Lögberg-Heimskringla - 23.05.2003, Blaðsíða 1

Week at a glance
Delegates at the INL/NA
Convention hard at work.
Page 3
Ola Andreasdóttir in her White
Rock Restaurant '
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Friday, 23 May, 2003 • Number 18 / Númer 18 • Föstudagur, 23 Maí, 2003
Lögberg
Lögberg stofnað 14. janúar 1888
Heimskringla stofnað 9. september 1886
Sameinuð 20. ágúst 1959
Heimskringla
The Icelandic Weekly
www.logberg.com
PAP Registration no. 08000 Agreement no. 1402161
A Big Thank You to Everyone in Edmonton
Gail Einarson-
McCleery, O.F.
Honourary
CONSUL FOR
ICELAND IN
Toronto, ON
FORMER DlRECTOR,
International Visits Program
Now that I have recovered
from the weekend, I just
wanted to say a big thank you to
everyone in Edmonton for a very
successful convention at the
Fantasýland Hotel in the West
Edmonton Mall.
President Bob Rennie and other
executive members, in building a
dynamic chapter in Edmonton.
What was the highlight for
you? For me, there were many ...
The fun started on Thursday
evening with the great welcom-
ing reception hosted by Shirley
and Sol Sigurdson. It was such a
treat to hear Solli singing about
the old days in Geysir.Hall! And
to see all the new members of the
Saga Singers and leader Cal
Krenbrenk, fresh from the Snorri
program, joining with the more
established singers in bringing us
the Icelandic songs.
The art from many talented
PHOTO BY GWEN MANN
The Saga Singers with Director Cal Krenbrenk
It was terrific! So much
going on, such terrific organiza-
tion, such great presentations,
such professional printed materi-
als and signage. There was a
marvellous convention book,
Unity put together by Edie
Brewster. It was great to see how
involved the Snorri participants
were, and everyone was full of
accolades for Walter Sopher and
his leadership, as well as
PHOTO BY ROBERT ASGEIRSSON
Walter Sopher
people, along with the displays
and items for sale in Walter’s
store, as well as a well-stocked
Silent Auction, added a new
dimension to the convention
experience. On Friday night we
were treated to a parade of
accomplished members of the
community becoming honourary
members, culminating in the
presentation of the first Laurence
Johnson Lifetime Achievement
Award to Neil Bardal, so richly
deserved. But that wasn’t all; we
then got to meet a young artist,
Ross Snashall, who is touring
North America this summer
under the International Visits
Program. And that was followed
by a tribute to Stephan G.
Stephansson, which included
noted writer and scholar Viðar
Hreinsson from Reykjavík,
telling amusing anecdotes from
Stephan’s life, which are featured
in his new book. The musical
PHOTO BY ROBERT ASGEIRSSON
Viðar Hreinsson
component saw Cal playing and
Gaia Willis-Owen singing adap-
tations of his verse (again, both
Snorri alumni). This segment
was hosted by Bob Rennie and
also introduced this year’s
Alberta Fjallkona, Connie
(Sigvaldason) Clark in her Maid
of the Mountain costume.
On Saturday night, we were
again treated to the talent of jazz
guitarist Bjöm Thoroddsen,
actor/singer Egill Olafsson, and
bassist Gunnar Hrafnsson with
their Halla’s Travels show, and
their great jazz. Inspiring mes-
sages from Iceland were brought
to us by keynote speakers at lunch
and dinner including Páll
Pétursson, Iceland’s Minister of
Social Affairs, Ambassador
Hjálmar W. Hannesson, and
Consul General Komelíus Sig-
mundsson. They all told us of
Iceland’s continuing interest in us
and filled us in on the latest devel-
opments in that great country.
117th year /117. Árgangur ISSN 0047-4967
PHOTO'BY ROBERT ASGEIRSSON
Rapt audience at the Friday evening presentations
And then there was the con-
tent of the actual conference
itself, along with stimulating dis-
cussions of INL business and the
adoption of a forward-looking
expansion of our activities. We
heard about the International
PHOTO BY ROBERT ASGEIRSSON
Hjálmar W. Hannesson
Visits Program, INL Iceland with
Markús Öm Antonsson,
fslendingadagurinn, our two
media publications Lögberg-
Heimskringla and the Icelandic
PHOTÓ BY ROBERT ASGEIRSSON
Ross Snashall by his paintings
Canadian Magazine, Iceland
Homecoming in 2004, Snorri,
Snorri West and the announce-
ment of the new Snorri Plus pro-
gram, available to those over 35,
the Icelandic Achievers’ project,
the revamped INL website which
PHOTO BY ROBERT ASGEIRSSON
Kornelíus Sigmundsson
includes a chat roorn (Robert
Asgeirsson talked to Valgeir at
Hofsós as well as a govemment
representative in Reykjavík dur-
ing the presentation).
Erla Wankling spoke about
the work of the Jón Sigurðsson
Chapter of the IODE; Ken and
Marie Sveinsson presented the
developments on the Fensala
Hall restoration in Markerville,
AB; Jón Hermansson, Icelandic
documentary filmmaker, pre-
viewed a new series of videos
from which to leam Icelandic;
new developments at Hofsós
were outlined by Wincie
Jóhannsdóttir; John Zigarlick
talked about ice roads in the
north; Fred Woods spoke on the
Icelandic Mormon migration;
and Michael B. Cummings
brought us up to date on Iceland’s
Hydrogen Fuel project.
Please see A Big Thank You
on Page6
Creating Community • Sköpum Samfélag