Rio Tinto supports education initiatives in Northwest Territories

Yellowknife Women's Society's covid-19 isolation shelter. Image from Rio Tinto.

Rio Tinto is partnering with the Yellowknife Women's Society in Canada's Northwest Territories to support their covid-19 isolation shelter with a C$150,000 contribution, the company announced this week.

As part of Rio Tinto's worldwide community investment in covid-19 relief initiatives, this funding will provide accommodation and food for individuals who are at high medical risk of serious illness or death if they contract the virus.

It will also support the hiring of additional staff at the shelter to provide service continuity and better support the ongoing programming for residents, Rio said.

The shelter is currently operating with funding in place for 25 individuals and expects to transition back into its original purpose as supportive housing after the pandemic.

Rio has also partnered with the NWT Literacy Council to develop literacy materials for families with young children, youth aged 16-29 and newcomers to Canada who reside in Yellowknife. It has also doubled scholarship funds to assist post-secondary students with the loss of revenue opportunities due to the pandemic.