Confederation College and Avalon Advanced Materials Announce Workforce Development Collaboration

Confederation College and Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. have formalized a collaboration focused on developing the skilled workforce needed to support the proposed Lake Superior Lithium refinery and strengthen career opportunities across Northwestern Ontario.

Under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Lake Superior Lithium and Confederation College will work together to explore and develop workforce training, education and career pathways aligned with the skills required to operate and maintain the proposed lithium refinery.

The collaboration will focus on opportunities for education, training, upskilling, work-integrated learning, employment readiness and career development for a diverse range of learners.

The partnership will explore curriculum and programming related to technical and skilled occupations that could support the refinery. These include industrial electricians, mechanical millwrights, welders, instrumentation and control technicians, electrical engineering technologists, chemical engineering technologists, power engineers, construction boilermakers, process operators, laboratory technicians, and health and safety professionals.

Scott Monteith, CEO and President of Avalon Advanced Materials, said developing a skilled, diverse and locally rooted workforce will be an important part of realizing the long-term potential of the Lake Superior Lithium project and supporting the growth of the critical minerals industry in Northwestern Ontario.

“Preparing a skilled workforce for the jobs of tomorrow requires strong partnerships,” said Michelle Salo, President of Confederation College.

Salo said the collaboration will help connect learners with emerging opportunities and support workforce needs within Northwestern Ontario’s growing critical minerals sector. Confederation College is also committed to creating stronger pathways to education, training and employment for Indigenous learners and communities.

The collaboration is intended to help connect learners across Northwestern Ontario with skills and career opportunities that could emerge from growth in the region’s critical minerals and advanced manufacturing sectors.

About Avalon Advanced Materials

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian critical minerals company focused on lithium and rare earth elements. Through Lake Superior Lithium Inc., the company is developing a proposed lithium hydroxide processing facility in Thunder Bay as part of its work to support an Ontario lithium supply chain.

For more information about Avalon Advanced Materials, visit the company’s website(opens in new window).