The arrival of spring not only herald¬ed the return of warmer weather in North America; FIT members were also involved in a number of events. In early May, FIT North America was glad to lend its support to other American stakeholders who were lobbying the U.S. Congress in favour of an extension of a Special Visa Programme for Afghan translators and interpreters wishing to immigrate to the United States. As we all know, for the mere “crime” of having risked their lives in order to facilitate communications between human be¬ings, these people and their families must live on a daily basis under the threat of all kinds of reprisals.
Earlier, in March, FIT North America was delighted to learn that the FIT Council had decided to hold its next meet¬ing in Canada. The year 2017 will mark the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation, and numerous cele¬brations will be taking place across the country. At the same time, 2017 will be the 375th anniversary of the founding of the City of Montreal, as well as the 25th anniversary of the accession of OTTIAQ (Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec) to profes¬sional order status in Québec. We are all therefore grateful that the FIT Council has chosen to take this opportunity to be present on this occasion.
From 13 to 16 May, David Rumsey, President of the American Translators Association (ATA), attended the annual conference of the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT) in San Antonio, Texas, an event which he found “excellent”. The ATA will be holding its 57th Annual Conference from 2 to 5 November at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in San Francisco. For more information, please see http:// www.atanet.org/conf/2016/.
At a ceremony on 26 May, some thirty newly certified OTTIAQ members were presented with their professional license by the Order’s President, Réal Paquette. The official proceedings were followed by an evening of lively conversation be¬tween new colleagues, to the sound of soft music from a pianist. OTTIAQ will also be having its Annual Conference this fall, on 18 and 19 November in Montreal. Additional information can be found at http://ottiaq.org/en/.
Reprinted with gracious permission from Translatio, the newsletter of FIT
