Translation Services in Calgary for Immigration, Education, Life, Business, and Government

A certified translation is an official translation created by an accredited translator, accompanied by a seal or signature that validates it for use with government authorities, courts, colleges, and employers.

In certain instances, a translation must be finalized and stamped by a certified Canadian translator who is affiliated with a provincial association like ATIO, OTTIAQ, or STIBC. Although the majority of government offices do not require this more rigorous type of certification, specific licensing organizations or professional boards do.

In certain organizations, a translation may be certified by a representative from a professional translation agency, provided it is on the agency’s letterhead and includes the required contact information.

Another option is to have the translations certified by a Canadian Commissioner for Taking Oaths (Commissioner for Taking Affidavits), who can authenticate the translator’s signature on their affidavit (a written oath confirming the completeness and accuracy of the translation).

A different category is the notarized translation, typically necessary for use beyond Canada. Some embassies and consulates require that a Canadian Notary Public notarize translations. This extra measure ensures legal acknowledgment internationally and verifies that the translation has undergone proper validation.

Lastly, there are non-certified translations, frequently selected by business clients who do not require official documentation. The translations are carried out by the same proficient linguists, though lacking formal certification, rendering them appropriate for websites, marketing materials, or internal use.

We can provide support in both situations.

A standard certified translation may not always be enough when documents need to be used in other countries. Many foreign institutions, such as embassies, consulates, and government offices, need translations to be notarized or have an apostille.

A notarized translation requires a Notary Public in Canada to verify the authenticity of the translation formally. In these situations, the notarized translation guarantees that a qualified professional completed the work and that the certification holds legal validity.

An apostille serves as a form of legalization, which has been streamlined in Canada following its accession to the Hague Apostille Convention in 2024. This system allows for the authentication of Canadian documents through a single, streamlined process, ensuring their validity in all other member states of the Hague Apostille Convention.

Check this page for details.

For countries that are not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, the process may still require full consular legalization, which involves the document going through several offices, including the consulate or embassy of the destination country.

Machine translation employs advanced technology to efficiently handle extensive amounts of text. It is effective for internal purposes or when speed is the primary concern, with the output available for subsequent review by a human translator to guarantee quality.

In contrast, human translation is performed solely by a skilled human linguist. Our agency offers a “Gold Standard” service delivered by native-speaking translators who possess several years of full-time translating experience. These translations are entirely manual, guaranteeing precise, fluent, and error-free outcomes that capture not just the words but also the intended meaning and tone of the original document.

For clients seeking exceptional precision, our “VIP” service package offers a manual translation by one expert, followed by a second round of review and refinement conducted by another senior translator.

The document’s intended purpose influences the decision between machine-assisted and entirely human translation. For internal communication that requires both speed and efficiency, machine translation with light post-editing (MTPE) could be adequate. However, for external distribution, official documents, or sensitive content, the necessity of human translation cannot be overstated.

Each of these serves a distinct function within the language sector, yet they are quite different services.

• Transcription or subtitling refers to the process of transforming spoken words from audio or video into written text, and may also include the translation and integration of subtitles directly into the video.
• Translation focuses on the process of transforming written content from one language to another.
• Interpretation (which is a service that we do not provide) often refers to real-time, spoken (oral) translation.
• Localization involves modifying content, such as websites, marketing materials, or apps, to align with the target language as well as the cultural norms, legal requirements, and audience expectations of a particular region. This includes adjustments to tone, idioms, date formats, and imagery.

Indeed. Adaptations for Canada should align with the unique language norms of the country.

We provide translations tailored to Quebec French, as well as to European French, depending on the client’s needs, to ensure alignment with local language standards and cultural nuances.

We ensure that our approach to cultural accuracy adapts English usage to the Canadian context in accordance with the Canadian English Style Guide, just as we do with French.

Certainly.

We offer professional assistance to businesses in Quebec aiming to adhere to the Charter of the French Language. This includes assistance with:

• Enrollment with the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF).
• Creating a Francization Committee.
• Meeting employee‑threshold deadlines (25+, 100+ employees) to secure a francization certificate.

Our support enables your business to steer clear of significant fines for failing to comply with Quebec laws.