Mr. Scott Monteith reports

AVALON ADVANCED MATERIALS AND THUNDER BAY'S CONFEDERATION COLLEGE ANNOUNCE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATION TO SUPPORT FUTURE LITHIUM REFINERY

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. and Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology have formalized a collaboration focused on developing the skilled work force 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 work force training, education and career pathways aligned with the skills required to operate and maintain the proposed lithium refinery.

The collaboration will focus on creating opportunities for education, training, upskilling, work-integrated learning, employment readiness and career development for a diverse range of learners, with a particular emphasis on indigenous learners and community members.

"Building a skilled, diverse and locally rooted work force will be an important part of realizing the long-term potential of the Lake Superior lithium project and the expansion of the critical minerals industry in Northwestern Ontario," said Scott Monteith, chief executive officer and president of Avalon Advanced Materials.

The partnership will explore curriculum and programming related to a range of technical and skilled occupations that could support the refinery, including 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.

"Confederation College is committed to working with industry and communities to create meaningful pathways into the workforce," said Carol Cline, associate vice-president, work force development, Confederation College. "This collaboration provides an opportunity to align education and training with emerging work force needs while helping learners develop the skills, experience and connections necessary to pursue rewarding careers in the region."

The collaboration represents an important step toward connecting Northwestern Ontario learners with the skills and career opportunities that could emerge from the region's growing critical minerals and advanced manufacturing sectors.

About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.

Avalon Advanced Materials is a Canadian critical minerals company focused on advancing lithium and rare-earth elements -- two of the fastest-growing segments of the global energy transition. The company is developing strategic assets to participate in high-growth markets and support the buildout of secure North American supply chains. Avalon is advancing the Nechalacho rare-earth elements and zirconium project in the Northwest Territories, which contains all light and heavy rare-earth elements, as well as zirconium, tantalum and niobium-critical minerals used in advanced technologies across the communications, defence, advanced technologies and energy sectors. The company is also focused on vertically integrating the Ontario lithium supply chain through the development of Lake Superior Lithium Inc., Ontario's first midstream lithium hydroxide processing facility, located in Thunder Bay. This facility is expected to serve as a cornerstone of North America's integrated battery materials supply chain, transforming Northern Ontario lithium into essential inputs for transportation, grid storage and advanced manufacturing.

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