Updated April 15, 2020
To our IGA community,
We understand that COVID-19 has taken it’s toll on everyone. It has had direct affects on all of our lives, and has changed the way we see the world and how we operate our own lives and businesses daily. We will continue to navigate through the changes that this has created and adjust to a new way to operate. Our busy training and certification season was highly successful considering these changes and we have all of you to thank for that. We offered many AI, PI and GM courses through April, May and June as well as 14 free or low cost professional development sessions. All of our programs were really well attended and we certified over 50 people in the last couple of months. As we move into Stage 3 across the country, we are discovering that more and more people are interested in becoming certified or updating their certification levels so we will be offering courses in July and September, which is something we haven’t done in the past. If you are interested in taking a course with us and don’t see something advertised, please send us an email at courses@interpretiveguides.org and we will see if we can sort something out.
As we head into the thick of summer or staff and office hours will be reduced. We are all working from home so will continue to be available by phone, email and zoom. If you want to talk, have a question, concern or request, please reach out.
Below we have listed the programs and supports the IGA will continue to make available for members, as well as links to various government financial, health and wellness supports for Canadians.
We will also continue to send out our members only bi-weekly newsletters and will advertise any upcoming courses, professional development opportunities and more in there.
Covid-19 Offers Being Extended to IGA Members through 2020:
In April, we began offering many programs to offer support, training and advancement to our dedicated members as a thanks for your continued support. As we head through the summer, programs will be much more limited but we are working on ways to offer services where possible. if you have something in mind you would like to see us offer, please reach out and let us know. As we move into the fall and winter you will see more programs advertised.
- Through Spring 2020 we offered many FREE and extremely discounted online professional development opportunities. We will continue this in the fall/winter where possible as well – click on this link to discover more: /courses/field-trips-events/
- We have opened up our Online Basic Banff and Jasper courses for free to all 2020/2021 AI, PI and MI members in good standing. Contact us for a link.
Courses, Changes and General Updates
- All of our Apprentice Interpreter and Professional Interpreter courses in April, May and June were offered via Zoom. We will continue to offer courses on Zoom until it is safe to return to a classroom format.
- We offered our GM course in June with one day spent on Zoom and one day in the field. Participant numbers were reduced during field days to ensure the safety of participants and staff.
- We have waived the $10 late fee on all late membership payments indefinitely.
- We have extended the deadline for continuing professional development (CPD) submission for one full year. When you pay this year’s, membership fees you are automatically in good standing and can spend the time you need to get your CPD hours in and recorded.
- If you are working on completing our Professional Interpreter exams and are worried you won’t be able to do it in the two-year time slot required, don’t worry, we have extended this another year as well. You now have 3 full years from the date you took your course to start these two exams.
- We will continue to offer online professional development sessions to our members and non-members in the fall.
- Our AGM will be scheduled in September and we will decide as we get closer to the date if it will be held online through Zoom or if it will be safe to do in person. We will send out details in our newsletter as we get closer to the date.
- Red Cross and St. John’s Ambulance have placed a 90 day extension on 1st aid re-certifications to give people a chance to stay on track this spring/summer. If you need to re-certify in the next few months make sure to contact them and watch their websites for updates.
- The IGA office is closed at this time but all staff continue to work from home. If you have questions or need assistance please reach out.
Government Support:
The National and Provincial governments have started and will continue to roll out packages and programs to Canadians who need financial assistance during this crisis. The tourism industry has been hit hard and we all may require these services to get through the difficult months ahead. If you haven’t already seen this information click on these links to find out more:
Canada’s Economic Response Fund:
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/apply-for-cerb-with-cra.html
Alberta Financial Programs:
Alberta Recovery Plan:
https://www.alberta.ca/recovery-plan.aspx
British Columbia Financial Programs:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/covid-19-financial-supports
British Columbia Recovery Plan:
Ontario Financial Programs:
https://www.feddevontario.gc.ca/eic/site/723.nsf/eng/h_02567.html?OpenDocument
Health and Wellness Services
| Want to talk to someone? There are many services available to you. You don’t have to do this alone. At some point in our lives we have all experienced stressful times. We can be impacted by such things as financial pressures, unexpected difficulties, unemployment, or stressful situations like the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Asking for help is not a weakness, it is natural, and you may be surprised just how many of us need it. First and foremost, if you are in crisis, call 911 or 1-877-303-2642 Alberta Health Services Text4Hope Supporting Mental Health & Wellness in a Time of Stress & Isolation Mental Health HelplineHelp in Tough Times British Columbia Mental Health Support: Mental Health B.C. Ontario Mental Health Support: Mental Health Support Ontario Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Resources to Support Mental Health Suicide Intervention 24 Hr Line https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/ Call 1.833.456.4566Text 45645 |
Wishing you and your families the very best in this confusing and difficult time.
Stay well!
Tracey Gage, Wendy Niven, Rod Plasman, Colin Murton, Lawrence Nyman and the IGA board of directors