Lögberg-Heimskringla - 07.03.1986, Blaðsíða 3

WINNIPEG, FOSTUDAGUR 7. MARZ 1986-3
Profile
Lorna Olafson
Lorna is an actress whose career is
rapidly rising. West coast reviews
give her a very good write up. Her
performance in a musical has been
described as: "She stole the show."
Her acting capacity covers a wide
spectrum, ranging from characters
that portray the dregs of society, to
the sophisticated, tragic, staid, or
humorous roles. These are no strang-
ers in her flexible ability to create
within herself emotions appropriate
to her role, and bring before the aud-
ience a living replica of the charac-
ter she represents.
On the last cold Monday in January
this year, during the afternoon, it was
a privilege to chat with her in the
relaxing atmosphere of her sister's
home in Wildwood Park. While the
tradition is to go south and escape our
harsh Winnipeg winters, Lorna'
makes a point of coming here and
joining her brother and sister each
year during the festive season, and
leaving in February as the elements
begin to moderate.
While her childhood was marred
by the loss of her parents, she speaks
warmly of her grandparents who
gave her a parental warmth and
home at a crucial time in her life.
About her grandfather, Hjörtur,
she says, "I spent my spare hours in
his small shoe repair shop. He was
very Icelandic and gently sang as he
recited the many verses and poems
he brought with him from his native
Iceland." This was known as "að
kveða".
Hjörtur Josephson was born in Ice-
land, coming to Canada shortly after
World Wár I. He settled on a farm in
the Otto district, east of Lundar,
Manitoba. His wife, Lauga, was the
daughter of Isleifur Guðjonsson and
Olga Skaftfeld
Olga Skaftfeld is a member of the
Advanced Class in Icelandic at the
Scandinavian Centre. The centre at
764 Erin St. offers Danish, Finnish,
Lappish, Norwegian, and Icelandic
classes. The classes began in
September and finish in April. As of
this year, Olga found herself in the
Advanced Class taught by Jonas
Thor. Olga began taking Icelandic
language lessons in October of 1983.
Olga Skaftfeld’s father, Leifur, was
born near Husavik on a farm in 1887.
In 1888 Leifur joined the second in-
flux of Icelanders who emigrated
from Iceland to Canada. He settled in
Selkirk where he lived for 12 years
and then moved to Winnipeg. Olga's
step-mother, Asta Austmann, began
to teach her step-daughter English at
the age of four in order to prepare her
for her schooling in an English
system. Up until that age Olga spoke
Icelandic. Asta Austmann was an ac-
tive member of the Social Credit
Party and a pioneer in women's
rights in the 1930's.
Olga's interest in the Icelandic
language was rekindled after visiting
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Endowment
Fund
Heritage Image Pride
A Campaign To Raise Funds For The Chair of Icelandic
Language and Literature At The University of Manitoba
Yes, I wish to make a donation to ensure that the chair of lcelandic Language
and Literature at the University of Manitoba continues to serve the needs of
the lcelandic community of North America.
ADDRESS.
PHONE NO..
Please mail this form with your donation to:
The H.I.P. Committee, #501-55 Donald Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 1L8
I pledge:
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other $
I intend to honor my pledge in the following manner:
□ Payment in full (cheque enclosed). .
[1] By annuai payments of $_________________in each of the next _
(first payment enclosed)
D Through a bequest in my will.
Signature :___________________,________________________________
All cheques should be made payable to the University of Manitoba.
An income tax receipt will be mailed to you.
Kristín Bjarnadóttir, original pioneers
in the Markland area near Otto post
office. ísleifur and Kristín left Iceland
in 1883 having lived at Flautafell
Þistilfjörð.
Lorna's parents were Steini and
Ethel Olafson of Lundar, Man.
Lorna is a graduate of Fine Arts
from the University of Victoria. It
was from there that she entered her
acting career as a member of a troupe
organized by one of her professors,
which early became a part of the
Kaleidoscope Theatre ensemble. This
led into á three-year tour across
Canada, to New York, Washington,
D.C., Florida, and the Yukon. Dur-
ing 1986 she will tour Canada, per-
form in Philadelphia, and at Van-
couver Expo. In November, her
troupe will travel to Japan. Lorna
describes her theatrical company as
being primarily oriented towards
children and youth audiences.
Her great grandfather, ísleifur, in
partnership with Arni Freeman, left
their families in Winnipeg and head-
ed into the Interlake country. These
two pioneer stalwarts had only re-
cently arrived from Iceland, and the
English language was not part of their
vocabulary. However, like so many
Lorna Olafson
Icelanders, they were quick at adapt-
ing to their new land of adoption and
named their oxen Bill and Tom. Dur-
ing their stay on selected homestead
lands, they built log shacks for the
families. The wilderness lacked other
humans yet they had unwelcome vis-
itors which they explained as being
mosquitoes that brought them vexing
discomfort.
Her ascending stardom will likely
be Victoria's ^ loss of a precious
discovery as the wider world lures
her into its'fold.
We wish her well.
— Einar Arnason
Olga C. Skaftfeld
(nee Oddson)
Iceland in 1983. It was not until after
the death of her husband Paul in
1985, that Olga found time to devote
to Icelandic classes. As Olga is fond
of saying, "What you don't use in the
human body — you lose." With such
an attitude, Olga's renewed interest
in her heritage is not surprising. It is
the custom amongst Icelanders to
cherish life and to live each moment
to the fullest. Olga Skaftfeld is a won-
derful example to those of us who are
third or fourth generation Icelanders.
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