In 2020, MCIS allocated funds from its Social Benefits Initiative (SBI) to assist community organizations experiencing challenges related to the pandemic. The purpose of this was so these organizations could provide critical information that they would otherwise not have been able to without funding. MCIS’ SBI fund supports free/subsidized interpretation and translation services, such as a direct telephone line for COVID-19 related conversations and the translation of COVID-19 related information. We also interviewed these community…
By: Cheryl Lu, Social Media Coordinator In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to long-tail languages worldwide. Apps and games are being localized into them, and critical information and government announcements have been translated. Although international travelling has been limited during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns over the past year, information exchanges across borders have never stopped, making languages that were once maybe considered non-essential decades ago now not only paid more…
In 2020, MCIS allocated funds from its Social Benefits Initiative (SBI) to assist community organizations experiencing challenges related to the pandemic. The purpose of this was so these organizations could provide critical information that they would otherwise not have been able to without funding. MCIS’ SBI fund supports free/subsidized interpretation and translation services, such as a direct telephone line for COVID-19 related conversations and the translation of COVID-19 related information. We also interviewed these community…
By: Ashley Tulio, Communication Specialist Pride is a month dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ2+ culture, supporting LGBTQ2+ rights and raising awareness for the LGBTQ2+ movement. Throughout the month, there are countless parades, protests, drag performances, live theatre performances, picnics, parties, workshops, symposiums, and concerts that attract millions of participants worldwide. People gather to celebrate Pride, spread the message, and fight discrimination. Memorials are also held during this month for members of the LGBTQ2+ community who have…
By: Anna Grunfeld I had an experience recently that I’ve been thinking about and wanted to share some thoughts. I was fortunate enough to receive my second dose of the COVID vaccine, having qualified for the early second dose. When I called to book my appointment, the lady on the phone asked me what qualified me for the early dose, and I explained that I am a Sign Language Interpreter who works in many high-risk settings…
Toronto, Ontario – Every year on June 15, the United Nations marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a day in which communities worldwide recognize elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. Earlier this year, MCIS developed and launched an online training, funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General, offering tips and tools to service providers of this target population. The training, Supporting Senior Victims of Crime, explores the complexities of working…
By: Cheryl Lu, Social Media Coordinator In the past few months, as Canada started vaccinating the first few eligible groups of people against COVID-19, provinces, including Manitoba, have chosen to prioritize Indigenous knowledge keepers for the first batches of jabs. In Ontario, this prioritization applies to all First Nations, Métis and Inuit adults. The policy was well-received by local Indigenous communities, as knowledge keepers serve are vital in preserving their languages and cultures, which, until two…
By: Ashley Tulio, Communications Specialist After a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals are still learning to live with the stress, anxiety, fear, frustrations, and uncertainty. People have to constantly adjust to the changes in rules and regulations and adapt to the personal circumstances occurring in their lives. Feeling less productive and having a shorter attention span is common during these times. Research shows that concentration, memory, and cognition suffer when people are under stress…
By: Cheryl Lu, Social Media Coordinator Among the thousands of languages spoken in today’s world, only around 100 can be translated using machine translation. When technology really can’t do it all for us, we rely heavily on human translators and interpreters for the huge volume of information exchange that’s happening every day. While thanking them and appreciating their commitment, it’s also important to acknowledge that translation and interpretation are not easy jobs. To honour the…
By: Latha Sukumar, Executive Director And now finally there is light at the end of the tunnel. But as the saying goes “it is darkest before dawn..” We have to keep our marbles about us during this darkest hour of what still seems like a perpetual lockdown. `It has been a while since I reflected on MCIS and how it has weathered this global crisis. In a word, MCIS and its staff have been spectacular….
