Don’t be a court interpreter in Winnipeg!
I’ve been doing translation work and occasionally interpreting even before the internet was invented. Not to mention the blogs… And having done it in more countries on more continents I guess I am able to make a fair comparison regarding how much the interpreters (translators) are valued.
Take for example today. The Language Bank that provides interpreters/translators for different services in the city of Winnipeg, asked me to go to the Court Building (408 York Ave.) and help in a case as an interpreter. Just for the record: I did a lot and still do some unpaid volunteer work as interpreter or translator, and I am OK with that. To be honest, I am more than OK, since it is my decision to offer my knowledge, skills, talent for free. Just because it pleases me!
However, I feel embarrassed and humiliated when others decide that my work, knowledge, skills… are worth only pennies. In Winnipeg the Court pays an interpreter exactly $50 for a full day. No, it’s not a typo — this amount is not for an hour, it is for one day. And $25 for a half day. Which means if you are there from 9:00 am till 11:59 am = that’s a half day. It is also just a half day if you interpret from 12:01 pm till 5:00 pm… you got about five bucks per hour in this case. Honestly, rather than getting 5 dollars for an hour I prefer to volunteer!
In other provinces (including Saskatchewan, and I say this because whenever I complain about something, native Winnipeggers tend to “comfort” me with Look, it’s still better than in Saskatchewan…), just to have an idea what the terms of comparison are, a court interpreter gets $50/hour! That’s the official registered court interpreter. And low paid interpreter jobs are around $25/hour… The last time, before moving to Manitoba, a lawyer in Hamilton, Ontario offered me $32 for the first hour and $25 for the consecutive hours (if longer).
Well, I know, Manitoba is not a rich province, I hear it all the time. But what I experienced today is not related to wealth. The “client” was scheduled for 2:00 pm, therefore the interpreter is expected to show up around 1:30 for registering in this “witness assistance” office, where you get a form for the payment. Your name, accused’s name, time, language, and Crown Attorney’s name. This latter one has to sign it when we finished.
