Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.04.1976, Síða 3

LÖGBERG-HEIMSKRINGLA, FIMMTUDAGINN 1. APRÍL 1976
3
iCELANDIC CANADIAN YOUTH ORGANIZATION READY FOR
ACTION
Approximately forty-five
young people attended the
organizational meeting of
the Icelandic Canadaian
Youth Organization, held at
the University of Manitoba
March 11.
The meeting was conduct-
ed by Kathy Arnason, who
outlined briefly the aims and
intentions of the new group.
She hopes this will be a loos
ely knit social group, in
which young people of Ice-
Tandic descent can gather to
meet one another and learn
of their mutual heritage and
culture. She emphasized the
fact that one need not be flu-
ent in the Icelandic language
to be a member.
Tnterest in folk singing,
drama, folk dancing and gre-
ater participation in “íslend-
ingadagurinn” was express-
ed. It was agreed that Heiða
Jónsson be coordinator for
the folk singing and Maure-
en Arnason for drama. Those
wishing to partake in these
activities are to phone Heiða
475-7266, or Maureen,
489-5516.
The possibility of a cultur-
al exchange program was
introduced and well receiv-
ed by those present. Melvin
Mclnnis said he would write
to the Minister of Cultural
and Educational Affairs and
inquire further into the mat-
ter.
Present at the meeting
were representatives from
Frón, Icelandic Canadian
Club, Icelandic Festival Com
mittee and the Icelandic Nati
onal League of North Amer-
ica. Stefan J. Stefanson,
president of the League, ex-
pressed his pleasure at the
formation of the group, said
he hoped it would be an act-
ive one. He emphosized the
need for young people and
new ideas in the work of the
existent Icelandic organizati-
ons. Invitations were extend-
ed to the young people to
attend the meetings of these
organizations, provided they
were notified in advance of
how many wished to come.
It was decided that a tem-
porary executive be formed
until fall, when a new ex-
ecutive is to be elected on a
yearly basis. Kathy Arnason
and Melvin Mclnnis agreed
to coordinate the efforts of
the group through the su'm-
mer. Jeff Samson will be
treasurer and Kris Palsson
secretary.
Nýtt símanúmer
Lögbergs-
Heimskringlu
The group plans a social
the last week end in April,
and the possibility of a bake-
sale and display this spring
is being considered.
A hearty invitation is ex-
tended to those of Icelandic
descent, or wishing that they
were, to attend our forth-
coming meeting on April 1.
A member of the Icelandic
community in Winnipeg will
be present to comment on
the cod war. A reading from
an English translation of Ice
landic poetry will also be
given.
JON LARUS BARDAL 1913-1976
The author of this tribute
to the late Jón Bárdal,
Lady Margret Elton of
Cleveden Courth, Somer-
set, England, is daughter
of the late Dr. Ólafur
Björnsson and the late Sig
ríður Björnson, (nee Brand
son) of Winnipeg. Margar-
et was brought up in Win-
nipeg and is a gradu-
ate of the University of
Manitoba. She is a poet
and writer, currently edi-
tor of a newspaper publish
ed by her family in Som-
set.
247-7798
During the Centennial last
year, many just tributes
were paid to the early Ice-
landic pioneers, and their
courageous a c h i e v ements.
They have been the sagas
and the folk tales so endear-
ingly familiar to us sinee our
childhood, and the most for-
mative influences on our
education and outlook.
Now the proud flags are.
down, the moving speeches
over, and the choirs and
bands departed. Snow lies on
the graves and the home-
steads of the first settlers. A
century has passed. It has
given us a long perspective,
and a more acute sense of
identity. We have, it ap-
pears, tenaciously maintain-
ed those instincts of loyalty
and affection bred into us by
our elders.
For one who has known
six generations of the Bar-
dal family, and had the
blessed good fortune to be
related to some of them, a
single death among them
can be an affirmation of all
the old bonds which secure
us to our past.
Although it was common
to name a child after a be-
loved spiritual leader, the
late Halldor Bardal and his
wife not only invoked Sera
Jon Bjarnason, but Fru Lara
as well, when they named
one of their many sons Jon
Larus. So it is not by chance
that Jon Bardal was en-
dowed with the spiritual
strength and sweetness of
character of his parents,
their pastor, and their pas-
tor’s wife.
Like many of us, in the
second and third generation,
he led an unexceptional life,
unmarked by overweening
ambitiqn, outstanding suc-
cess, or signal honours. And
yet more than many of us,
Jon Bardal was the sum-
mary of all those qualities
which the pioneers valued,
and which they wished to
transmit to their children.
He had a quiet but adam-
ant sense of family struc-
ture, and a tender devotion
to his kith and kin. Where-
ever he was, he knew him-
self, and bore proudly those
precepts learned at home, at
church, and not least in the
brief hot summers at Gimli,
where the H. S. Bardal chil-
dren had the freedom to
grow up, under the watchful
eye of Lolo.
He shared, with all the
Bardal family, a legendary
hospitality, courtesy, a n d
generosity. H i s simplicity
made him the friend of all
children, as Bardals are.
May one add that he was
good at cards?
His geniality, his integrity,
and his modesty were ani-
mated by a subtle mind, a
great love of music, and a
dry wit. Well and truly was
he heir to the pioneer tradi-
tion that a sense of the comic
is the ultimate b a r r i e r
against self-importance or
pomposity. Although deli-
cately, but never irreverent-
ly funny, he had an ineffable
refinement, as easy to recog-
nize as it is hard to define.
He was. dear uncomplain-
ing Jon, courageous about
the long disability and pain
which were to be his lot.
When death came, he faced
it with serenity and a shin-
ing f a i t h . Nothing ever
shook Jon Bardal.
In this fragile man, the
flame of life burned with
intensity, for it had too
often been threatened with
extinction. It burns still, il-
luminating those Small Cor-
ners we once so long ago
sang about in our hymn, and
with such innocence and
conviction.
The Light Shineth in the
Darkness. To have been the
friend of Jon Larus Bardal
is luminous enough. But that
across the barriers of Time
and Distance, he shines like
a modest beacon to the chil-
dren in some indestructible
confirmation of what these
hundred years have all been
aböut. It was an unforget-
table century.
MARGARET ELTON.
ICELANDERS IN EDMONTON CELEBRATE
THORRABLOT
A sell-out crowd enjoyed the
annual Icelandic mid-winter
festival Thorrablot at the
Scandinavian Centre bn
March 6. The dinner table
was full of Icelandic favorit-
es — reyktur hvítfiskur,
hangikiöt, Tifrarpylsa, rúllu-
pylsa, kæfa, mvsuostur, serv
ed with boiled potatoes,
white sauce, turnips, green
peas and brown bread. For
dessert there was skyr and
vínarterta and kleinur. For
the uninitiated the table pro-
vided turkey, gravy and ice
cream. The feast was prepar
ed by members of the Ice-
landic club. Ninna Campbell
was in charge of the com-
mittee whish organized the
food.
The evening’s program be-
gan with the fiallkona, Guð-
björg (Burkie) Letourneau,
being escorted to the head
table by Leif Oddson. She
spoke briefly about the hist-
ory of the celebration of
Thorrablot. Sam Thorkelson,
president of Norðurliós, wel-
comed the gathering. After
the feast, Hilmir Augustsson
recited a poem, in Icelandic
which is traditionally associ-
ated with the celebration.
The Hon. Horst Schmidt,
Minister of Culture and head
table guest, brought greet-
ings from the provincial gov
ernment, even trying his
hand at some Icelandic
nhrases. He presented the
Society with a flag of Al-
berta. Hary Haugen, past
president of the Scandinav-
ian Centre, reduced his in-
debtedness to the minister
by three dollars, when he
had deliyered to the minist-
er three kisses from Iceland-
ic Society queen Susan Lund
berg. Olaf the Viking also
made an appearance, and, fol
lowing a complicated ritual,
proclaimed Mr. Schmidt a
Viking. Solli Sigurdson sang
some favorites, including
The Winnipeg Icelander, po-
em by Guttormur Guttorms-
son, which Solli set to music.
Guest speaker was Alex
Thorarinson, Consul General
Framhald á bls. 8
BELIEVE IT OR NOT
Hundreds of crows arrived here on a single flight re-
cently, but they got caught in a Manitoba March blizzard,
couldn’t make a stop-over and continued on a non-stop
flight north, in search of cosier convention facilities. The
Winnipeg Convention Centre is apparently overbooked and
the crows have important business to discuss.
Rumour has it that some of Winnipeg’s 30,000 Iceland-
ers have been negotiating to buy out Air Canada in order
to handle the frequent charter flights to Iceland and back,
but the deal fell through. None of the parties involved were
available for comment, but according to usually reliable
sources, a suitable alternative must be found and the crows
are being seriously considered. As far as can be ascertained
through careful research, they lead a normal and healthy
sex life and will therefore remain a renewable soure. wher-
eas our oil is not. • *
Crows function on their own low cost energy while
other aircraft must feed on harrels of costly diet to stay
aloft. Moreover the shortest route is usually as the crows
flies. Crows learn fast and teaching them to carry people
between countries should not be a problem. Each crow
could carry in his beak an umbrella or parachute for the
protection of his passenger. No news has yet leaked out of
minor details being ironed out, as the crows still remain
aloof and negitiations have apparently not been initiated.
If there is any substance to the rumours, however, and
the croys buy the idea as a sound business proposition, the
people involved in the deal are to be congratulated. It makes
sense to employ Canadian crows in air transit rather than
exhaust our already depleted fuel resources and then pour
out Canadian dollars to oil-rich Arabs to supply fuel for
ordinary aircraft.
Why let them tuck our folding money into their turbans
and perhaps use it to buy up Canadian land from under our
Canadian people and our Canadian crows?
These moguls couldn’t care less whether or not the Ice-
landic Canadians are able to make it cheaply to the land of
their forebears. The Canadian air carriers do care, of course
but t'hey can’t control the price of fuel and it’s going sky
high. The crows, on the other hand, would be independent
operators completely uninhibited by world markets. Grant-
ing them the proper operating licenses is up to our govern-
ment, which can be relied upon to have Canadian interests
at heart at all times.
These rumours have not yet been verified, and whether
to believe them or not is a matter of some concern, this
being the first day of April. C.G.