Lögberg-Heimskringla - 22.03.1985, Side 5

WINNIPEG, FÖSTUDAGUR 22. MARZ 1985-5
Glenn Sigurdson — President
The Icelandic Celebration in Manitoba
The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba
has been held annually since 1890
but the first Icelandic Festival in
North America took place in
Milwaukee 1874. The stage for the
first Festival in Manitoba was set in
Victoria Gardens east of Main St. in
Winnipeg August 2, 1890. A celebra-
tion was held in Winnipeg until 1932
when the Winnipeg Icelanders join-
ed the Gimli Festival Committee and
together they organized an Icelandic
Celebration at Gimli in 1933. Since
then Gimli has been the place for the
celebration and gradually other fes-
tivals (Icelandic) in Manitoba and
elsewhere were abandoned.
Those of us who visit Gimli annual-
ly cannot but notice the enormous ef-
fort put into the organization of the
Festival. We may not necessarily
agree with everything that takes
place at Gimli during the celebration
but that of course is a matter of taste.
But I doubt if anyone leaves Gimli
after the celebration without having
had some fun. Bearing in mind the
complexity and the size of the
Festival I thought readers of Lögberg-
Heimskringla might be just as
curious as I am about how the
Festival Committee operates. I
therefore asked Mr. Glenn Sigurd-
son, the newly appointed President
to answer a few questions about the
committee and its function.
Question: How is the commit-
tee constructed?
Answer: First and foremost there
is the Board of Directors. It consists
of ten voting members but there are
also some non-voting positions. The
president is of course the most
powerful person of the Committee
but second to him are the lst and 2nd
vice president. Mr. Len Vopnfjord is
the lst vice president and Mrs. Lor-
na Tergesen is 2nd. Then there is the
Althing, but only past-presidents can
sit on that. Two people from the
Mr. Glenn Sigurdson, president of
the Icelandic Festival Committee
Althing are appointed to the board
every second year. This year, Mrs.
Maurice Eyolfson and Mayor Ted Ar-
nason, have the honor. Third, there
is a broadly based membership pool.
From the board and that pool are
drawn chairpersons for different sub-
committees which organize certain
activities. There are currently about
twenty such chairpérsons. Meetings
are held regularly throughout the
year. Board and members' meetings
are held alternately.
Question: Does the President
select chairpersons?
Answer: Well, I guess that has
been the custom over the years. You
naturally prefer persons you know
you can work with but I chose to go
differently about it. I wanted the
Board to have a say in the matter so
it has been discussed. The reason I
did that was simple: I may not know
the best person for each job so I felt
I would benefit from the Board's in-
put. Your best friend may not neces-
sarily be a good person to work with.
Question: Does a chairperson
have complete control or does
he have to report to the Board,
Iet's say if he for example decides
to introduce a new sport event?
Answer: The chairperson has to
report to the Board. Its approval is re-
quired because in most cases money
is needed and since the Festival is not
operated on a stable financial basis
every new item must be thoroughly
examined before being accepted.
Question: Who goes to the
Festival?
Answer: The Icelandic commu-
nity in North America is of course
scattered all over the continent so
one can hardly refer to Gimli as the
Icelandic community but the
Festival, just like Lögberg-Heim-
skringla and the Icelandic National
League serves as means to unite
the Icelanders. Many, who now live
in B.C., Seattle, North Dakota and
wherever, have roots in the Interlake
area and use the opportunity to visit
relatives during the Festival
weekend. The Festival is in many
ways also a family reunion. It gives
everyone concerned an opportunity
to meet with friends and relatives.
Question: Has the Festival
become a North American fair or
do you think its Icelandic content
warrants its name, The Icelandic
Celebration of Manitoba?
Answer: Well, the Festival is bound
to have resemblance to the typical
North American fair but its Icelandic
content is there and we are trying to
improve in that respect. Young peo-
ple, who have been in Iceland are
members of our committee and have
brought in new ideas. The traditional
programme is important and
although additions can be made our
plan is to continue with what has
been a tradition for almost a century.
Question: The organization of
the Celebration must cost a for-
tune. Is the committee financial-
ly stable?
Answer: No, far from it. This is of
great concern to me and all members
of the committee. Again I can men-
tion the introduction of new events.
Its cöst must be carefully examined
before it can be accepted. This
naturally limits the number of new
items but steps are now being taken
to improve the financial situation.
Question: Is attendance
increasing?
Answer: It varies from year to
year but it is safe to say that it re-
mains steady. It should be remem-
bered that other ethnic groups have
summer festivals now, patterned
after the Icelandic Celebration so
people have more choice now than
before.
Question: Is Iceland involved in
any degree? For example is there
a contact in Iceland, someone
who is available if the committee
wants information regarding
films, musicians, etc.?
Answer: No, we do not have any
direct contact with Iceland but direc-
tors such as Mr. Ted Arnason or Mr.
Maurice Eyolfsson do.
With these words our conversation
ended. The curry was still burning
our mouths as we left the restaurant.
Later I attended a members' meeting
and more than twenty members had
shown up. Most of them were young
and full of ideas and enthusiasm. It
convinced me that the Festival has a
right future. One should not forget
that although so many young people
are involved they would make little
headway without the experience and
guidance of those older who have
dedicated so much time to the
Festival over the years.
J.Þ.
The parade is well organized and many participate. Here Glen Jakob-
son is seen next to the L.-H. wagon.