Unique Literacy Program Starts at Remote Minesite

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, September 13, 1996

A unique workplace literacy program is being developed and delivered at a remote uranium minesite in the province's north. The $170,000-program will upgrade the skills of Cameco employees at the company's Rabbit Lake mine, located about 700 kilometres north of Saskatoon. Cameco is a major employer in northern Saskatchewan.

"We want to ensure that our employees have the opportunity to move forward with Cameco," said Bernard Michel, Cameco's chair, president and chief executive officer.

A three month organizational needs assessment was conducted over the summer and the results will be used to design a new program to meet those workplace needs. Activities will range from improving reading and mathematical skills to the interpretation of technical manuals. The program, which starts September 16, is built around the mine's one week in/one week out rotation schedule and its flexibility allows employees working different shifts the opportunity to participate.

The one year pilot project is a joint effort between Cameco, the Workplace Education Consortium in Saskatchewan, the National Literacy Secretariat, the Mineral Sector Steering Committee and Northlands College. Each partner will contribute to the program, either through direct funding or in-kind donations. Cameco will also contribute company time to the project by matching one hour of company time for each hour of employee time spent studying.

"We're really pleased with the contribution everyone is making," said Phyllis Ramsden of the Workplace Education Consortium. "The success of this program will give us a model to use for similar workplace literacy programs throughout Saskatchewan."

Cameco, with its headquarters in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is the world's largest publicly traded uranium company and a growing gold producer. Its uranium products are used to generate electricity in nuclear power plants around the world, providing one of the cleanest sources of energy available today. Rabbit Lake, Saskatchewan's longest running uranium facility, is owned (two-thirds) and operated by Cameco with partner Uranerz (one-third).

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