First Nations community meetings consisted of a presentation by Avalon's Vice-President Exploration, William Mercer. A translation service was provided. Community members were given the opportunity to have their comments and concerns addressed directly by Avalon's senior management in a question and answer session. A key concern that has been raised is the need for training programs to facilitate access for local communities to higher paid jobs at the Thor Lake site. In response, the Company this year initiated two training programs to develop skills relevant to an exploration-stage project.
Ten aboriginal people from the NWT graduated from the eight-week Driller Helper Training course which was organized in partnership with the Mine Training Society, Aurora College and other local business partners. Avalon has undertaken to employ four of the graduates on its current drilling program, all being from the four communities within the area of influence of the Thor Lake project
A First Aid Responder course, developed in partnership with the Mine Training Society and St. John Council for the Northwest and Nunavut Territories, qualified the trainees to be the First Aid Responder in a camp of up to 20 people. St John adapted their training course to meet the legal requirements under workers compensation legislation in the NWT. Three of the four graduates were local First Nations people recommended by Avalon and are now working at the Thor Lake site.
Finally, the Company has also retained counsel and commenced developing a Memorandum of Understanding that will set out the principles for cooperative development of the project with local First Nations communities.
About Avalon Rare Metals Inc. TSX:AVL
Avalon Rare Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on rare metals deposits in Canada. Its flagship project, the 100%-owned Lake Zone Deposit, Thor Lake, NWT, is emerging as one of the largest undeveloped rare earth elements resources in the world. Its exceptional enrichment in the more valuable 'heavy' rare earth elements, which are key to enabling advances in green energy technology and other growing high-tech applications, is one of the few potential sources of these critical elements outside of China, currently the source of 95% of world supply. The Company is well funded, has no debt and its work programs are unaffected by market volatility. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.
Shares Outstanding: 68,152,248. Cash resources: approximately $7.0 million. To find out more about Avalon Rare Metals Inc., please visit our website at www.avalonraremetals.com. For questions and feedback, please e-mail the Company at office@avalonraremetals.com or phone Don Bubar, P.Geo., President, at 416-364-4938.
This news release contains forward-looking information and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is given, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. |
