgical engineering to create an undergraduate scholarship program in Quebec targeting students from French-speaking African countries such as Guinea and Cameroon where Rio Tinto Alcan operates.

o The Fondation les petits trésors de l'Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, to support the only institution dedicated exclusively to the mental health of children and teenagers in Quebec and to improve educational initiatives and reduce wait times for autism diagnosis.

o The Cancer Research Society's Environment-Cancer Fund and its multidisciplinary, cross-institutional approach to researching the links between certain types of cancer and our everyday environments.

o The Montreal Heart Institute Foundation's Heart Beat for the Future campaign to advance research, learning, and technology development in the fields of cardiology and basic and clinical research, as well as physical expansion of this world-class facility.

o The Foundation of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, to support the work of one of North America's finest and most innovative orchestras including its educational role and community outreach activities.

The Rio Tinto Alcan Canada Fund was created in 2008 to support projects and organisations that contribute toward sustainable and vibrant communities in which to live and work.

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.

For further information, please contact:

Rio Tinto Alcan Media Relations, Canada
Stefano Bertolli
Tel.: +1 514 848 8151
stefano.bertolli@riotinto.com

Rio Tinto Alcan Canada Fund's first series of community investments [PDF: 33 KB]