Janice E. Plomp of St. Albert has been named a 2025 Fellow of the Academy of Professional Reporters (FAPR), one of the highest honours awarded by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA). The designation recognizes over 15 years of exceptional service, leadership, and advancement in court reporting and captioning.
She will be recognized during the NCRA Awards Luncheon at the association’s annual conference and expo held in Minneapolis, Minn., July 24-26.
Plomp said she was genuinely surprised to learn of her nomination. And after months with no updates, she assumed it wouldn’t go further — until she received a formal letter of congratulations.
“I was very surprised, very honoured, and incredibly grateful to be recognized by colleagues who’ve played such an important role in my career,” she said.
The title of Fellow is reserved for professionals who have demonstrated excellence through education, innovation, service, and mentorship. Plomp meets four of the five nomination criteria, which include certification achievements, industry involvement, and teaching contributions.
A graduate of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Plomp began her career in 1982 as an official court reporter in Alberta’s legal system. In 1999, she expanded into CART captioning, live transcription services for post-secondary students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
“Working in the courtroom was like having a front-row seat in a true-crime documentary,” she said. “While often tragic, it was always interesting. Providing captioning for deaf and hard-of-hearing students and helping them succeed in their classes was truly gratifying. But it was teaching that left the deepest impression.”
For several years, she balanced her time between university classrooms and courtrooms, providing real-time captioning for students while continuing her legal work. In 2010, she returned to NAIT full-time to teach in the captioning and court reporting program. In 2015, her work was recognized with NAIT’s Instructional Excellence Award, nominated by her students.
Plomp said one of the things she loves most about the field is the constant opportunity to learn. “Court reporting is a lifelong skill, you’re always developing, refining, and improving. That’s part of what makes it so rewarding,” she said.
In addition to teaching, Plomp has remained active with the Alberta Shorthand Reporters Association and the NCRA, serving on national committees, mentoring new professionals, and contributing to educational initiatives.
She has also competed at a national level, earning a silver medal in the Literary category and placing 12th overall at the 2014 NCRA National Speed Contest.
Reflecting on the recognition, Plomp described it as the highlight of her career. “It’s an incredible honour to be listed among so many respected professionals. I’m proud to be part of such a supportive community and grateful for the wonderful friendships I have made throughout my career,” she said.
