Retired military officer wins translation prize at McGill

May 2008

After a 24-year career in the Canadian military, Hélène Desnoyers was awarded the McGill Associates Prize in Translation (English to French) at the 2008 Spring Convocation. This prize is awarded annually to the student with the best academic record over the entire Certificate in Translation Program.

Desnoyers’s career in the armed forces began after her graduation from the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean in 1985. Having served some time as a Public Relations Officer and Official Languages Coordinator during the early days of her career, communication and language were clearly never far from her concerns. This trend continued on through her last posting with the Canadian Forces Management Development School, where she was involved in the delivery of management and business planning courses.

Her recognized competence in both official languages led her to work on translations of specialized texts in a variety of areas including aircraft maintenance, business planning and leadership development. In addition to that, Ms Desnoyers found time to volunteer her services to charitable organizations by translating advertisements, website information and promotional materials.

With that experience under her belt and motivated by a love for words, Desnoyers enrolled in McGill’s translation program in January 2005.

Some three and a half years later, her experience, her mastery of English and French and her new-found translator competence have allowed this dynamic retiree to embark on a new and promising career path.

“Desnoyers’s commitment to bilingualism and professional communication are the characteristics that, when coupled with translation competence, set apprentice translators like her apart as valuable players in Canada’s rapidly expanding language industries”, commented Translation Studies Director, James Archibald.

McGill University offers a Certificate and a Graduate Diploma in Translation for apprentice translators interested in the language professions.

For further information:

Mrs. Katherine Peacock
Tel.: 514-398-1484
kathy.peacock [at] mcgill.ca
www.mcgill.ca/conted-translation