On-demand video
Request an available interpreter for time-sensitive or unexpected conversations when participants need visual communication from different locations.
Video interpreting across Canada
Professional interpreting, face to face by video.
Connect with a professional interpreter by video for healthcare, legal, arbitration, mediation, police, real estate, insurance, government and social service conversations. Choose on-demand access for immediate needs or schedule an interpreter for a planned appointment.
Service built around the conversation
On demand when time matters. Scheduled when planning matters.
Able coordinates the interpreter, language and connection format around your setting. The right approach depends on the urgency, duration, participants and complexity of the conversation.
Scheduled video
Reserve an interpreter for appointments, meetings, assessments, consultations and longer or more complex sessions.
Coordinated support
Our team asks about the language, setting, participants, timing and connection details before confirming the service.
Why video
Visual connection with the reach of remote service
Video allows participants to see facial expressions, gestures and visual context while the interpreter joins remotely. It can be especially valuable in hospitals, healthcare appointments, social work settings and other conversations where human connection supports understanding.
Some assignments are better suited to onsite or telephone interpreting. Able can help identify the appropriate format based on the setting and request.
Hospitals and medical centres
Doctors and healthcare teams
Legal consultations and proceedings
Arbitrations and mediations
Police stations and public services
Real estate and insurance matters
Social work and community services
Government and business meetings
Professional settings beyond healthcare
Video interpreting wherever clear communication is essential
Remote visual interpreting can connect clients, professionals and service providers when an onsite interpreter is unavailable or participants are in different locations.
Legal services
Support for lawyer and client consultations, case preparation, examinations and other legal conversations.
Arbitrations and mediations
Scheduled interpreting for dispute resolution sessions involving parties, counsel, mediators or arbitrators.
Police stations
Language support for appropriate police and public safety interactions, subject to the requirements of the setting.
Real estate brokers
Interpreting for client meetings, property discussions and transaction-related conversations.
Insurance
Video interpreting for claims, assessments, interviews and communication with policyholders.
Government and social services
Support for appointments, interviews and service conversations involving public or community organizations.
The vicki™ story
Canadian video interpreting experience that began before it became commonplace
Able's history with video interpreting reaches back to vicki™, the Video Interpreting Centralized Knowledge Interface. The platform was developed to bring professional human interpreters into conversations through video, including healthcare settings where language access could not wait for travel.
vicki™ is introduced
Able introduced its video interpreting platform and began bringing remote visual interpreting into health, finance and justice settings in North America.
Video interpreting reaches hospital care
vicki™ was documented in use at Southlake Regional Health Centre and received healthcare attention through Nursing Week coverage, Hospital News, Canadian Healthcare Technology and an Ontario Hospital Association webcast.
A multilingual, on-demand service
Able described vicki™ as a real-time video remote interpreting platform for multilingual and sign language communication across different environments.
The technology evolves. The purpose remains.
Able continues adapting video interpreting to client workflows, with both on-demand and scheduled service. The focus remains professional human communication, thoughtful coordination and the right interpreter for the setting.
Healthcare video interpreting
Designed for real hospital and clinical workflows
Video interpreting can support communication at different points in a patient's journey while allowing the interpreter to join remotely.
Emergency and intake
Language support during registration, triage and time-sensitive discussions, subject to interpreter availability.
Clinical appointments
Video interpreting for consultations, assessments, follow-up conversations and care discussions.
Inpatient and discharge
Support for bedside conversations, discharge planning and communication with patients and families.
Care conferences
Scheduled interpreting for discussions involving patients, families and multidisciplinary care teams.
Need ASL? American Sign Language assignments require their own planning and interpreter considerations. Visit our ASL Interpreting page.
History and further reading
Documented milestones and independent context
These articles and resources provide historical information about vicki™ and broader examples of video interpreting in healthcare. External healthcare resources are provided for context and do not imply a current partnership with Able Translations.
Some historical articles may be archived or subject to the publisher's access settings.
Video interpreting questions
Answers for organizations planning video interpreting
These answers cover common questions about on-demand and scheduled video remote interpreting services in Canada.
What is video remote interpreting?
Video remote interpreting connects participants with a professional human interpreter through a live video connection when everyone cannot be in the same location.
Can video interpreting be requested on demand?
Yes. Able can check interpreter availability for time-sensitive requests. Availability depends on the language, setting and time of the request.
Can I schedule a video interpreter in advance?
Yes. Scheduled booking is recommended for planned appointments, legal consultations, arbitrations, mediations, assessments and longer sessions.
Which professional settings can use video interpreting?
Services may be coordinated for hospitals, doctors, legal matters, police stations, real estate brokers, insurance, government, social services and business meetings.
Is video interpreting available across Canada?
Able coordinates requests for organizations and private clients across Canada, including major cities and communities in multiple provinces.
When is onsite or telephone interpreting more appropriate?
The best format depends on the setting, participants, duration and communication needs. An Able coordinator can help determine the appropriate option.
What to include in your request
Help us coordinate the right video interpreter
Share only the operational details needed to assess the request. Do not send confidential medical or legal information through the website form.
Language and setting
Tell us the language or dialect, professional setting and number of participants.
On demand or scheduled
Indicate whether the need is immediate or provide the preferred date, time and expected duration.
Connection details
Describe how participants will join and any accessibility or technical considerations.
YOUR LOCAL GLOBAL PARTNER™
Request video interpreting
Tell us the language, setting and whether you need on-demand or scheduled service.