The Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec
presents OTTIAQ's Award of Merit to Isabelle Hemlin

MONTREAL, Nov. 30 /CNW Telbec/ - The OTTIAQ Award of Merit was presented to Isabelle Hemlin at the annual conference of the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ) in recognition of her remarkable accomplishments in the field of social interpreting.

"With this prize we are recognizing the importance to Québec society of social interpreting, particularly for people whose first language is neither French nor English," declared the president of OTTIAQ, François Abraham, C.Tr.

In 1993, Ms. Hemlin set up an inter-regional bank of interpreters for Greater Montréal that now comprises 100 interpreters. These language professionals have received their interpreter training in Canada or abroad and they work with physicians, social workers, at the Youth Court and in schools. Every year, the bank provides nearly 45,000 hours of interpretation in some 40 languages.

On Ms. Hemlin's request, UQAM adapted its Québec Sign Language (LSQ) program to include American Sign Language (ASL) instruction. To this end, she partnered with Suzanne Villeneuve, the first LSQ interpreter to be certified by OTTIAQ.

David Levine, CEO of the Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal, was present to celebrate Ms. Hemlin's exceptional achievements: "The OTTIAQ 2010 Award of Merit crowns a career in the service of social interpreting. Ms. Hemlin is the reference in this field. Because of her, practitioners now automatically request a professional interpreter. The invaluable work of these individuals is at last being recognized."

For more information about the OTTIAQ Award of Merit, click here:

http://www.ottiaq.org/communications/merite_en.php

The Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ) groups together over 2,000 members and has developed the mission of promoting its members' professionalism and encouraging improvement in professional practice and its adaptation to changing technological, economic, institutional and cultural conditions. In this way, it fulfills its mandate to protect the public.

For further information:

Catherine Guillemette-Bédard, Communications Coordinator, OTTIAQ
Tel.: [phone], extension 225
[email protected]