Rio Tinto pursues its partnership with Pathways to Education

Rio Tinto is investing an extra C$3.5 million over the next three years to help give Quebec students from low-income communities the tools and life skills to graduate from high school.

Rio Tinto Aluminium managing director, Atlantic Operations, Gervais Jacques said "Rio Tinto and Pathways to Education believe that education has the power to change lives, and that graduation rates have a direct impact on the future of our communities. We are proud to support Pathways to give young people access to the resources and support they need so that they have an equal opportunity to obtain their high school diploma and realise their full potential.

"The additional C$3.5 million from the Rio Tinto Aluminium Canada Fund brings Rio Tinto’s total support of Pathways to close to C$17 million – a very significant and demonstrated commitment to creating positive change for individual young people in Quebec and the province as a whole."

Pathways has grown to serve close to 1,000 students in Quebec, with close to 200 Pathways graduates from Verdun and Shawinigan. Pointe-Saint-Charles, Mashteuiatsh, and Sherbrooke will celebrate their first cohort of Pathways grads in June 2018, with Lachine following in June 2019.

Since its creation in 2008, the Rio Tinto Aluminium Canada Fund has invested over C$10 million annually in major projects and initiatives that improve quality of life in the regions where the company operate.