Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.08.1980, Side 6

6
LÖGBERG-HEIMSKRINGLA, HÁTlÐARBLAÐ 1980
The Icelandic festival committee, 1981. From left to right (standing) Ágúst Snædal, Rev
Jóhann P. Solmimdsson, G. S. Thorvaldson, Stefán Einarsson, Dr. Ágúst Blöndal, Björn
Pétursson. Seated: G- P. Magnússon, secretary, Friðrik Sveinsson, Rev. Runólfur Mar-
teinsson, president, Dr. J. T. Thorson, vice-president, Einar Haralds, Jón Ásgeirsson,
tereasurer.
"The HAIRLINEJ/ Welcomes You
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UNISEX STYLES
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Compliments of . . .
MACLEODS STORE
AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIES
Complete line of HARDWARE and HOME SUPPLIER
MACLEODS “ONE COAT” PAINTS
Cor. 6ih Ave. and Cenire Si. Phone 642-5489 Gimli, Man.
Compliments of
CENTRAL BAKERY
Pastries, Weddina and Birthday Cakes
Home Made Bread
RON and LORNA FLETT
Phone 642-5544
CENTRE STREET ond 3rd AVE. GIMLI, MAN.
The Move to Gimli 1932
Compliments of . . .
In 1931 the Icelandic
festival had taken place in
Winnipeg forty-two times.
The Festival Committee had
noticed decreasing at-
tendance in 1930 and 1931.
Something had to be done to
reverse the situation. It was
a fact that no part in
Winnipeg was suitable for
the festival. River Park was
normally chosen but it was a
public park and other
events, for example, horse
racing took place at the
same time. There were
many Icelanders who felt
the Festival was never
Icelandic enough since
“foreigners” ofteri out-
numbered the Icelanders.
Although the voices of
discontent gradually
became louder in the late
1920’s, no-one consiaered
the possibility of moving the
festival away from Win-
nipeg.
Festival Committee Meeting
April 15, 1932
At a previous meeting it
had been agreed that three
members of the committee
would examine available
parks in Winnipeg. Ac-
cording to their report only
two parks could be con-
sidered, River Park and
Wesely Park, but neither
was faultless. Wesely Park
had no shelter in case of
rain and River Park was too
crowded. Following a long
discussion the possibility of
moving the festival away
from Winnipeg that summer
was brought up. Few
locations were mentioned
before Gimli Park came
under consideration. The
Gimli-Icelanders had
organized festivals there
ever since the 1910’s. J.
Thorson then suggested that
the committee contact Einar
Jonsson, Petur Tergesen and
Gudmundur Fjelsted at Gimli
and ask for their opinion on
this matter. All members
agreed except Stefan
Einarsson who felt that such
a move might damage the
festival at Hnausa (Idavelli).
His point was debated for a
while before Thorson’s
motion was carried.
Committee Meeting April 29,
1932.
This meeting was called to
discuss a possible move to
Gimli. A delegation attended
this meeting from Gimli,
Gudmundur Fjelsted,
Hannes Kristjansson and
Carlyle Johannsson. Those
in Winnipeg who opposed
any move from the city were
represented by Rev.
Rognvaldur Petursson, Jon
Bildfell and Asmundur
Johannsson,
Mr. Fjelsted expressed
the desire of Gimli
Icelanders to assist the
Winnipeg committee in
every respect. It was his
opinion that at least one
thousand Icelanders around
Gimli would attend a festival
there and such a festival
would by no means damage
the festival at Hnausa.
Hannes Kristjansson
presented the following
resolution by Gimli Park
Board.
"Moved by Th. Thor-
darson and seconded by H.
P. Tergesen that the Gimli
Park and the Pavilion be
rented to the Icelandic
Celebration Committee of
Winnipeg on the civic
holiday, Monday the lst of
August, 1932 for a fee of
$10.00 which fee is to cover
cost of lighting and cleaning
up. - carried.”
Jon Bildfell, Rognvaldur
Petursson and Asmundur
Johannsson strongly op-
posed the possible move to
Gimli. It was their opinion
that once out of Winnipeg
the festival would never be
moved back. They insisted
that Winnipeg was the
capital for Icelanders in
North America and so a big
event like the festival should
take place there. They also
pointed out that tran-
sportation to Gimli would
cost too much for the
Winnipeg Icelanders.
The Committee pointed
out that the reason for a
possible move to Gimli was
decreasing interest in the
Winnipeg festival.
Something had to be done to
reverse that trend and if a
possible Gimli festival would
not be a success the festival
would be moved back to
Winnipeg.
G. P. Magnusson claimed
he found it somewhat
disturbing that Petursson,
Bildfell and Johannsson had
all of a sudden found need to
attend a committee meeting.
They had been absent from
the last two annual meetings
and had not assisted the
committee in any way over
the last two or three years.
Rognvaldur Petursson
said they could only un-
derstand Magnusson’s
words in one way and they
prepared to leave. Rev. J.
Solmundsson asked them to
stay; they had every right to
follow proceedings at this
meeting. He admitted that
he had not made up his mind
whether to support a move
or not but thought that
Icelanders in Manitoba
should join efforts and unite
Cont. on page 1
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