Background
Pursuant to the Yukon Languages Act, Government of Yukon departments and corporations must provide services and information in French to the public.
Public events such as workshops or information sessions are typically delivered in English only. Departments report that offering them in French can be challenging. Currently, this can be done either by enlisting a French-speaking facilitator and delivering a session in French, or flying in professional interpreters from outside the territory.
In the last 3 or 4 years, the market for conference interpretation has transformed as digital solutions became viable options for sustainable and flexible service offering. Interactio is a European company that provides such a service.
Interactio, a Lithuanian company, developed an app that provides live interpretation services for public presentations. The app lets users listen to a live audio translation (provided by interpreters working remotely) of a presentation on their own device. Since the translated
audio feed is cloud-based, attendees can tune in from anywhere in the world.
Interactio is compliant with the Association of International Conference Interpreters, who sets the standards for quality assurance in conference interpretation.
FLSD will establish a contract with Interactio and offer the app as a corporate solution to departments. Interactio can help YG overcome current challenges related to increasing French-language access to public.
Current state
FLSD piloted Interactio in September 2019 when Department of Health and Social Service (HSS) executives gathered for a 3-hour planning session for a healthcare clinic with bilingual services. All 12 users who tried the service were highly satisfied with it. 100% of users found
the service easy to use and would use this service again.
FLSD is currently completing all required assessments and examining procurement options before signing a contract with Interactio.
