Connect Series: Meet Miki Patel

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As QC facilitator, Miki ensures each of our transcripts goes through a rigorous editing process. Miki lives in Clearwater, Florida. She just recently moved from Hoffman Estates, Illinois. She specializes in proofreading court transcripts.

Can you tell us why you love proofreading?

I love proofreading because it can be applied to almost any industry. Wherever words are used, proofreaders are needed to ensure that the quality of content is met. I also like that proofreading cannot be 100 percent automated. The need for quality proofreading will never go away because automation cannot replace the human eye.

Have you noticed a big difference between Canadian transcripts and US transcripts? Was it hard to adjust to our Canadianisms?

I haven’t noticed much of a difference between Canadian transcripts and US transcripts. One thing I have noticed is that what we call “discoveries” in Canada, we call “depositions” in the US.

The biggest adjustment for me was getting used to the Canadian spellings. Thankfully, we can change the English dictionary from American English to British English (close enough to Canadian English) in CaseCAT, so that definitely made the adjustment easier since I had spellcheck catch all of the instances of American English when I used it, which was a lot.

At Reportex our core values of team, mentorship, equality, community and industry are central to what we do. Veritext’s mission and corporate values dovetail nicely to our already solid foundation. Together we aim to be respectful, ethical, collaborative, accountable and professional. Can you tell us which of these values resonates most strongly with you and why?

Being ethical is a value that strongly resonates with me because it plays such an important role in transcript production. It’s our job to preserve the record and confidentiality of all of the information contained within the record.

We talk quite a bit about wellness and self-care on our blog and internally, through our Teams channels. Do you have a favourite way to recharge or any tips for staying healthy mentally and physically?

Now that I live close to the beach and the oceans, visiting the beach just makes me forget about all of the stress in my life. There’s something about sun exposure and the ocean air that is just so good for mental health. Since I grew up in the Midwest of the United States, where I didn’t experience nice weather all year round, I didn’t realize the mental health benefits of being close to the beach until I experienced it myself. I also get some physical activity on the beach too by getting into the water and moving around. I can’t swim, but I try.

My tip on staying healthy mentally and physically is to get out more. Even if there’s no beach around you, I’m sure there’s a nice park where you can hike and enjoy the sun if it’s sunny; otherwise there’s always a gym to get your physical exercise, although it won’t be the same as being outdoors. I’m a workaholic, but I try to enjoy the weekends as much as I can. It’s good to recharge once in a while, and weekends are the days when I do that.

Thank you Miki, for sharing your joy of the written word.

Community Over Competition – a vision for the future of court reporting

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As you will have seen, the Reportex Group has recently made some very big and very exciting announcements. Notably, the court reporters from United Reporting Service have joined our family and by extension, we have all made the leap into a major national expansion with Veritext Legal Solutions, the global leader in litigation solutions.

What this means for our clients is that they will now have access to a more streamlined integration of technologies, efficiencies and boardrooms across the country, while still working with the teams that they know and love. It also means that we will be able to carry the Reportex vision across North America as we partner with Neesons, Ace, Amicus, and Royal and engage in leading the charge of shaping the future of legal solutions in Canada.

What it means for our team is that we get to engage in an extraordinary stage of growth as we explore new territory, build new relationships and carry our values and “thoughtful extras” into a broader arena.

At Reportex, we have established five core values that drive all of the decisions we make from new product development to community engagement and industry support. They are: Team, Community, Industry, Mentorship and Equality. We talk about them a lot – on social media, in team meetings… these values form the foundation for our focus as a team and as a company.

Our industry is facing many challenges. So over the past two years, we have been identifying partnerships with likeminded court reporting firms who have agreed with our philosophy that we are stronger together. We have joined forces (and resources) with All-Star, Island, Kamloops and now United with the mindset of protecting, preserving and continuing to build our vision for the future and fortifying our community.

Our alliance with Veritext was a natural fit in both a professional sense as well as in alignment with these values. Together, we adopt the mission which is “to be an integral part of our client’s legal process by providing relevant solutions, delivered with superb service and industry-leading technology.”

Veritext’s mission and corporate values dovetail quite nicely to add dimension to our already solid foundation. Together, we aim to be Respectful, Ethical, Collaborative, Accountable and Professional in all aspects of our business as we continue to grow, evolve and shape the future of court reporting and legal solutions across Canada.


“As we delve into this new realm, I can see a profound opportunity – an opportunity to continue to grow and evolve. An opportunity to reimagine what’s in front of us. An opportunity to have a voice and lead the charge on the national stage. Most of all – an opportunity to create a strong future for this industry in a new and exciting way.”

– Christy Pratt, Regional VP Canada West, Veritext

Two talented teams… under one roof!

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The time has come to announce an exciting partnership a long time in the making…

We are thrilled to welcome the exceptional team from United Reporting Service to the Reportex family in downtown Vancouver.

Reportex Agencies and United Reporting have always had a strong and collegial relationship and with our collective years of experience and extraordinary talent, this is a collaboration that will truly shape the future of court reporting and legal solutions in BC.  Our goal is always to provide an incomparable experience for clients, and this partnership packs a powerful punch.

We are thrilled to join forces.

The legendary team of United reporters will be working from our new Reportex offices and all in-person bookings will now be held at 700 – 925 West Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver, making Reportex the premier location for all your litigation needs.

It’s a new dawn for the future of court reporting across Canada, as we step into our future… together.

Connect Series: Meet Shishi Fan

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Shishi is Reportex’s production coordinator. She has the responsibility of printing, assembling, and couriering all legal transcripts and making sure they are delivered to our clients on time. She is also responsible for providing clients with invoices for reporter-attended proceedings, medical transcriptions, and mediations.

Shishi is a true-blue Vancouverite (born and raised here) and another indispensable HQ staffer.

Your talents are in great demand at Reportex. What personality traits do you believe are most important for the role of production coordinator?

It’s hard to pick one in particular, but the ones that come to my mind are adaptability, persistence, and patience. There are many small pieces in my job, so I need all three of these traits to set a schedule for the day (and/or week) to juggle and determine the priority of said tasks. If certain tasks don’t get done in a day, they will snowball into a little mountain, and I’ll find myself trying to dig out of the mess later. If I have to pick just one, then I will say persistence. You need persistence standing in front of a mountain of transcripts, persistence in getting answers from clients, persistence in staring at numbers on invoices every day, and persistence in chasing fellow co-workers for their coffee orders every Friday.

All in all, I would say you need to be a good multitasker with a weird memory reminding you of things that Slack reminders don’t.

At Reportex our core values of team, mentorship, equality, community, and industry are central to what we do. Which of these values resonates most with you and why?

I would say team and community. I feel I am working with a highly efficient team that helps me while I help them out too. I can’t do my job without my fellow colleagues, and I know they rely on me as well. We have so many people working in Reportex doing their own things now, and Reportex needs every one of us. I can still remember the days when I had to share an office with Kim and Max. I’m delighted to see how much the Reportex team has expanded.

We have been discussing wellness on the blog and our internal Slack channels. Do you have a favourite way to recharge or any tips to share on staying well, especially during these COVID months?

It’s no big secret, but my favourite way of recharging is definitely napping. And not just any napping — I feel the best napping is on weekend afternoons with the guilty pleasure of wasting the best sun hours away. I don’t see the need to force myself out in those best sun hours if it’s not in me. I think what’s most important is to feel comfortable and allow yourself to feel comfortable. After a good recharge nap, I will get up again and get going on my tasks for the day. And then at the end of the day I can reward myself with some snacks. I go through a cycle of work, rest, work, rest because inevitably I will burn out if all I do is work, work, work without thanking and rewarding myself in some way.

So yes, I do talk to myself in my head occasionally saying Shishi, if you finish this task, you can go eat some of that chocolate; it’s waiting for you; you can do it!!

We all need a bit of encouragement to get through the days sometimes, and chocolate sounds like a great way to reward ourselves! 

Uncharted Waters: A COVID Update

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Like everyone, we at Reportex are cautiously optimistic about the restart plan announcements on May 25. This new plan paves a way for a loosening of restrictions for both personal and work life. With that said, for the sake of our staff and clients we will still be following strict safety protocols when you visit our offices.

As per the guidelines, employers are required to continue operating under their COVID-19 safety plans, but there is a plan for a gradual loosening of restrictions. At Reportex this means the following:

  • We must ensure that all staff and clients maintain an appropriate physical distance, and extra care should be taken in small office spaces, meeting rooms and break rooms.
  • Masks will still be worn in all indoor areas unless there is a plexiglass barrier in place.
  • A daily health check is included in our COVID-19 protocol; clients and staff should check in with reception before proceeding to their boardroom or office.
  • Proper handwashing and sanitizing will be adhered to at all times, and regular touchpoints will be cleaned frequently.

You can review our full protocols here.

According to Dr. Henry and the BCCDC, after June 15 more restrictions will be lifted, but the government advises a controlled and gradual return to the workplace plan, so only small, in-person meetings will be allowed. For the moment this means that Reportex will still limit in-person meetings to six people, including the court reporter. It also means that access to available meeting space will be limited, and meeting spaces will be sanitized by our staff after each use.

sun shining through clouds

This has been a time of upheaval and change for all of us. Let’s not forget to reflect on all that we have learned about ourselves and what we have accomplished over the past year. It has been a time of reflection and transformation. We have learned a lot of valuable lessons over the past year about ourselves and about how we manage in adversity and difficulty. We have seen amazing acts of selflessness and compassion from all around the world, but we have also seen the ugly and the frightening, and we hope that from this COVID cloud we will embrace the silver linings that the eased restrictions bring us as we move forward in our battle against the virus.

As we all move ahead in our plans for reopening workplaces as well as recreational spaces, we need to make sure we only take the good we have learned into the new normal. We want a better future for us all, not just the same old, same old. 

Are your employees thriving working from home? Do you feel a more digital approach is expanding your opportunities beyond the bricks and mortar of your office address? This is a chance for us all to re‑evaluate what is important to us in our homes and our workplaces. In the meantime wear your mask and keep your distance.

One of the biggest silver linings for us has been the opportunity to dig into the personal and professional growth of our team. As you know, we have been focusing on evolving our office space and developing our services and solutions for our clients. We have also been working with our executive coach, Mary Crayston, who has been guiding us through the challenges and successes of continued development. This work has allowed us to prepare for the future of both our business and the industry as a whole, and we couldn’t be more excited to step into it.

Connect Series: Meet Kris Bergado

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Kris is another friendly face at the Vancouver office. He is the office services coordinator for Reportex and works with reception/client services as well as the catering department to ensure all in-house operations are running smoothly for clients and staff. Kris was born in the Philippines but grew up in Ottawa. He moved to Vancouver as part of his love for travel and new experiences. He solo traveled 16 countries in two years while making many international friends through his travels. His employment experiences include working for one of the biggest companies in the hotel industry as well as one of the finest luxury hotels in Vancouver.

Kris is another artist in our midst, like Shannan. We seem to attract a creative bunch!

You appear to have a passion for travel and meeting people. Can you tell us where the urge to learn architecture comes from? 

Growing up, I always had a fascination for ornamental structures. Seeing all the beautiful statues and little details that make a building pop really appealed to me. Things like incorporating the surroundings to create a picturesque look really excited me. I thought maybe I could create something like that myself one day. Maybe not as ornamental, but something that would capture people’s attention.

We have been discussing wellness on the blog and in our internal Slack channels. Do you have a favourite way to recharge or any tips to share on staying well?

Wellness is an important thing to me! Most of my free time is spent at the gym, but I also like to give my mental health a break and take the time to sit down and pop a bottle of wine and snuggle with my dog.

At Reportex our core values of team, mentorship, equality, community and industry are central to what we do. Which of these values resonates most with you and why?

Out of all the core values community and team were the two that I immediately felt strongly about.  As a fairly new staffer I was introduced to team-building events, such as paint night and Cinco de Mayo. It’s nice to just chat and laugh with your fellow colleagues and just be in the present.

You have been an integral part of the move to our new floors. What excites you the most about the new space?

The new space is awesome! This might be a simple answer, but I love the windows and how so much natural light comes into the space. No need to go outside for your daily dose of vitamin D.

We’re glad you are enjoying the new HQ, Kris, and we are thrilled that you see how important our core values are to us. Reportex firmly believes in supporting and keeping connected with all our staff and contractors. Internal communications and support are equally important as external, and we feel that helps make our team so great at what they do.

Connect Series: Meet Shannan Howe

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Shannan is from Ireland and moved to Vancouver in February of 2020. She started working at the young age of 15 and has a lot of experience in customer service, complaints and leadership. Her compassion and caring attitude are her strongest assets.

Shannan completed a one-year course in social care and later studied social studies and psychology. Sadly, she had to leave college to take care of her ill grandfather full-time. After that, she became a care manager for elderly people. After a few tumultuous years, Shannan decided to travel the world and ended up in Vancouver. She fell in love with the area and all it had to offer, and thankfully for us, she has not left yet.

At Reportex our core values of team, mentorship, equality, community and industry are central to what we do. Which of these values resonates most strongly with you and why?

Team and community. I think these are the core values that resonate mostly with me in my daily life and work life together. Working as part of a team is something I have always felt strongly about. Everything and anything can be done better and more efficiently with a team of people that are honest and open and willing to work hard together.

Throughout my life I have been part of so many teams, such as dancing, folk storytelling, music groups and volunteering back home — which leads me to the “community” aspect. The “support local” movement has become a huge part of the lives of those who give back to the community, especially because of the pandemic.

Helping people and supporting people around me has always been something I have tried to do, hence studying social studies and becoming a full-time caregiver. I come from a very small community with about two shops, four pubs (of course), a church, a football team, a primary and secondary school and one overcrowded care home for all the elderly in the community and surrounding area. I volunteered in the care home to give a helping hand where it was needed, and I was soon offered a full-time position as a caregiver and ended up managing my own team. It was an amazing experience to meet all of the locals that had known my own grandfather (and family too), and I also enjoyed making their days a little better. I’ve also worked closely with children and youth, teaching Irish sean‑nós dancing and mentoring dancers in the community because we were too far out of the closest town for other teachers to travel. There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.

Tell us more about SsketchyArts? Does artistic talent run in the family?

SsketchyArts is my accidental pride and joy, thanks to living in Vancouver. When I moved here, it was quite hard to get a job as most places wanted a Canadian reference, which I clearly did not have, so I had a lot of spare time. I bought canvases and art supplies and just started painting like I have always done when I was bored. Then random people started sharing my paintings online and asking for commissions. I set up an art page after my family and friends forced me to because I was too scared, and it just blew up. I now have paintings that are displayed all over the world in online art galleries in places like Sweden, Dubai, Ireland, Croatia, Spain, Australia and all over Canada. Luckily (and also unfortunately), most of my dad’s side of the family has an artistic hand, so they think nothing of the fact that I am selling paintings. But at least we all share the love of art!

We have been talking a bit about wellness on the blog and through our Slack channels. Do you have a favourite way to recharge? And does it include you still practising Irish dance?

Unfortunately, I haven’t done much dancing since I moved to Canada, more so because of the pandemic of course, and it’s just not as fun or enjoyable without a crowd clapping and joining in. It’s the atmosphere that dancing brings that is the best part. So recharging for me right now is stepping back each day to practise gratitude, make affirmations and set intentions:

  • Gratitude: think about what you are grateful for today.  
  • Affirmations: first analyze the thoughts or behaviours that you would like to change in your own daily life and career that day. Say “I am confident” out loud — it does help.
  • Intentions: this can be as simple as planning to drink enough water today or accepting yourself as just enough. 

Try it — you will love it!

We want to thank Shannan for leaping into the deep end with such enthusiasm for her new role at HQ.  We could not have gotten through the renovations and the move without her can-do attitude.  Thanks Shannan!

Connect Series: Meet Bonnie Pigeon

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Centrepoint Bonnie

In 2010 after a lengthy career as an advertising consultant in print media in Calgary, Bonnie and her husband made the move to Kamloops, where she took on the position of corporate and government sales manager for Hotel 540. During that time the Centrepoint mediation and arbitration centre was developed, and she took over its management. There she met Marina Hopkins, and in December of 2020 she accepted the role of scheduling/administrative coordinator for Kamloops Reporting Services.

When not busy scheduling discoveries or printing and binding transcripts from her home office, Bonnie takes advantage of the Kamloops climate with activities that include gardening and kayaking, and she also enjoys getting crafty with macramé and painting. She loves to spend time with her two granddaughters, Sofia and McKenzie, when she can too.

You have been doing the whole work-from-home routine for a while now. Do you have any tips or tricks on how you stay focused and organized?

Yes, I have worked from my home office in a previous position, so it is not new to me, and it does have its advantages. I manage to stay focused, and I find I accomplish more because there are fewer distractions than there would be in a busy work environment. I have no kids or pets at home to distract me, so it is just me. I do miss the face-to-face interaction with co-workers and clients, but I find that if I have all the required tools and technology to accomplish my work, I’m okay with that. I am not averse to talking to myself!

You may have noticed that we have been talking quite a bit about wellness on our blog and internally through our Slack channels. Do you have a favourite way to recharge or any tips for staying mentally and physically healthy?

I’m not as physically fit as I once was when running or going to the gym was part of my daily routine, but I do walk on a daily basis, and in the summer months I like riding my bike or kayaking — those activities recharge me. For a mental escape I enjoy cooking — getting into the kitchen and creating something yummy (and healthy) is my go-to when I need to relax. I also recently took up macramé, which I find not only mentally relaxing but also fun since I get to create something with my hands, and this has really helped me during the COVID shutdown. COVID made me rethink my leisure time and need for hobbies.

At Reportex our core values of team, mentorship, equality, community and industry are central to what we do. Which of these values resonates most strongly with you and why?

Although they are all important core values, I think “mentorship” resonates most with me. As we mature in our lives and careers, I think it is essential that we share our learnings and experiences with our younger co-workers, friends and family. There is so much knowledge to pass on that it would be a shame not to share with and guide those just starting out in their careers. I have had several mentors throughout my life, both professionally and personally, and I appreciate and value each one of them.

Thank you, Bonnie, for sharing a little bit about yourself. We are happy for you to be part of the Reportex family. And we also love your thoughts on mentorship and sharing our knowledge and experiences.  Fostering success for individuals and organizations through the advancement of literacy, education, and mentorship opportunities is indeed one of the core values that we strive to focus on every single day.

Connect Series: Meet Marina Hopkins!

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We are very happy to introduce you to Marina Hopkins, a new member of the Reportex team!

Marina is a familiar and respected face in the legal community of the Interior of BC. She moved to Kamloops nine years ago and opened Kamloops Reporting Services after over ten years of reporting in the Lower Mainland. She has reported in many trials in the Supreme Court of British Columbia throughout her career as a certified realtime reporter. Marina is also an experienced CART provider for the hard of hearing and has provided this service in both Vancouver and Kamloops. Marina has always been deeply committed to providing a full-service experience for her clients and her community and has a strong connection with the lawyers and firms in the area.

Marina, community and industry are two of our core values here at Reportex and are central to what we do and how we do it. Can you tell us what these values mean to you and how they and this partnership will help you develop your services for your clients in Kamloops and the surrounding area?

Knowing I had been born and raised in the Lower Mainland, people wondered how I could make such a total lifestyle and career change. Court reporting in Kamloops and all the surrounding cities from Merritt to Fort St. John has allowed me to focus on excellent professional relationships and to help provide a sense of security for the industry in the Interior. This partnership with Reportex will allow my team to access more knowledge and resources to ensure that we are at the forefront of the industry with all the available tools needed to help my clients meet their own goals going into the future.

Is there a trial or experience that you feel made an impact on you and how you view the role of a court reporter?

Oh, yes! This is sure an easy question for me. I will never forget reporting at the Roundhouse in Kamloops for the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc panel hearing in May 2016 for the Ajax Mine environmental review. I reported outdoors for an entire week, and if you can believe it, we had torrential rain one afternoon and the entire following day. This is where I learned what kind of perseverance it takes to be a good court reporter and to carry on reporting no matter what! I was terrified my equipment would be ruined, but the organizers put a tent overtop of me (one with a leak, mind you), and away my fingers went! The testimony and presentations from all the different First Nations elders and chiefs were absolutely enlightening for me. Luckily for me, I had a team behind me at the office helping me with the transcripts and getting the job done!

To help maintain our mental and physical health, especially during COVID, we have been talking about wellness on our blog. Do you have a favourite way to recharge or any tips for staying well and healthy?

Find your passion outside of work and make it a priority. For me this is horses! Everyone in Kamloops knows that Marina loves horses — and what a great location for getting deeply involved in the equestrian world. From Morgans to Quarter Horses to Icelandics, I make sure I spend time with my horses, and this gives me a total break from the hectic world of litigation!

Lastly, while we can’t wait to work with you on building on our (R)evolution, what excites you the most about the possibilities of this new partnership?

Working with a team with a positive vision for the future and drawing on everyone’s individual areas of expertise really excites me. I have always loved the profession of court reporting, and it is time now to share resources and work together for our industry in a spirit of support and equality. The five core values of Reportex say it all, and I am looking forward to joining forces and being stronger together.

We are thrilled to have Marina and her team join Reportex. Welcome aboard!

Kamloops by Reportex

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The (R)evolution continues …introducing our latest partnership!

As you know, at Reportex our focus is always collaboration and innovation. 

With that comes a duty to evolve. 

In order to remain firmly on the leading edge of our industry, we are committed to building a strong, resilient community in our home province of BC and all across the nation. Identifying partnerships to support the continued development of our legal industry only serves to make us all stronger. 

With that in mind we are delighted to announce our merger with Kamloops Reporting Services to create Kamloops by Reportex!

Kamloops is a pretty amazing place. Its name comes from the Secwepemc (pronounced “SHWEP-muhc,” a.k.a. Shuswap) word Tk’emlúps, which means “where the rivers meet,” and this collaboration is reflected in that image.

Marina Hopkins is a familiar face in the Interior. She has built a strong presence based on community-driven values and excellent, high-quality work. Kamloops Reporting Services is known for their integrated approach to full-service litigation, their dedicated team and the beautiful meeting space at Centrepoint that Marina helped design through her valued input, which ensured this high-end meeting space would cater to the distinct needs of a court reporting firm.       

Teaming up will provide the necessary support for continued growth in the Kamloops legal community, with additional resources and an extended team of court reporters, technicians and like-minded professionals.

We are thrilled to join forces with such a strong team, and we look forward to our future together!

Fun Fact: Kamloops is on the traditional unceded land of the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc, and the annual Kamloopa Powwow is one of the largest indigenous cultural events in Western Canada, welcoming over 20,000 spectators during the August long weekend! More fun facts to come!