AVLIC Awards

This page contains the following information regarding AVLIC awards:

• History of Edward C. Bealer Award of Merit
• Edward C. Bealer Award of Merit Selection Process/Criteria
• Edward C. Bealer Award of Merit Recipient List
• History of the Phyllis Joynt Mentorship Award
• Phyllis Joynt Mentorship Award Selection Process/Criteria
• Phyllis Joynt Mentorship Award Recipient List
• R.W. Letourneau Award
• R.W. Letourneau Award Selection Process/Criteria
• R.W. Letourneau Award Recipient List
• David Still Memorial AEIP Graduating Student Award

History of the Edward C. Bealer Award of Merit

Excerpt of article originally published in the AVLIC News, Volume 4, No.3, October, 1986

By Marie Clarke and Terry Janzen

Edward Charles Bealer, 1949-1977

Ted Bealer was born on December 8, 1949, to a deaf father and deaf-blind mother. After completing high school in Rockford, Illinois, he attended Douglas College in New Westminster, BC, and Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC. Ted studied honours History, was actively involved as editor of the student newspaper and attended several film workshops.

In 1974, Ted moved to Toronto and, while continuing his work in production and film making, became involved as an interpreter and sign language instructor at Silent Voice, occasionally interpreting for the Canadian Hearing Society.

On December 15, 1975, Ted became a full time employee at CHS. Although he was hired as a "Rehabilitation Counselor" he found himself filling the ever-increasing need as an interpreter. He was very much involved on various committees and activities in the deaf community and was the first full time interpreter in Ontario.

Ted was instrumental in submitting a proposal to the Ontario provincial government to obtain funds for the establishment of the Ontario Interpreting Services. The proposal was accepted and funding became available after his death. He also recognized that many staff members at CHS did not have easy access to sign language classes in the community and provided lunch hour classes for these people.

On May 21, 1977, Ted Bealer was killed in a car accident while driving home from interpreting at a wedding in Rochester, New York. His passenger, a 23-year-old deaf man by the name of Brian Harvey, was also killed.

Ted Bealer was perceived by both the deaf and hearing communities as being extremely dedicated and hard working, while at the same time, easy going and down to earth. He was very much loved and made a deep impact on those he came in contact with.

After his death, the eighteen staff of CHS decided to set up a memorial fund and accepted donations in Ted's name. Because of his interest in the field of interpreting and his personal goal to promote professionalism for interpreters, it seemed appropriate for the Ted Bealer Award to be administered by the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada (AVLIC). This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have performed above and beyond the call of duty, making a significant contribution to the field of interpreting in Canada.

The Edward C. Bealer Award of Merit was first presented in 1982 to Dr. Gertude Kent of Winnipeg.

Edward C. Bealer Award of Merit

Selection Process/Criteria

The recipient of this award would be an individual who:

• Has had lengthy experience and involvement as a professional in the field of signed language interpreting and / or training,
• Advocates for professional development opportunities for all those involved in the field, regardless of their level of skill,
• Advocates for the right of all signed language interpreters to be treated as professionals,
• Promotes the field in every way, and supports organizations such as AVLIC.

Other things to consider:

• Volunteer commitment to the field (serving on boards, committees, supporting Deaf community events / activities),
• Academic contributions to the field.

Committee Composition

The award selection committee will be chaired by the AVLIC past president. The committee will be comprised of AVLIC members, at least one of whom is Deaf.

Selection committee numbers may vary from three to five members. Members are invited / selected to join the committee after nominations close, in order to avoid any possible conflicts with potential nominees / nominators.

The time commitment is estimated to be a few hours (review the nominations, discuss selections and choose a recipient, follow-up with conference responsibilities).

Selection Process

Nomination letters will be solicited prior to the AVLIC conference.The committee coordinator reviews the general criteria of the award with committee members. The committee may meet face to face or conduct activities over e-mail, if more convenient.

Once the members of the committee have reviewed and discussed the nominations submitted, a vote is taken. Decisions of consensus are encouraged but if not reached then majority will rule.

The name of the recipient is kept in confidence until the announcement at the awards ceremony. The selected recipient's nomination(s) is kept on file at the AVLIC office; other nominations are destroyed.

The Award

It is the responsibility of the Past President to arrange for the plaque to be prepared for presentation at the conference.

Announcement at the Conference

The Past President, on behalf of the AVLIC membership and board of directors will invite the previous recipient of the award to bestow the award.

The Past President is responsible to produce the text of what is to be said about the recipient during the conference, based on what was presented in the nomination documentation. This task can be delegated to another committee member.

Please click here for a nomination form

Edward C. Bealer Award Of Merit

Recipient List

History of the Phyllis Joynt Mentorship Award

In June, 1998, one of AVLIC's founding members, Phyllis Joynt, of Ottawa, Ontario, passed away. Phyllis was an active member of our interpreting community for more than twenty years, beginning her professional life as a teacher of young deaf students in Saskatoon, SK. As she became more involved in the Deaf community and became proficient in sign language, she began teaching Deaf adults at Alberta College in Edmonton, AB. While living in Edmonton, Phyllis helped found one of AVLIC's largest interpreter chapters, ACRID, and served on its first executive. She was a strong supporter of the Deaf community, assisting them in establishing employment counseling services for Deaf people (called DECSA), a Deaf community television program (called Hands Around Town), and a group home to serve disadvantaged Deaf people (formerly known as Lauderdale House). When she relocated to Ottawa, she continued to support interpreters and Deaf people alike, by serving on the AVLIC Board of Directors, helping establish summer institutes for ASL/English and LSQ/French interpreters at the University of Ottawa, and working with the Catholic Deaf organization. Phyllis also exemplified a life long learner, attending workshops and conferences throughout her career, completing a degree while raising her son, and reading broadly in our field. Phyllis will be missed by all who knew her.

During the memorial services for Phyllis a constant theme emerged from the stories told of her life. It seemed that everyone focused on Phyllis's ability to support, encourage and mentor interpreters into this profession, while supporting the Deaf community. Some of the phrases people have used to describe her life included: "caring and nurturing"; "interested in people personally and professionally"; "built bridges between the Deaf and interpreting communities"; and "could bring out the best in everyone". To that end, AVLIC is pleased to facilitate an award establish in Phyllis's honor, the Phyllis Joynt Mentorship Award, which will be awarded at each AVLIC Biennial Convention.

If you would like to donate to this award, you may send your contribution to: AVLIC. To do so, please contact the AVLIC treasurer at treasurer@avlic.ca. AVLIC is unable to provide tax receipts for donations as AVLIC does not fall under the arm of charitable organizations with the Canadian government.

The award will include a cash bursary to support the recipient in pursuing a professional development opportunity of their choice. The recipient of the award will be a person who emulates many of the traits described above. Namely, recipients will be someone who has acted as an interpreter "mentor", formally or informally, in your local community. As well, they will be a person has created opportunities for the Deaf and interpreter communities to work effectively together.

Nomination letters will be solicited prior to the AVLIC conference.

Joynt Award

Phyllis Joynt Mentorship Award Selection Process/Criteria

The recipient of this award should be an individual who has demonstrated:

• leadership in the field
• efforts to work with both Deaf and interpreting communities
• significant influence on the development of aspiring (and maybe seasoned) interpreters
• commitment and perseverance toward the development of skills and knowledge of interpreters

Other things to consider:

• recipient could be, but does not have to be, a veteran to the field, or highly credentialed

Committee Composition

The Phyllis Joynt Mentorship Award selection committee will be chaired by the AVLIC Past President.

The committee will be comprised of representatives from the following groups:

• Ottawa interpreter community (AVLIC member)
• General AVLIC membership (at least one Deaf member)

Selection committee numbers may vary from three to five members. Members are invited / selected to join the committee after nominations close, in order to avoid any possible conflicts with potential nominees / nominators.

The time commitment is estimated to be a few hours (review the nominations, discuss selections and choose a recipient, follow-up conference responsibilities).

Selection Process

The chair reviews the general criteria of the award with committee members.

Committee can meet face to face or conduct activities over e-mail, if more convenient.

• Nomination letters will be solicited prior to the AVLIC conference.
• Members review nominations submitted.
• A vote is taken. Decisions of consensus are encouraged, and members can speak to their reasons for selecting one recipient over another. If consensus cannot be reached, then the vote of majority rules.
• The name of the recipient is kept in confidence until the announcement at the banquet.
• The selected recipient's nomination(s) is kept on file at the AVLIC office, other nominations are destroyed.

The Award

It is the responsibility of the Past President to arrange for the plaque to be prepared for presentation at the conference.

Announcement at the Conference

The Past President, on behalf of the AVLIC membership and board of directors will invite Phyllis's son and husband to attend the AVLIC Banquet to bestow the award, if they wish. AVLIC will cover the costs of the banquet meal for the Joynt family, though they will be responsible for costs to travel to the conference.

In the event that neither of them can present the award, then the Past President will invite the previous recipient of the award to bestow the award.

The Past President is responsible to produce the text of what is to be said about the recipient during the conference, based on what was presented in the nomination documentation. This task can be delegated to another committee member.

Please click here for a nomination form

Phyllis Joynt Mentorship Award Recipient List

Recipient List

R. W. Letourneau Service Award

The R.W. Letourneau Service Award is presented biennially, at the AVLIC Awards Ceremony, to a member who best meets the outlined criteria and who has worked towards the accomplishments of the organization.

R.W. Letourneau is a native Albertan who was born in Red Deer, Alberta. Richard began his interpreting career in the late 1970's and was one of the first Canadians to be certified by RID prior to the existence of the Canadian certification system. His leadership and interpreting skills shaped the face of the profession in Alberta and across Canada. His efforts resulted in the formation of organizations of interpreters. He also advocated for interpreter education programs, and lobbied for access to interpreting services in a broad range of settings. He was instrumental in creating the first interpreter referral service in Alberta.

The award was first created by The Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Southern Alberta (AVLISA) and was conferred for several years. Upon AVLISA's dissolution the award was then taken up by AVLIC beginning in 2008. This award is named in Richard's honour because of his many and varied contributions to the profession of interpreting, not only at the provincial level but the national level as well. He is held in high esteem by his colleagues and is respected by many as a multi-talented individual.

The following reflect just a few of Richard's many accomplishments:

• Founding member of the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada
• Served on the AVLIC Board of Directors for 9 years, including a two year term as President
• Founding member of the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Southern Alberta (AVLISA) and the Alberta Chapter of Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ACRID), serving in numerous leadership positions in both organizations
• Member of numerous other interpreting organizations
• Recipient of the Edward C. Bealer Award of Merit in 1986
• SPECTRUM '86 Conference Chair, AVLIC's Biennial Conference held in Calgary, Alberta
• Served as an English rater for AVLIC's Canadian Evaluation System
• Served on a number of provincial and local service organizations in Alberta such as the Board of Directors of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS) and the former Canadian Coordinating Council on Deafness (CCSD)
• Founding member of the former Council of Organizations Serving the Hearing Impaired (COSHI)
• Instrumental in the implementation of the Program for Deaf Students at Bow Valley College (BVC) in Calgary, which let to the introduction of sign language interpreters at upgrading colleges
• Former ASL instructor
• Has been, and continues to be, a mentor for many colleagues

Mr. Richard Letourneau is indeed one of our best!

Criteria

The following criteria are to be used as a guideline when considering your nomination.

The recipient of the R.W. Letourneau Service Award:

• Is an active member in good standing of AVLIC for a minimum of 5 years and a strong advocate for the profession
• Demonstrates evidence of regular and sustained service to AVLIC through the holding of various offices and positions within the organization or fulfilling specific responsibilities for the organization
• Demonstrates leadership through participation in local and/or national activities, committees, task forces that further the goals and mission of AVLIC
• Is recognized for their singular devotion of time and effort to the programs and development of the interpreting profession.
• Is willing to share their time and abilities with other AVLIC members

The recipient of the award will be presented with a framed certificate and a complimentary one-year membership at the AVLIC Awards Ceremony held at the biennial conference.

Nomination Process

Any member of AVLIC may submit a nomination to the Awards Committee. Such nominations must be in the hands of the Committee Coordinator before March 31.

Each letter of nomination must be accompanied by evidence that demonstrates how the nominee meets the criteria, and a description of his/her appropriate activities and contributions, in sufficient detail to enable the committee to judge the candidate's worthiness to receive the award.

Committee Composition

Selection committee numbers may vary from three to five members. Members are invited / selected to join the committee after nominations close, in order to avoid any possible conflicts with potential nominees /nominators.

The time commitment is estimated to be a few hours (review the nominations, discuss selections, make decision, follow-up with conference responsibilities).

Selection Process

Nomination letters will be solicited prior to the AVLIC conference. The committee coordinator reviews the general criteria of the award with committee members. The Committee may meet face to face or conduct activities over e-mail, if more convenient.

Once the members of the committee have reviewed and discussed the nominations submitted, a vote is taken. Decisions of consensus are encouraged but if not reached then majority will rule.

The name of the recipient is kept in confidence until the announcement at the Awards Ceremony. The selected recipient's nomination(s) is kept on file at the AVLIC office; other nominations are destroyed.

The Award

It is the responsibility of the Past President to arrange for the framed certificate and the confirmation of one year of complimentary AVLIC membership, to be prepared for presentation at the conference awards ceremony.

Announcement at the Conference

The Past President, on behalf of the AVLIC membership and board of directors may choose to invite the previous recipient of the award to bestow the award.

The Past President is responsible to produce the text of what is to be said about the recipient during the conference, based on what was presented in the nomination documentation. This task can be delegated to another committee member.

Please click here for a nomination form

AVLISA's R.W. Letourneau Service Award

AVLIC's R.W. Letourneau Service Award

David Still Memorial AEIP Graduating Student Award

The AVLIC AEIP Graduating Student Award was presented for the first time in 2004. It was the decision of the 2002-2004 AVLIC Executive Board to develop a bursary to recognize a graduating student from a Canadian ASL/English Interpreting Program (AEIP). In 2009 the award was renamed the David Still Memorial AEIP Graduating Student Award in honour of David Still. The amount of the award is $500.

Dave began work as a signed language interpreter and instructor at Red River College. His work took him all over the country before he finally settled in Vancouver, BC in 1988, where he accepted a position as an instructor at Douglas College in the Program of Sign Language Interpretation. In the fall of 1999, he graduated with a Masters of Education from Simon Fraser University and went on to open Still Learning Resources. He was a visionary in our field and in 2006 received the BC Innovation Award in Educational Technology.

Dave’s commitment to the profession was demonstrated by his role as a founding member of both AVLIC and WAVLI. He worked relentlessly to establish standards in the field of ASL-English interpreting and was a man of passion who inspired others to find theirs. David believed in lifelong learning and he encouraged interpreters, both new and seasoned, to continue their skill development throughout their career. Renaming this award not only honours the memory of a member who contributed significantly to our field but also serves as a reminder that learning does not end at graduation.

Please click here for a nomination form