By: Ashley Tulio, Communication Specialist As a student growing up in Toronto, Canada, learning French was mandatory in the educational system since French is an official language of Canada. During my educational journey, I studied French in elementary school, and when I attended high school, I took French courses up to grade 12. My high school French teacher spent a significant time in France, and she would always tell me how the French language we…
By: Cheryl Lu, Social Media Coordinator In late August, MCIS collaborated with Senior Helpers Toronto (SHT), and held the second session of our webinars complementing our online training initiative: Supporting Senior Victims of Crime. The webinars are designed to raise awareness about senior abuse, provide an in-depth look at various aspects of the training program, and offer opportunities for participants to engage live with experts. SHT is a private in-home care provider that specializes in…
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…
Anna Grunfeld is an American Sign Language-English interpreter based in Toronto. She works as a community-based interpreter in various settings, such as hospitals, schools (K-12 and post-secondary), mental health facilities, corrections, and many more. After the inspiring COVID story she wrote (which can be found here), MCIS decided to reach out to her and interview her for COVID Stories: The Impact on Language Professionals. While interviewing Anna, we realized the importance of understanding what it is truly…
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…
Original blog: https://www.mcislanguages.com/blog-post/language-access-and-covid-19-information-how-is-the-world-doing/ As we approach 2022, we have yet to overcome COVID-19 globally. The world without the pandemic seems like such a long time ago. And although vaccines are now available in most countries, vaccinations are not mandatory, and many choose not to get vaccinated for various reasons. Furthermore, some individuals are not able to get their dose safely or in a timely manner. With the Delta variant now becoming more widespread and creating…
By: Cheryl Lu, Social Media Coordinator When discussing supporting senior victims from the Indigenous community, understanding Canada’s colonial history plays a huge part. This is not only because the senior Indigenous people have a shared geographical background, but also because the suffering and trauma they went through was casted upon them systematically. High levels of systematic victimization came from the authorities and the law, lasted for centuries, and still leaves lingering impacts. The crimes that…
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…