www.avalonraremetals.com
Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSX & NYSE Amex: AVL) is a mineral exploration and development company focused on rare metals deposits in Canada. Its flagship project, the 100%-owned Nechalacho 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. Avalon is well funded, has no debt and its work programs are progressing steadily. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones. Avalon's performance on community engagement in the north earned it the 2010 PDAC Environmental and Social Responsibility Award.
Avalon Rare Metals and Foraco support MTS training program in Northwest Territory
In line with the principles of PDAC’s ‘e3 Plus’ program, Avalon Rare Metals (TSX:AVL, OTC:AVARF) and Foraco (TSX:FAR) have been working with the Northwest Territories’ Mine Training Society (MTS) to support community-owned organizations and employment for local community members.
PDAC’s (Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada) ‘e3 Plus’ is a 'Framework for Responsible Exploration' which promotes high standards of social, environmental and health and safety performance among Canada’s mineral exploration companies.
Avalon said in a statement that it, Foraco and a number of other industry partners have supported the MTS program to help local First Nations people develop skills in the mineral exploration industry. The MTS is a government-backed organisation, which is funded under the ‘Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership’ program , which is in turn administered by Canada’s department of Human Resources and Social Development.
Through the MTS, industry partners help train members of the Northwest Territories First Nations and provide employment opportunities, giving trainees practical experience.
For example, one of the recent graduates of the program, Darren Rabesca, worked on Avalon’s Rare Earth Elements (REE) Nechalacho project in Thor Lake during the 2009 drilling program, and more recently Rabesca worked with Foraco.
Rabesca is a member of the Tli Cho First Nation and he recently graduated as an Ontario Common Core certified Driller Helper from an MTS-supported program, along with ten other graduates. Avalon notes that the Common Core certification is a qualification that many mining and drilling companies require from their employees.
Avalon states that, in line with ‘e3 Plus’, it actively seeks opportunities for business development for community-owned organizations and employment for local community members.
For example, Avalon awarded contracts to Deton Cho Logistics, a First Nation owned business, to build an ice road last winter, and similarly Deton Cho is constructing an airstrip this summer.
Furthermore, a joint venture between Foraco and Deton Cho is involved in the drilling at the Thor Lake site late this year.
"It is extremely satisfying to see our efforts in local community development bearing fruit in so many ways”, Avalon Exploration VP Bill Mercer said.
