Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.12.1977, Blaðsíða 8

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ÍCELANDIC WEEKLY
1. DESEMBER 1977
PAPER FOR MORE THAN 90 YEARS
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WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
R2M 2Y4 CANADA
Telephone (204) 247-7798

THE CLUBS
FROM THE TORONTO CLUB . . .
In last week’s issue we mentioned the meetíng,
which the Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto held on
November 15th. This was a very successful meeting
with a rcord attendance. The film, “They Shouldn’t
Call Iceland Iceland,” was shown at the meeting, and
the editor of Logberg-Heimskringla spoke to the group.
The president of the club, Mr. Bob Miller, was
quite satisfied, and when we spoke to him after.the
meeting he mentioned that everyone was happy with
the results.
We noticed, as you may see from the pictures on
this page, that the meeting was attended by people of
all ages. We met Mrs. Ragnhiídur Guttormsson who
is 91 years of age, and there were also quite a number
of younger people.
Mr. Miller conducted the meeting with joy and
enthusiasm, and it can be mentioned that before I had
the pleasure of meeting him personally, I knew he was
the president by the eagerness and happiness he
displayed.
Not Alone ...
The president does not stand alone. The secretary,
Mrs. Unnur Dora Hagan, has done a tremendous job
over the years; so has Mrs. Rosa Vernon, vice-presi-
dent, and the many other members of the club. I had
the opportunity of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Hagan prior
to the meeting. Einar Hagan met me at the airport
and drove me to his home, and I enjoyed being their
guest at dinner. They supplied me with a lot of in-
formation about the club and other things as well. We
also discussed the paper, Logberg-Heimskringla, which
of course is very important for the editor.
Three háppy faces at the meeting: Guðnl Nlcolalson, Mggniu T.
Paulson and Karl Gfslason.
DECEMBER 1,
1918
NEXT year it will be 60
years since that great day in
1918 when Iceland became
an independent country. We
sometimes overlook this fact
and remember only 1944 as
a year of liberation and inde
pendence from the Danes. In
actuality, however, it was in
1918 that independence was
won. It had not been an easy
struggle. The “big” steps
were 1874 when a new con-
stitution gave the Althing
both legislative powers and
control over the nation’s
purse. In 1904 homerule was
granted and Hannes Haf-
stein became Iceland’s first
native cabinet minister resi-
ding in Reykjavik and ac-
countable to the Althing. In
1915 the Icelanders got
their own flog and in 1917
the number of native cabin-
et ministers was increased
from one to three, so that in
effect a pational cabinet was
established. And, finally, at
the end of World War I, the
Danes and the Icelanders
sat down together to settle
their common affairs. These
talks resulted in independ-
ence for Iceland on Decem-
ber 1, 1918. A personal union
was retained with the Dan-
ish King. This union was the
same as Canada and other
Commanwealth nations still
retain with the British mon-
arch, i.e. the executive pow-
ers alone lie with the dist-
ant monarch. These powers
the Danish King never ex-
ercized over legislation pas-
sed by the Icelandic Alth-
ing.
It was agreed in 1918 that
25 years from that date eith-
er country could demand re-
vision of the treaty. That
time came during World
War II when the Icelanders
were separated from their
King by German troops who
occupied Denmark and kept
the King, Christian X, und-
er virtual house arrest. The
Icelanders went ahead any-
way and decided by plebis-
cite to cut the ties of person-
al union and to create a re-
public. At that time they al-
so decided to honor their
national hero, Jón Sigurðs-
son, and chose his birthday,
June 17, as their National
Day. But to many Iceland-
ers, it’á Dec. 1 which really
was the great landmark.
(The Icelandic Society
of Northern California
— Newsletter).
More than one hundred people csme to the meetlngr, and thls is
only a few of them.
Honorary Members . . .
Among the outstanding members of the club are
Mr, and Mrs. R Cameron yMacaulay. Mrs. Erla
Macaulay was one of the seven founding members and
is still very active in club activities. Her husband is
also very active in club affairs and is a past president.
At the meeting on the 15th of November, Mr.
Miller announced. that Mr. and. Mrs. Macaulay became
the first Honorary Members of the Toronto Club. They
were presented. with gifts from the club.
All the pictures on this page were taken at the
meeting in Toronto. (See also front page). já
Mr. and Mrm. R. Cameron Macaulay
THE LEIF EIRIKSSON ICiLANDIC CLUi
Our Christmas Party this Tickets are available from
year will be held on Friday any member of the Execu-
night, December 9th, 1977, in tive.
the Ballroom at the Scan Come and help us make
Centre, and will be catered thís annual event a fun ev-
by the Women’s Auxiliary. ening for one and all.
Please buy your tickets in
advance for the dinner as a The Executive Committee:
definite commitment has to ^ Jonasson ..... 271-6874
be made by December lst. H. Gunnarsson 271-0682
1977. Thordis Gutnick .... 289-3306
ICELANDIC FISTIVAL OF MANITOiA
Mr. Ernest Stefanson has
been re-elected president of
the Icelandic Festival of
Manitoba. Mr. Stefanson is
proprietor of the Viking
Pharmacy at Gimli. Other_
officers are Mr. Terry
Tergesen and Mr. Maurice
Eyolfson vice-preidents. —
Plans are already underway
for the 1978 Festival (Islend
ingadagurinn) which will be
held at Gimli on July 29, 30
and 31.