About CAV and
Canada VRS
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Message from the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
Dear VRS Callers,
I am honoured and excited to be appointed CAV’s new CEO and Executive Director. As a Deaf person, I understand the tremendous value Canada VRS brings to the Canadian Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities.
Canada VRS has been operating for over seven years and has connected almost 3.5 million VRS calls. The service has continually evolved with innovations to meet the needs of Canadian VRS callers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. As CAV continues to grow, our goal remains to provide a quality VRS that meets the needs of our community.
I look forward to working with the CAV team, our interpreters, and the VRS community.
Thank you for your continued support.
About CAV
The Canadian Administrator of Video Relay Service (CAV), Inc., or CAV, is a not-for-profit telecommunications services company with a mandate from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to design, implement and oversee the delivery of Video Relay Service (VRS) in Canada.
Canada VRS enables Deaf, Hard of Hearing or speech-impaired Canadians who use American Sign Language (ASL) and langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) to make telephone calls via Internet-based videoconferencing technology.
CAV and its Board of Directors are responsible for Canada’s national VRS, Canada VRS which was launched September 28, 2016, and is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
CAV's Vision
Empower Deaf Canadians.
CAV's Mission
Provide VRS for Canadians who use ASL and LSQ; enabling connections to people and increasing opportunities.
Canada VRS Theme
Access is Opportunity.
Canada VRS is the name of the service that CAV is responsible for.
Deaf, Hard of Hearing or speech-impaired Canadians who use sign language can download and register for a free Canada VRS app for iOS, Android, Windows and Mac computers with Safari and Waterfox web browsers.
Once registered they are given a VRS number which they use to make and receive calls. The app connects Canada VRS users to a sign language interpreter who relays the call in real time, in ASL and LSQ.
CAV Board of Directors
Top Row (L-R):
Suzanne Laforest – CEO and Executive Director
David Joseph – Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing LSQ Director and Board Chair
Kate Southwell – Telecommunications Service Providers Director
Middle Row (L-R):
Ruth Altman – Telecommunications Service Providers Director
Dr. Jessica Dunkley – Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing ASL Director
Tony D’Onofrio – Independent Director
Anne Missud – LSQ Interpreter Permanent Invitee
Bottom Row (L-R):
Mark Kusiak – Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing ASL/LSQ Director
Carla Dupras – ASL Interpreter Permanent Invitee
Gwen Beauchemin – Independent Director
To see the bio for each director, click on their name.
Learn how registered stakeholder organizations influence CAV's Board of Directors, consisting of (7) Directors and (2) Permanent Invitees.
Learn more about Registered Stakeholders
Staff
Top Row: Suzanne Laforest, CEO and Executive Director; Carmelle Cachero, Chief of Staff; Jonathan Masters, Acting CFO/COO; Paula Bath, Director of Regulatory Compliance & Strategy
2nd Row: David Egan, Service Operations Manager; Jodi Birley, Translation & Video
Producer; Wissam Constantin, Community Relations Manager; Diane Underschultz, Community Relations Assistant Manager
3rd Row: Jo-Anne Bryan, Community Outreach Specialist; Patrick Lazure, Community Outreach Specialist; Kim Pelletier, Community Outreach Specialist
SRV Canada VRS is powered by partners taking part in the CAV ecosystem.
CAV licenses a stand-alone VRS Technology Platform (VTP) which processes and tracks video calls. CAV also contracts for the services of several “Service Providers”, e.g. Video Interpreter Providers (VIPs) who provide call centres and sign language interpreting (relay) between American Sign Language (ASL) and English, and French and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ).
CAV’s role is to design, implement and oversee the delivery of video relay service (VRS) in Canada.
IVèS will develop and deliver VRS as well as provide customer service and technical service support.
ASL (American Sign Language) Video Interpreters
Convo is the primary provider of VRS call centres and sign language interpreting (relay) for ASL.
LSQ (Langue des signes québécoise) Video Interpreters
Sivet is the primary provider of sign language interpreting (relay) for LSQ.
ASL (American Sign Language) Video Interpreters
Asign provides additional sign language interpreting (relay) for ASL.
ISEP provides additional sign language interpreting (relay) for LSQ.
CAV’s role is to design, implement and oversee the delivery of video relay service (VRS) in Canada.
IVèS will develop and deliver VRS as well as provide customer service and technical service support.
ASL (American Sign Language) Video Interpreters
Convo is the primary provider of VRS call centres and sign language interpreting (relay) for ASL.
LSQ (Langue des signes québécoise) Video Interpreters
Sivet is the primary provider of sign language interpreting (relay) for LSQ.
ASL (American Sign Language) Video Interpreters
Asign provides additional sign language interpreting (relay) for ASL.
ISEP provides additional sign language interpreting (relay) for LSQ.