co>lab interpreting intensive

When is co>lab?
We generally hold a week-long summer session every July or August and on special occasions, a January session. Check the co>lab homepage for upcoming sessions.

Where is co>lab held?
Our Toronto session is held in the Glendon College MCI Lab in Toronto. Sometimes we are invited to throw down in other parts of the world, and we love making that happen too. For the past couple of years we have alternated between Toronto and Mexico City!

Who is co>lab for?
Professional conference interpreters the world over, both newly graduated, life-long professionals and everything in between. Given that co>lab is a peer practice intensive rather than an instructional course, co>lab requires either a degree in conference interpreting or at least 50 conference working days (these can be online or in-person).

The course is run primarily in English, but any language combination is welcome, so long as there is at least two other participants with your language combination to provide feedback and act as a pivot if necessary.

How much does co>lab cost?
The co>lab fee is USD$565. As of 2026, all payments will need to be made in USD for tax compliance purposes. Paying your fee confirms your spot. This below market fee is possible because the nice people at the Glendon MCI in Toronto and at CM Idiomas in Mexico City generously lend us their space, staff, time and equipment. We also have a the amazing co>lab crew—volunteers who donate their time and energies to keep costs lower. And, finally, we can do this because YOU pitch in with your time, talents and effort: each participant is required to prepare a 20-minute presentation in their A-language to be interpreted simultaneously by the other participants, as well as listen to colleagues’ work and provide support.

Your payment covers your own costs (coffee break fuel, co>lab celebration lunch, incidentals, course materials, badges, etc.), administrative fees, and and offsets your organizers’ travel expenses and time invested.

Participants arrange for their own accommodations, meals, and travel according to what works best for you. But we’ve put together a bit of guidance to get you started in Mexico or Toronto. For Toronto sessions, a low-cost, no frills option on campus is sometimes available to a limited number of participants upon request.

What is the co>lab cancellation and refund policy?
If a refund is requested and there is another qualified participant available to fill your spot, we are happy to refund your fee up to a month before the course. After the one month mark, the fee is non-refundable.

Can I earn professional development/continuing education units from participating in co>lab?
The Ontario Council on Community Interpreting (OCCI) has approved co>lab in the past (yahoo!) for 10 Professional Development Units. This means it is very likely to continue to be approved for future sessions, upon your request. For other organizations such as IMIA or CCHI, we encourage you to inquire directly and we will be happy to provide any supporting material.