Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.01.1988, Page 1

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Lögberg
Heimskringla
LÖGBERG Stofnað 14. janúar 1888
HEIMSKRINGLA Stofnað 9. september 1886
100. ÁRGANGUR ALDARAFMÆLISÁR, FÖSTUDAGUR 15. JANÚAR 1988 NÚMER 1
L. Gillespie awarded scholarship
Laurence J. P. Gillespie is the first
recipient of the Heidmar Bjornson
Scholarship. This scholarship was set
up through the Canada Iceland Foun-
dation with a bequest from the estate
of Heidmar Bjornson of Vancouver,
B.C. Mr. Bjornson requested that the
award be given to a student in his/her
final year in the Icelandic Depart-
ment at the University of Manitoba.
After completing his Bachelor of
Arts degree from Dalhousie Univer-
sity, Laurence came to the Universi-
ty of Manitoba and worked as a
research assistant in the Icelandic
%
Department. He then went to the
University of Iceland and obtained
his Bacc. Phil. Icelandic in May of
1985, and in May of 1987 he received
his Master of Arts, Icelandic, at the
University of Manitoba. His Masters
thesis is titled, "The Concept of
Wealth in the Codex Regius poems of
Laurence Gillespie
the Elder Edda.”
Laurence's experience includes
research work on the Markland Set-
tlement. He provided translation as-
sistance to local historians in the Mid-
dle Musquodoboit area regarding the
Icelandic settlement at Markland
(near Mooseland). Laurence has
provided a section entitled, "The
Markland Settlement" for a history
text which will be used in junior high
schools in the Maritimes. He has re-
cently approached the Federal
government with a view to having
"Markland” designated a National
Park. Laurence is currently translat-
ing-Eirikur Hansson, a story of an
Icelandic boy's adventures in 19th
century Nova Scotia and he is also
completing a series of role-playing
game books, Vikings and Valkyrs, of
which two volumes are now in print.
Here is an excellent example of a
student who is not of Icelandic ex-
traction making a significant contri-
bution to the Icelandic community.
Laurence teaches the beginners'
classes in Icelandic at the Scandina-
vian Centre. He taught history at the
"Mini University” last year where
his young students were introduced
"Au-pair" girls in Iceland
In an October issue of the Morgun-
blad the above headline appeared, in-
cluding a number of interviews with
girls from other countries presently
in Iceland, staying with families and
minding their children during work-
ing hours. They go on to explain that
with many families the husband and
wife both work long hours and for
them the care of children is a serious
problem. Various arrangements have
been devised, and during later years
it has become more common that
girls from foreign countries have
been engaged to look after children
and perform domestic duties. They
are known as, Au-pair Stulkur. Au-
pair is French for Board and Room,
and stulkur is Icelandic for girls.
Apparently the majority of these
Presidential elections
The Dagur of Akureyri reports that
the presidential incumbent Vigdís
Finnbogadóttir has announced she
President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir
will seek re-election in the forthcom-
ing summer elections. This would be
her third term in office.
According to previous comments in
the Icelandic press she will likely be
re-elected by acclamation as on the
previous occasion.
She has kept a high and dignified
profile while in office. Her energetic
visits abroad have given Iceland a
good international press. Her public
speaking to host dignitaries has been
well received for she has carried out
these duties as a capable public
speaker.
Hopefully she will visit the Icelan-
dic heritage communities of Canada
and the United States before the ex-
piration of her third term in office.
girls come from Scandinavian coun-
tries, especially from Denmark. The
reason seems to be that if they are not
from the Scandinavian countries,
they do not require a work permit
and are able to make these arrange-
ments on their own. They seem to
range in the 17 to 19 year old group.
The Morgunblad reports conversa-
tion with several au-pair girls, and
the general reaction is favourable
towards Iceland and the families they
are staying with. They invariably are
taking lessons in Icelandic and there-
by hope to get to know some of their
Icelandic counterparts.
They give various reasons for com-
ing to Iceland and some mention hav-
ing seen an advertisement in a
newspaper within their own country.
Apparently there are opportunities
for au-pair girls in Germany, England
and the United States.
Perhaps Canadian girls could
reverse the process by expressing in-
terest in being an au-pair girl and ad-
vertising in the Morgunblad which is
the largest circulation daily
newspaper in Iceland. It could be an
opportunity to visit the land of their
forefathers and learn the language
that Afi and Amma spoke.
to old Icelandic children's games as
well as studying the history of
Iceland.
We wish Laurence well in his fu-
ture endeavors.
Mae Westdal
J. N. Neale's
achievements
In our Dec. 4th issue the article on
Janet Maddin Neale did not include
her achievements for which she was
inducted into The Manitoba Sports
Hall of Fame.
The following briefly outlines her
more outstanding athletic
achievements.
During 1964 she eclipsed six Cana-
dian Track and Field records. During
this same year she lowered 16
Manitoba standards and became the
top champion by winning four gold
medals at the national champion-
ships in Winnipeg. She was award-
ed the Carl Pederson Memorial
Trophy as Manitoba's outstanding
junior athlete.
In 1966 she won two national age
group sprinting records, one nation-
al open mark and four gold medals
at the Canadian championships in
Richmond, B.C. She won the out-
standing athlete award at Daniel
Mclntyre Collegiate and the Gover-
nor General’s medal for all around
proficiency. It was during this same
year that she entered the internation-
al arena and won fourth place world
ranking in the 200 meters class. This
achievement placed her on the Cana-
dian team which competed at the
British Empire Games in Jamaica.
In 1967 she was the silver medalist
in the Pan-American games where
she performed before a hometown
Winnipeg audience.
During 1970 she took part in the
Commonwealth Games in Edin-
borough, and sped to a world indoor
mark in the 300 meters in Regina.
Twelve years later she was select-
ed to be an alternate for Canada's
Olympic team.
We extend our regrets for this in-
advertant omission.
The Editor.