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About MCIS

MCIS is a social service enterprise which provides services in language interpretation, translation, skills testing and training under grant and fee based programs. Its earned income helps it improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its services, provide value addition and social benefits, for overall best value to its customers. The different types of interpretation services provided include face-to-face, group, and telephone interpretation. Interpretation services are provided across the public sector. Presently, interpretation services are offered in 96 languages. Additional services include sight translation of key documents, translation and audio/video transcription services and training and orientation for all service providers working with interpreters and translators.

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Vision

We are committed to creating a world where people can interact as if there were no language barriers.

Mission

We will ensure, by removing language barriers, that people of diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds are able to communicate effectively.

Objectives

In pursuit of its mission as reflected in its Mission Statement, the Corporation shall:

  1. Provide access for non-English speakers (NESP) to services relating to spousal/partner/child/elder abuse, sexual assault, legal, health care, income support, shelter and other community and social services provided primarily by government, charitable organizations, other institutions and professionals (hereinafter referred to as “service providers") through professional interpreters and translators.
  2. Advocate the use of professional interpreters and translators (among service providers and the community).
  3. Provide educational programs for interpreters, translators, service providers, and NESP to ensure effective delivery of specialized services.
  4. Actively manage its risk to ensure its long-term viability, including exposure to government/funder benevolence, negligence in service provision, competition, information technology and other financial and regulatory risk.
  5. Take advantage of and create fee-for-service opportunities where it enhances the quality of life of the NESP or the position of the Corporation.
  6. Maintain a commitment to victims of spousal/partner/child/elder abuse and sexual assault.

History

Multilingual Community Interpreter Services (On) (MCIS) was established in 1989 and incorporated in 1995. Its genesis dates back to the 1980s when it evolved as a multi-sectoral response to challenges faced by service providers in communicating with limited or non-English speaking service users. Today, MCIS serves over 644 diverse social service agencies in the broader public sector across Ontario. It is a designated interpreter service provider for the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration’s (MCI) domestic violence court, community and hospital based programs, and police services in the cities of Toronto, Barrie, Orillia, North Bay; the town of Haileybury; and the Regions of Halton, Peel, York, Durham, and Simcoe. Besides, its larger clients – MCI, Toronto Public Health (TPH), Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAST), Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) – MCIS also has contractual arrangements to provide interpreter services to over 250 agencies, in the health, legal and social service sectors.

Structure

MCIS is governed by 13 Board Directors and operated by 18 staff members. This is in addition to an ever-increasing roster of active professional interpreters, contracted training facilitators and technical consultants. MCIS is continually adding to its capacity by recruiting interpreters for existing high-demand and emerging languages. Every year, MCIS delivers 12 training sessions with an average of 20 candidates per session.

Associations

MCIS is a leader in the interpretation and translation industry. It is a member of the Ontario Network of Language Interpreter Services (ONLIS), a consortium of nine agencies in Ontario, funded by MCI and MAG, the Association de L’industrie de la Langue Language Industry Association (AILIA), the Healthcare Interpretation Network (HIN), and the American Translation Association (ATA).

Social Objectives

As a social enterprise, MCIS uses earned income strategies to bring about social change as follows. These are in keeping with its vision, mission and objects, as set out in the bylaws of the corporation:

  1. Improve access to services for non English speaking victims of domestic violence/sexual assault and homeless persons
  2. Influence streamlined access to all public sector services for non English speaking newcomers
  3. Educate eligible newcomers in community interpreting and thereby enable their integration in Canadian society
  4. Educate public service providers on the importance of using professional community interpreters when serving their non English speaking clients
  5. Advocate for changes to legislation to ensure continued and enhanced public sector funding for language access when using public services


MCIS Board Members

Chair
 Shyrose Janmohamed
Vice-Chair Sue Pulfer
Treasurer Royal Poulin
Secretary Audrey Johnson
Director Catharine Dunnet
Director Eli Fellman
Director Martha Pilkington
Director Lisa da Rocha
Director Andrew Jardine
Director Eugenia Christakis
Director Rupert Gordon

© 2010 Multilingual Community Interpreter Services