Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.08.1981, Qupperneq 19

WINNIPEG, HÁTÍÐARBLAÐ 1981-19
Icelanders - Ukrainians
Continued from page 12
believed in simplicity, so he divided
the world into two parts, there were
Ukrainians and all others were
Englishmen. On occasions when
the gang was divided into groups, he
would keep the Ukrainians and tell
his assistant foreman, "take those
Englishmen'' and away we would
go, French, German, Swede, Scotch,
Irish and lone Icelander.
The foreman's job was a task of
organization where every man in a
gang totalling 160 would produce at
full capacity every minute of each
working day. It required drive and
forcefulness with no feeling of
hesitation to fire anyone that did not
go all out. Replacements were readi-
ly available. Behind each gang there
were men-waiting for the foreman
to look for a replacement. In the
Thirties even 25 cents per hour as a
labourer on a railway gang was a
sought for job.
The outer crust that the foreman
displayed was awesome but behind
this fearsome personality there was
a chord that would respond as that
of our Port Arthur foreman and
friend that would give a break to
those who sought a higher educa-
tion. This feeling of encouragement
was prevalent amongst Ukrainian
foremen, and it extended beyond
ethnic bounds.
Many of the Ukrainians that came
to Canada found employment with
the railways. Language difficulties
restricted them to the menial tasks
of labour, which meant track
maintenance that demanded endur-
ing physical toil with the lowest rate
of pay. It is a wonder and a tribute
to their perserverance that they
were able to remain independent
and raise their families on meagre
earnings in exchange for ultimate
physical toil under trying conditions
of exposure to the climatic extremes
that prevail in our Western Canada.
In return they have reaped the rich
rewards of seeing their children and
grandchildren succeed to the
highest levels in the professional,
political and business world that
form part of our country. Equally
those that chose to make the land
their lífe endeavour have con-
tributed to the well being of all
Canadians.
This year is notable, it is the Gimli
Centennial, 100 years of existence
on the West shore of Lake Winnipeg
that forms the southern portion of
that mighty inland water. Also the
first permanent home of the
Icelanders that came and settled in
Canada. They led the way for many
of our people that came to Manitoba
in the years following the accep-
tance of this province into con-
federation.
They were later joined by other
ethnic nationals and in particular by
Ukrainians that settled in the area
during the first half of this century.
At first the cultural differences and
language problems caused strong
feelings on occasion, but generally
these were not serious and strong
Einar Arnason
bonds of friendship began to.
develop.
Today the Town of Gimli reflects
the strength of its people through
the special events that feature the
Centennial Celebrations. One of the
events is a pageant presented by
The Gimli Composite High School
Drama Club, titled, ''Harald &
Yelisaveta''. In selecting the theme
for their production they draw on
Viking-Ukrainian interaction, dur-
ing llth century Viking excursions
across Europe and a parallel cross-
ing of the two cultures in the Gimli
area during this century. The Gimli
Festirama reflects wide ranging
cultural influences, for in the notice
of items on the program there is
varied entertainment by Canadian
Native Indian Dancers, a choir from
Iceland, Irish Singers, Shrine Pipers
and Drums, German Dancers and a
Ukrainian Dance Group.
As we of the Icelandic element
can look back with pride on the
poetic and literary skills of our
predecessors, so in our Canadian
setting we can take pride in the
achievements of our Canadian
Ukrainians reflected by the Sumka
Dancers of Edmonton that perform-
ed on the occasion of the state visit
of Ronald Reagan as President of the
United States. On this auspicious oc-
casion the Sumka Dancers were
selected as part of the entertainment
that performed for the President.
The T.V. screen was a mass of mov-
ing skillful dancers with action on
every part of the stage as the troupe
displayed its dancing skills in bright
costumes, all a part of the culture
that they brought from their belov:
ed Ukraine.
Similarly the decorated eggs that
our Ukrainian friends proudly
feature remind us of artistic skills
that require infinite patience and
creative skills of minute designs so
deftly transformed onto the egg
shaped surface.
As we head towards the last fifth
of the Twentieth Century the Town
of Gimli centenary. reflects the
amalgam of ethnic orlgin that make
up our Canadian nation. No longer
can we of Icelandic origin think of
Gimli as exclusively synonymous
with Icelandic.
My Ukrainian friends of the Extra
Gang days have long ago achieved
the high goals they strived for. Mike
became the mining engineer he
longed for and a top executive of a
large corporation, his brother Harry
a respected nuclear physicist in
Australia, Emil a doctor in North
Western Ontario where he is held in
high esteem. Mike H. who came
from Ukraine as a young boy made
the railway his career to retire as a
section foreman, the respected
father of a daughter that acquired a
University degree and became a
teacher and a son who graduated in
medicine.
And so we head into the next to
final decade of this century. We can
feel pride in our shared Canadian
cultural background that has
become one, particularly with the
younger generation.
MESSUBOÐ
Fyrsta Lúterska
Kirkja
JOHN V. ARVIDSON
PASTOR
10:R0 a.m. The Service
followed by Sunday School
and coffee hour.
Business and
Proff essional cards
TAYLOR, BRAZZELL, McCAFFREY
4th Floor, Manulife House
386 Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg, Man. R3C 3R6
Telepnone (204) 949-1312 Telex 07-57276
Mr. Glenn Sigurdson attends in Gimli and Riverton
on the first and third Fridays of each month.
Gimli Office- 3rd Ave. and Centre St.,
Telephone 642-7955, Hours 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Riverton Office- Riverton Village Office,
Hours 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Asgeirson Paints &
Wallpapers Ltd.
696 Sargent Avenue
Winnipeg, Man. R3E0A9
PAINTS
Benjamin Moore
Sherwin Williams
C.I.L.
HARDWARE
GLASS and GLAZING
WOOD and ALUMINUM
783-5967 Phones: 783-4322
RESTAURANT AND
PIZZA HOUSE
Fully Licenced Restaurant
Dlne In — Pick-UP — Home Delivery
3354 Portage Avenue
Phone 888-3361 St. James-Assiniboia
T.A. GOODMAN & CO.
Barristers, Solicitors
and Notaries Public.
Room One, Municipal Building
337 Main Street
P.O. Drawer 1400
Stonewall, Manitoba
Telephone: 467-2344, 467-8931
Winnipeg Line: 476-9692
TEULON OFFICE
every Thursday
144 Main Street Telephone: 886-3193
ALBERT W. EYOLFSON,
LL.B.
Barrister and Solicitor
Associated with the firm of
CHRISTIE, DEGRAVES,
MACKAY
400-433 Portage Ave.,
Winnipeg, Man., R3B3A5
Ph. Business (204)947-6801
Ph. Residence (204) 888-2598
GOODMAN and KOJIMA
ELECTRIC
ELECTRICAL CoNTKACTORS
640 McGee Streel
Winnipeg, Man. R3E 1W8
Phone 774-5549
M. KOJIMA RES : 889-7564
Evenings and Holidays
Divinsky Cameron
Cook & Duhard
Chartered Accountants
608 Somerset Place
294 Portage Ave., Winnipeg
Manitoba R3C0B9
Telephone (204) 943-0526
Tallin & Kristjansson
Barrislars and Solicitors
300- 232 Portage Avenue
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
R3C 0B1
S. A. Thorarinson
BARRISTER and SOLICITOR
708 SOMERSET PLACE
294 PORTAGE AVE.
R3C 0R9
Off. 942-7051
Res. 489-6488
Minnisf’
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