About / Bio
Having worked several years in the arts and communications, Rachel Martinez has dedicated herself to translation since 1999. She has published more than 100 works for renowned publishers in various domains: fiction, visual arts, short stories, biographies, essays and young adult fiction. She received the Governor General’s Award in 2005 for French translation for Glenn Gould, une vie (Wondrous Strange: The Life and Art of Glenn Gould), published by Boréal the previous year, and was a finalist in 2013 and 2015. She represented the LTAC on the Advisory Council of the Banff International Literary Translation Centre from 2018 until its discontinuation in 2020.
Education / Training
o Graduate Diploma in Spanish-French Translation, McGill University, 2007
o Certificate of Proficiency in Italian, McGill University, 1986
o Certificat de traduction I, Université de Montréal, 1986
o Intensive course in Italian, Università per stranieri di Perugia (Italy), July 1983
o B.A., Major in Linguistics (with Distinction), McGill University, 1982
o Certificate of Proficiency in Italian, McGill University, 1986
o Certificat de traduction I, Université de Montréal, 1986
o Intensive course in Italian, Università per stranieri di Perugia (Italy), July 1983
o B.A., Major in Linguistics (with Distinction), McGill University, 1982
Awards & Distinctions
o Winner of the Governor General's Literary Award in French Translation for «Glenn Gould, une vie» (2005)
o Finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award in French Translation and IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People)'s Honorary List for «Les maux d’Ambroise Bukowski» (2013)
o Finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award in French Translation for «Ma vie (racontée malgré moi) par Henry K. Larsen» (2015)
o Selected for the Banff International Literary Translation Centre (June 2015)
o Prix Jeunesse des libraires du Québec (outside Quebec, 12 to 17 year old category), for «Nous sommes tous faits de molécules» by Susin Nielsen (March 2017)
o Finalist for the Quebec Writers' Federation's Cole Foundation Prize for Translation for «Les Justiciers d'Hochelaga» by Peter Kirby (2018)
o Finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award in French Translation and IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People)'s Honorary List for «Les maux d’Ambroise Bukowski» (2013)
o Finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award in French Translation for «Ma vie (racontée malgré moi) par Henry K. Larsen» (2015)
o Selected for the Banff International Literary Translation Centre (June 2015)
o Prix Jeunesse des libraires du Québec (outside Quebec, 12 to 17 year old category), for «Nous sommes tous faits de molécules» by Susin Nielsen (March 2017)
o Finalist for the Quebec Writers' Federation's Cole Foundation Prize for Translation for «Les Justiciers d'Hochelaga» by Peter Kirby (2018)