Get To Know Our Interpreters

Living in Canada means inhabiting a mosaic of languages, cultures and histories that coexist and enrich one another.  Language is not just a means of communication: it is a lens through which we see the world; it is memory, it is identity.  Preserving it means preserving the voices, emotions, and experiences of those who came before us and passing them on to those who come after.

My heritage shapes how I listen, interpret, and connect with others.  Language, for me, is more than words; it’s tone, rhythm, and emotion. In my work as an interpreter, I've learned that every word carries with it unique cultural baggage.  Translating isn't simply "saying the same thing in another language," but creating a bridge between different worlds.

I remember one moment in particular: a meeting between a women’s centre and a client with a language barrier attending session for PAR (Partner Assault Response).  During the conversation, I saw how a carefully translated term could change the atmosphere in the room, transforming distance into understanding, and fear into trust.  It was there that I felt how our role can give voice, dignity, and belonging to those who risk feeling invisible.

For me, being Canadian means precisely this: recognizing the strength that comes from diversity and understanding that our collective identity is made up of many coexisting identities.  Culture and language do not divide us; they remind us of who we are and how much we have to learn from each other.  It means living in a place where languages, faiths, and traditions coexist and enrich one another.

Preserving language and culture in Canada today is an act of love for the future, because a country that listens to all its voices is a country that grows stronger, more empathetic, and more united.