Why Become A Member
The ACTAO provides collegiality and support for Authorized Court Transcriptionists in Ontario, which advocating for ACTs and the profession.
The ACTAO invites all ACTs to join our Authorized Court Transcriptionist conferences in-person and Zoom meetings
The ACTAO facilitates a mentoring program, matching new to the profession ACTs with experienced ACTs f
or ongoing mentoring and support.
Members of the ACTAO are provided with opportunities and information:
The ACTAO provides collegiality and support for Authorized Court Transcriptionists in Ontario, which advocating for ACTs and the profession.
The ACTAO invites all ACTs to join our Authorized Court Transcriptionist conferences in-person and Zoom meetings
The ACTAO facilitates a mentoring program, matching new to the profession ACTs with experienced ACTs f
or ongoing mentoring and support.
Members of the ACTAO are provided with opportunities and information:
- Collaboration with other ACTs
- Website exposure for transcript work
- Updates on ongoing challenges within the profession
- ACT Mentoring - pair up with an experienced ACT to build your skills
Member Invitation Letters
THE AUTHORIZED COURT TRANSCRIPTIONISTS ASSOCIATION of ONTARIO
March 7, 2025 **SENT DATE**
Dear ACT:
The Authorized Court Transcriptionist Association of Ontario was incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act on February 19, 2019. At that time, all ACTs were invited to become members. Since that time, that invitation has always been open to any ACTs wishing to become members.
"Unity is strength...when there is teamwork and collaboration,
wonderful things can be achieved." -- Mattie Stepanek
Once we completed our initial membership drive, we began to canvass members to determine what issues were most important to them. On the basis of that information, we developed an action plan to tackle those issues.
Some of the things we dealt with in a productive focussed manner are:
Just as importantly, we were also able to STOP Legal Aid from choosing ACTs to work with Legal Aid exclusively, as it was a conflict of interest for a government funded agency to choose ACTs exclusively to work with, it was unfair and unethical.
We spent many months working with MAG, by letters and telephone calls since our association, ACTAO was formed in 2019, working towards a much-needed fee increase. The fee increase was also discussed, and a major topic, at our first annual convention, October 26, 2019 - Many ACTs were in attendance. We were successful. The fees were finally increased in 2022, prior to that, fees were not increased since the new transcript model came into force in 2014, prior to that, we went for 27 years without any fee increases. We are now at the three-year mark without an increase. Many ACTs have expressed the need for a fee increase. In the next few days, we will be providing a letter to MAG, outlining the need for an increase, which would at least cover an allowance for the COLA, cost of living since our last increase. We will of course, share this letter with ACTs.
"Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." --Helen Keller
The ACTAO website www.actao.ca will remain a work in progress so members can make suggestions on the content they would like to see published.
We are hoping more ACTs will become members and that more ACTs will serve as volunteers to run the Association. Every ACT is welcome. The more members we have, the stronger we will be as a professional association working together to reach our goals – maintaining and guarding the integrity of the record, providing excellent service in producing certified Ontario court transcripts, while supporting and inspiring each other.
Initially, membership fees for the Association have been by voluntary dues. The voluntary dues are used to cover administrative costs such as the monthly charge for maintaining the website, our annual convention, and the like.
To become a member, please go to the website www.actao.ca where you can make your membership request. Please watch for emails from [email protected] and add the Association email address to your contacts so you'll be sure to receive emails we send out to members.
If you would like to volunteer to help with the continued efforts of the Association by becoming a member, and/or to serve as a director, by working together for the good of our profession, you are more than welcome! ~ Our success is dependent upon the vital support we can offer each other by working together in this Association!
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." --Phil Jackson
Please feel free to contact us at the email address below.
The Authorized Court Transcriptionist Association of Ontario
*************************************************************************************
THE AUTHORIZED COURT TRANSCRIPTIONISTS ASSOCIATION of ONTARIO
March 7, 2025 **SENT DATE**
Dear ACT:
The Authorized Court Transcriptionist Association of Ontario was incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act on February 19, 2019. At that time, all ACTs were invited to become members. Since that time, that invitation has always been open to any ACTs wishing to become members.
"Unity is strength...when there is teamwork and collaboration,
wonderful things can be achieved." -- Mattie Stepanek
Once we completed our initial membership drive, we began to canvass members to determine what issues were most important to them. On the basis of that information, we developed an action plan to tackle those issues.
Some of the things we dealt with in a productive focussed manner are:
- An annual meeting where we can all meet in person to discuss issues and make positive plans for our profession.
- Free listing on the website with your contact info.
- Introduce “new to the profession” ACTS to experienced ACTS who are willing to provide one-on-one mentorship to newly authorized ACTS.
- Stop Legal Aid Ontario from setting their own rates and ignoring the transcript fee regulation.
- Work hand-in-hand with the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) to monitor and enforce improvements to recordings and annotations.
- Petition MAG for improvements to training and accreditation of new ACTS.
- Petition MAG to conduct regular and meaningful reviews of the per page rate, which was set in 2022, and in 2014, after remaining stagnant for 27 years.
- Become a unified voice to provide input to MAG on issues that affect us.
Just as importantly, we were also able to STOP Legal Aid from choosing ACTs to work with Legal Aid exclusively, as it was a conflict of interest for a government funded agency to choose ACTs exclusively to work with, it was unfair and unethical.
We spent many months working with MAG, by letters and telephone calls since our association, ACTAO was formed in 2019, working towards a much-needed fee increase. The fee increase was also discussed, and a major topic, at our first annual convention, October 26, 2019 - Many ACTs were in attendance. We were successful. The fees were finally increased in 2022, prior to that, fees were not increased since the new transcript model came into force in 2014, prior to that, we went for 27 years without any fee increases. We are now at the three-year mark without an increase. Many ACTs have expressed the need for a fee increase. In the next few days, we will be providing a letter to MAG, outlining the need for an increase, which would at least cover an allowance for the COLA, cost of living since our last increase. We will of course, share this letter with ACTs.
"Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." --Helen Keller
The ACTAO website www.actao.ca will remain a work in progress so members can make suggestions on the content they would like to see published.
We are hoping more ACTs will become members and that more ACTs will serve as volunteers to run the Association. Every ACT is welcome. The more members we have, the stronger we will be as a professional association working together to reach our goals – maintaining and guarding the integrity of the record, providing excellent service in producing certified Ontario court transcripts, while supporting and inspiring each other.
Initially, membership fees for the Association have been by voluntary dues. The voluntary dues are used to cover administrative costs such as the monthly charge for maintaining the website, our annual convention, and the like.
To become a member, please go to the website www.actao.ca where you can make your membership request. Please watch for emails from [email protected] and add the Association email address to your contacts so you'll be sure to receive emails we send out to members.
If you would like to volunteer to help with the continued efforts of the Association by becoming a member, and/or to serve as a director, by working together for the good of our profession, you are more than welcome! ~ Our success is dependent upon the vital support we can offer each other by working together in this Association!
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." --Phil Jackson
Please feel free to contact us at the email address below.
The Authorized Court Transcriptionist Association of Ontario
*************************************************************************************
THE AUTHORIZED COURT TRANSCRIPTIONISTS ASSOCIATION of ONTARIO
March 18, 2019 ***DATE SENT OUT***
Dear ACTs:
Great news!
We have actually formed an Association!! Long overdue - much needed - and finally happening.
"Unity is strength...when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved." -- Mattie Stepanek
The Authorized Court Transcriptionist Association of Ontario was incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act on February 19, 2019. All ACTs are welcome to become members!
Once we complete our initial membership drive, we plan to start by canvassing members to determine what issues are most important to them. On the basis of that information, we can develop an action plan to tackle those issues.
We also hope to form committees within the Association so that members can work together in smaller groups on areas that are of interest to them, such as website improvements, membership, conference planning, group discounts and developing a process for the annual election of officers.
Some of the things we can deal with in a productive focussed manner are:
"Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." --Helen Keller
The Association has a website - www.actao.ca - your input is appreciated.
The members-only section is a private log-in section where we can post information on current and predicted issues affecting ACTS.
We will explore and investigate ways to deal with these issues in a productive, prudent and professional manner.
The Association website also has a public section, providing members of the Association with access to a place to advertise their services by posting contact information, a short biography and description of the services they offer.
The website will remain a work in progress so members can make suggestions on the content they would like to see published.
We are hoping all ACTs will become members. The more members we have, the higher the discounts we will receive and the stronger we will be as a professional association working together to reach our goals – maintaining and guarding the integrity of the record, providing excellent service in producing certified Ontario court transcripts, while supporting and inspiring each other.
Initially, membership fees for the Association will be by voluntary dues. The voluntary dues will be used to cover administrative costs such as the monthly charge for maintaining the website. If the voluntary dues fail to cover the administrative costs of maintaining the Association and the website, this will be revisited at a general meeting.
To become a member go to the website www.actao.ca where you can make your membership request. Please watch for emails from [email protected] and add this new Association email address to your contacts so you'll be sure to receive emails we sent out to members.
If you would like to volunteer to help with the continued formation of the Association by becoming a founding member, by working together for the good of our profession, you are more than welcome! ~ Our success is dependent upon the vital support we can each offer by working together in this Association!
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." --Phil Jackson
Thank you,
Shelley, Joan, Carolyn, Linda and Liz,
founding members
***********************************************************
March 18, 2019 ***DATE SENT OUT***
Dear ACTs:
Great news!
We have actually formed an Association!! Long overdue - much needed - and finally happening.
"Unity is strength...when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved." -- Mattie Stepanek
The Authorized Court Transcriptionist Association of Ontario was incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act on February 19, 2019. All ACTs are welcome to become members!
Once we complete our initial membership drive, we plan to start by canvassing members to determine what issues are most important to them. On the basis of that information, we can develop an action plan to tackle those issues.
We also hope to form committees within the Association so that members can work together in smaller groups on areas that are of interest to them, such as website improvements, membership, conference planning, group discounts and developing a process for the annual election of officers.
Some of the things we can deal with in a productive focussed manner are:
- Group health insurance.
- Group access/discount to Westlaw.
- Discounts on supplies.
- An annual meeting where we can all meet in person to discuss issues and make positive plans for our profession.
- Continuing education workshops.
- Free listing on the website with your contact info, a bio and your picture, if you want to post one.
- Introduce “new to the profession” ACTS to experienced ACTS who are willing to provide one-on-one mentorship to newly authorized ACTS.
- Stop Legal Aid Ontario from setting their own rates and ignoring the regulations: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r14094 and https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/050002
- Work hand-in-hand with the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) to monitor and enforce improvements to recordings and annotations.
- Petition MAG for improvements to training and accreditation of new ACTS.
- Petition MAG to conduct regular and meaningful reviews of the per page rate, which was set in 2014 after remaining stagnant for 27 years.
- Become a unified voice to provide input to MAG on issues that affect us.
"Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." --Helen Keller
The Association has a website - www.actao.ca - your input is appreciated.
The members-only section is a private log-in section where we can post information on current and predicted issues affecting ACTS.
We will explore and investigate ways to deal with these issues in a productive, prudent and professional manner.
The Association website also has a public section, providing members of the Association with access to a place to advertise their services by posting contact information, a short biography and description of the services they offer.
The website will remain a work in progress so members can make suggestions on the content they would like to see published.
We are hoping all ACTs will become members. The more members we have, the higher the discounts we will receive and the stronger we will be as a professional association working together to reach our goals – maintaining and guarding the integrity of the record, providing excellent service in producing certified Ontario court transcripts, while supporting and inspiring each other.
Initially, membership fees for the Association will be by voluntary dues. The voluntary dues will be used to cover administrative costs such as the monthly charge for maintaining the website. If the voluntary dues fail to cover the administrative costs of maintaining the Association and the website, this will be revisited at a general meeting.
To become a member go to the website www.actao.ca where you can make your membership request. Please watch for emails from [email protected] and add this new Association email address to your contacts so you'll be sure to receive emails we sent out to members.
If you would like to volunteer to help with the continued formation of the Association by becoming a founding member, by working together for the good of our profession, you are more than welcome! ~ Our success is dependent upon the vital support we can each offer by working together in this Association!
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." --Phil Jackson
Thank you,
Shelley, Joan, Carolyn, Linda and Liz,
founding members
***********************************************************
One for all and All for one!
Directors and Committees
Directors for the Authorized Court Transcriptionist Association of Ontario are listed on the home page. We need are in the process of forming new committes and we need your help! Please contact us to take a position on a committee
Directors for the Authorized Court Transcriptionist Association of Ontario are listed on the home page. We need are in the process of forming new committes and we need your help! Please contact us to take a position on a committee
There is no fee for membership; voluntary dues are accepted and appreciated.
We use the dues to maintain our website and host and organize meetings, run the association, and to work together to communicate with the Ministry of the Attorney General concerns and requests.
ACTs wishing to support the Association with any amount of voluntary dues may contact us at: [email protected]
We use the dues to maintain our website and host and organize meetings, run the association, and to work together to communicate with the Ministry of the Attorney General concerns and requests.
ACTs wishing to support the Association with any amount of voluntary dues may contact us at: [email protected]
Questions need -- more information? Contact us: [email protected]