Lögberg-Heimskringla - 27.11.1987, Síða 3

CENTENNIAL YEAR/ALDARAFMÆLISÁR, FÖSTUDAGUR 27, NÓVEMBER 1987-3
A day in Arborg
To spend a day in Arborg you head
north and pass the Stoney Mountain
Penitentiary, where the Lord Selkirk
settlers sought refugé when the Red
River went on a rampage and drove
the people off the Red River valley
to seek refuge on higher land which
they found on the site of this correc-
tional institution. The penitentiary
was yet to come, and the settlers to
flee the floods, came to this spot
which later became the site and tem-
porary home of many an adventurer
who paid for his indiscretion as an
unwilling guest of the government of
the day.
Careful not to exceed the speed
limit we headed towards Teulon, a
town well-known to the old Icelan-
dic settlers and later the Ukrainian
settlers. It always seemed to be far
away and the people who lived there
rich in comparison to the settlers. To-
day we Icelanders and Ukrainians
drive by without a thought, for we
have q^rved out our corner in the In-
terlake tand fare equally as well.
Leaving Teulon behind we soon
came onto the by-pass around
Komarno, now we were into the old
Ukrainian area. The village is not
large but it does have an interesting
group of people, raany. of whoraán
their active days tillfd the land and
brought their children into the
modern 20th century and now are
living out their lives in old age, mak-
ing the best of a well-earned rest.
When they first arrived, the mosqui-
toes must have been fierce — proba-
bly one of the more annoying tor-
tures they had to contend with. It is
ironic but their Centennial Project is
a large replica of the lowly mosquito
on a raised pedestal in the centre of
town.
Passing along it is noticeable that
no longer are the old style houses
which the pioneers from Central Eu-
rope built, to be seen along the high-
way. There were still a few to be seen
during the post war years although
by then, they had been relegated to
a secondary use as storage or tool
sheds, or perhaps a place to store
grain. They were quite comfortable
and utilitarian. They were an in-
teresting part of the highway scene,
being symbolic of the people who
came and settled in between the
Icelandic and English areas. They
somehow conveyed the feeling of a
hardy people who knew how to live
off the land and were easily satisfied
in the freedom of this land.
The Icelanders left the architectur-
al farm styles in Iceland. They did
not build sod houses as existed in the
land of their origin. ít was the log
house construction which they made
use of. An architectural style of struc-
ture that prevaHqd.in Manitoþa at.the
time of their arrival. Their relation-
ship with the French and the Scotch
Metis was a fr.iqndly cooperative and
personal joint effort with each other.
The influences of their native friends
A welcome message
Recently the mail brought a mes-
sage from our old-time friend Heimir
Hannesson. He was formerly chair-
man of the government appointed
committee which has the responsibil-
ity for liaison with Western
Icelanders. It has long been a per-
sonal feeling that perhaps we could
do better in this area, by being
responsive and appreciating their
good will towards us.
He requests that we convey his
greetings to friends and
acquaintances.
Heimir is a special representative
of the Bunaðarbanki íslands, or The
Agricultural Bank of Iceland. Sever-
al years ago he visited Winnipeg at
a time when the Icelandic National
League was holding its annual con-
vention at the Scandinavian Centre.
A descriptive leaflet enclosed with
other material concerning the
Agricultural Bank describes their re-
cent efforts in foreign banking mat-
ters. A partial translation of their poli-
cy is probably the best way to con-
vey their aims.
"The Agricultural Bank of Iceland
has for some time been directing ef-
forts towards new development in its
activities, which has the objective of
increasing the growing foreign trade
in new directions as well as along es-
tablished lines. The bank considers
it natural and relative to their policy,
to devote time and funds towards this
project, if it results in increased and
wider scope in foreign trade. This ac-
tivity in foreign trade matters was im-
plemented during the latter part of
1985 and the role of the bank has
been to work with foreign commer-
cial banks and corporations to be-
come familiar with their methods of
foreign trade and to gain knowledge
about foreign markets. This informa-
tion has been distributed to export-
ers in Iceland.
Support to new and increasing
projects such as fish farming and
travel is part of the foremost activi-
ties of the bank in cooperation with
various foreign firms."
It is an interesting concept and
could be worth pursuing. E.A.
Message of thanks
We wish to thank all the Icelandic
Canadian organizations and all the in-
dividuals who, on October 16,
honoured us with a most splendid
banquet, unforgetable speeches and
gifts of enduring artistic quality.
Margrét Björgvinsdóttir and Haral-
dur Bessason.
quickly affected the lives of the
Icelandic settlers. The Icelandic
houses were identical to those of the
plains. There was never a distinct
Icelandic architecture in the Icelan-
dic districts.
Other influences were hunting and
trapping methods. The Icelanders of
the younger generation were quick in
learning these and became quite
adept at trapping fur animals, and
hunting the wild deer or shooting
ducks and partridge for the pot.
The weather was a bit cool, the
thermometer registering nine below,
but the wind was only four miles per
hour. It was what can be considered
as a pleasant fall day.
The purpose of the journey was to
sell advertising for L-H. City life is
not geared to the same routines as
rural town life. In the city Monday
is generally a good day to call on
clientele, sort of coming in on a
prospective customer before the mail
arrives and the phone begins to ring
off thé hook. It is different in the
rural towns, this is the day they take
off for Winnipeg to go about their
business before things begin to build
up during the week. The result was
that the day was not as productive as
we had hoped for.
j Sitting in the Arborg Credit Union
office waiting to see the manager,
along came one of our very good
friends Pálmi Pálsson who has been
generous in his support of Icelandic
undertakings and with Lögberg-
Heimskringla. When asked how
things were in Arborg, he responded
that they seemed to be quite good.
The town has a new government
building which adds quite a bit to the
economy. Apparently there is word
going the rounds indicating a new
hotel will be built.
Looking up and down Main St., our
eye caught sight of a restaurant. It
was time for sustenance and we
quickly decided here was the place
to replenish the system, and besides
it had all the signs of modest prices,
which truthfully was the main con-
sideration. It is always a challenge to
find out how cheaply one can dine
and come away satisfied. This time
everything was dead on, with added
bonus of originality on the part of the
restauranteur. Looking up and down
the menu, our line of sight soon
locked in on a handful come mouth-
ful. The word ham as in hamburger
had been eliminated and the letters
'AR' as in Arborg substituted, this is
what constitutes an Arburger. A pon-
noisseur's delight and perfect for nig-
gling tightwads, .......
lDWe. did qq.t .sell many ads.but wq
sure ate cheap. E.A.
GUASQOW
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