User:Mattmcca/Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario

The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO) is the oldest organization of translators, conference interpreters, court interpreters and terminologists in Canada. The main purpose of ATIO is to promote a high level of competence in the fields of translation, conference interpretation, court interpretation and terminology by:
 * providing a collective voice for its members;
 * promoting the professional development of its members; and
 * applying standardized, national criteria to recognize the competence of professional translators, conference interpreters, court interpreters and terminologists.

ATIO and its sister provincial organizations comprise the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC), which is a member of the International Federation of Translators (FIT). FIT, a worldwide organization, is composed of the many national translation organizations, and has earned the status of an official UNESCO consultative agency (NGO Category A).

ATIO's work providing information and training for members, and promoting the advancement and raising the profile of its members' professions is recognized as an "invaluable" contribution to translation and a "key factor in efforts to achieve social development and harmony in Ontario".

Founding
ATIO can trace its history back to November 22, 1920, when its founding as the Association technologique de langue française d'Ottawa was hosted by the Institut canadien-français d'Ottawa, making it the oldest association of its kind in Canada. On March 2, 1921, the Association was incorporated under Ontario law by letters patent.

Inter-Provincial cooperation
In 1956, the Association and the Société des traducteurs du Québec (STQ) (now known as the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ)) created the Society of Translators and Interpreters of Canada (STIC), a federation of the two provincial associations.

Current name
On September 10, 1962 the Association adopted its current name.

Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC)
In 1970, the STIC gave way to the CTTIC. Since 1972, it has been joined by the associations of every province and territory.

Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario Act, 1989
On February 27, 1989, the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario Act established ATIO as a corporation incorporated by a special Act. This Act also granted ATIO members exclusive right to use the designations listed below. ATIO is the first translators' association in the world whose certified members are deemed professionals by law.

According to the Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies,"this was a real breakthrough which was initiated by André Séguinot, Julien Marquis and Richard Fidler (members of the ATIO Executive at the time), and Jean Poirier (MPP and former translator).

Terminologists
In 1990, ATIO added the terminology category.

Community interpreters
ATIO is currently seeking to amend the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario Act in order to set a quality standard for interpreters working in health care and other public services.

Reserved title
One of ATIO's main objectives is that translation, interpreting and terminology work be limited to qualified professionals.

According to the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario Act, 1989, ATIO members exclusive right to use a "reserved title" :
 * Certified Translator (C. Tran.)
 * in French: traducteur agréé (trad. a.)
 * Certified Terminologist (C. Term.)
 * in French: terminologue agréé (term. a.)
 * Certified Conference Interpreter (C. Conf. Int.)
 * in French: interprète de conférence agréée (int. conf. a.)
 * Certified Court Interpreter (C. Crt. Int.)
 * in French: interprète judiciaire agréé (int. jud. a.)

Although these titles are restricted by law, it is questionable to what extent employers seeking translators seek these credentials or even give preference to certified ATIO members.

Specializations
Although ATIO does not enjoy exclusive titles for translation in specific subject areas, it does recognize certified member's competency in a field (i.e. biomedical translation).