News from OCCI

December 15, 2015

  • The Launch Event was a great success!
  • First recipient of Humber College's "Language Interpreter Award of Excellence" 
  • Self Care Tips for Interpreters 

 

Thank you to everyone who made

the Official Launch Event a success! 

 

On December 1st, the OCCI hosted a special event at Toronto City Hall to officially mark the launch of the OCCI Accredited Community Interpreter.  Over 200 attendess joined to help us celebrate this major milestone in the professionalization of the industry.  

 

OCCI had speakers from three levels of government and from the OCCI leadership, including:

 

Ms. Donna Achimov - Chief Executive Officer, Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada  

Ms. Kristyn Wong-Tam - Counsellor attending on behalf of the City of Toronto Mayor   

Mr. Don Leacock - Manager Language Services – Workplace Safety and Insurance Board WSIB

 

OCCI also received messages of support for the new OCCI-ACI accreditation that were shared with the audience from the Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario, the Hon. David Zimmer, MPP, Willowdale, the Hon. Reza Moridi, MPP, Richmond Hill and from Ms. Alison Hedden - Ministry of the Attorney General.

 

A special thanks to all OCCI members for making this dream a reality. WE DID IT!

 

Click here to see the photo gallery from the event

as well as a special statement of support from the Hon. Kathleen Wynne.

 

Meet the first recipient of the Humber College

Language Interpreter Award of Excellence

This year Humber College awarded its first “Language Interpreter Award of Excellence” to an outstanding student who graduated from the Language Interpreter Training Certificate Program. This is now a yearly award that will be presented at the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences annual Student Award Ceremony. The first recipient of this award was Julia Joy.

 

"When I began my career as a Spoken Language Interpreter, I was unsure about some aspects of my job and felt I could benefit from professional training.  I’m glad I chose Humber’s LITC program – I gained new skills that have served me well in many work situations.  Clients have expressed to me again and again how I have made a meaningful difference with the quality of my interpreting.  I now have greater confidence in my abilities and a strong professional network of friends from the LITC program."

--Julia Joy, Humber LITC Graduate

 

The OCCI would like to congratulate Julia Joy for this special achievement.  Great work, Julia!

 

In photo:  award recipient Julia Joy (left) and Humber College LITC program instructor Stefanie Cassidy (right).

Self-care Tips for Interpreters

 

Over the coming months, many of our interpreting colleagues are going to be providing language support in encounters with Syrian refugees.  We can anticipate that many of these encounters will be emotionally challenging for all parties, including the interpreters, and we would like to take this opportunity to remind all interpreters of some helpful and simple self-care tips*.  

 - before the encounter -

 

Be present

 

Take the necessary time to reach the

encounter unhurried, focused, and calm. 

 

Practice breathing exercises or

just sitting quietly for a moment.

 

Use self-talk

 

Remind yourself of the interpreter’s role

and responsibilities.

 

Be prepared for unexpected changes.

 

Recognize that information about the encounter may not be available in advance.

 

Advocate for yourself

 

It’s okay to ask for a short break during long

or difficult encounters.

 

 

 - after the encounter - 

 

Do a self-check

 

Ask yourself:

How am I feeling?

 

Debrief

 

Debrief with a colleague or friend after a challenging encounter, preferably within

24 to 48 hours.

 

Maintain patient privacy when debriefing:  leave out identifying information such as names, diagnoses, location, etc.

 

Share your experience and feelings in a confidential and safe setting.

 

Debriefing resources include interpreting colleagues, ISP agency managers or supervisors, and interpreter debrief sessions. Ask your agency about debriefing opportunities.

(*Adapted from Interpreter Debrief support materials developed by SickKids Hospital and Access Alliance Language Services.)

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