Lögberg-Heimskringla - 05.02.1988, Blaðsíða 2

2-LÖGBERG CENTENNIAL YEAR, FÖSTUDAGUR 5. FEBRÚAR 1988
What's new
The president of our paper, Neil
Bardal, is on a quick trip to Finland.
Hope he brings us news.
The Scandinavian Canadian Choir
is planning a 75th Anniversary
Celebration. Congratulations! Last
Monday they were practising at the
Scandinavian Centre.
The Jon Sigurdsson Chapter of the
I.O.D.E. has presented a grand piano
to Betelstadur.
* * *
Recently The Honourable Benoit
Bouchard was in town. The ethnic
press was invited to meet him at the
International Centre. The turnout
was an interesting group. Some had
immigration concerns, others re-
mained mute. After all some of us
have been here a long time.
* * *
Len Vopnfjord dropped in at Betel-
Mola
This means a cup of coffee with
loaf sugar. It has long been the cus-
tom of Icelanders to pop a cube of
loaf sugar into the mouth followed by
several sips of coffee. The custom has
largely disappeared amongst Western
Icelanders; howevex, if you watch
carefully you may find the odd
Amma and Afi, who still persist in
following this custom. ,
Historical rumours advise us the
origin of this habit reaches back to
the dark days of the post middles
ages in history. Trade goods were be-
ginning to infiltrate Iceland and in-
cluded kandisykur, crystal-clear
lumps of sugar lodged at the end of
a short string.
The sugar was hard and dissolving
it in coffee was a slow process; it be-
came a habit to place the crystalline
sugar lump in the mouth, sip coffee
and swish it around. This not only
dissolved the sugar but was econom-
ical. The string served a useful pur-
stadur for a brief visit with his father
Axel.
Len was on a quick visit to Winni-
peg. He moved to Victoria last year
where he is senior planning officer.
Len is one of the key persons in
motivating and planning Betelstadur,
a senior citizen housing co-op facili-
ty with 74 suites in the west end.
This was his first visit to the Betel-
stadur site since it was completed
and occupied at the end of Novem-
ber. He expressed enthusiastic satis-
faction with what we saw.
* * *
Paul Watson a Canadian and form-
er head of Sea Shepherd anti-whaling
society has been ordered deported
from Iceland.
Mr. Watson was arrested by police
in Iceland when he arrived at a whal-
ing conference. He had previously in-
dicated his group had been involved
in the sinking of two Icelandic whal-
kaffi
pose in being convenient to pass
around from mouth to mouth.
If your Amma and Afi persist in
this habit, do not consider them boor-
ish, it is a built-in reflex acquired
several centuries ago.
Scandinavian
choir celebration
The Scandinavian-Canadian Choir
is planning a 75th Anniversary
celebration of choral music in the
five Scandinavian languages. Over
the years, Winnipeg has had Glee
Clubs and Choirs singing the music
of Norway, Sweden, Denmark,
Iceland and Finland. This tradition is
carried on today by the members of
the Scandinavian-Canadian Choir
who sing in six languages!
Former members or any interested
person should contact Eleanor Nor-
dal at 663 Buchanan Blvd. Winnipeg
or telephone 832-3037.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, Feb. 6 The Edmonton Icelandic Society — Thorrablot
* * *
Friday, Feb. 12 The Icelandic Canadian Club of B.C. — Kaffi Hús
Saturday, Feb. 20 The Icelandic Canadian Fron of Wpg. — Thorrablot
* * *
Saturday, Feb. 20 The Icelandic Club of Seattle — Thorrablot
* * *
Saturday, Mar. 12 The Icelandic Canadian Club of B.C. — Thorrablot
at Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street, Vancouver, B.C.
* * *
Fri., Sat. & Sun., Mar. 25, 26 & 27 The Icelandic National League
Conference at Innisfail., Alberta
* * *
Saturday, Apr. 9 Falkinn Society of Brandon — Thorrablot
* * *
Friday & Saturday, June 18 & 19 Alberta Icelandic Picnic —
Markerville
* * *
July 29, 30, 31 & Aug. 1 Markerville Centennial Celebrations, Mar-
^ kerville, Alberta.
ing boats in 1986, which he denied
later.
* * *
Three of our busy board members,
Sigurlin Roed, Evelyn Thorvaldson,
Hulda Danielsdottir, including Caro-
line Darragh business manager spent
an afternoon at Lögberg-
Heimskríngla planning the layout of
place mats to commemorate the
lOOth Anniversary of Lögberg.
These will be available in sets of
five at a nominal cost.
* * *
Dennis Eyolfson was honored in
November, when he was chosen
Hotelier of the Year in Canada at the
National Travel Agents dinner in
Vancouver.
* * *
Veiga Thorsteinson of Husavik,
Man. visited with her daughter and
family, Shirley and Solli Sigurdson
and boys for the Christmas season in
Edmonton, Alberta.
* * *
The Edmonton Icelandic Society
inform us that Arne MacPherson got
the travel bug after winning their so-
ciety's trip to Iceland two years ago.
He has sent cards from Japan, Korea
and China.
Early Icelanders in Winnipeg
PART XIV
Arni Friðriksson was a small man,
not strong physically and somewhat
crippled. He had almost perished in
a storm in Iceland. His feet were se-
verely frozen and he never recovered
from this injury. In spite of this, few
Western Icelanders had shown as
much energy and drive including
thrift. He succeeded financially bet-
ter than other Icelanders.
In connection with the early com-
mercial activities by Icelanders, it is
worthy to mention Jon Julius Jonsson
and Arni Sigvaldason who sold 116
bags of flour in New Iceland after the
year 1878. They sold each bag for $3
more or less, according to customer
means. No Icelander had attempted
to set up a continuous trading facili-
ty until Arni Friðriksson appeared on
the scene.
YOU ARE INVITED
Lögberg-Heimskringla
invites you to an
Open House
to commemorate the 100 years since
Lögberg commenced publication.
4 to 6 p.m., Fri., Feb. 19, 1988
New location
Rm. 40, 339 Strathmillan Rd.,
at Bruce Ave.
St. James - Winnipeg
Entrance N.E. corner via lane
Everybody Welcome
SAGA TOURS
in co-operation with Scandinavian Express and
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Proudly Presents
Second Annual
Spring Adventure to Scandinavia
May 5 - 23, 1988
A spríng celebration in Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm, and Oslo
during Norwegian Independence Day — Syttende Mai (17 May) . . .
and a weekend in London
$3990.00* (Canadian)
Tour Host
Martin Benum, Honorary
Consul of Norway
For further information, please contact
SAGA TOURS INC.
984 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0R6
(204) 772-5614
This space made available courtesy
Neil Bardal Inc.
Family Funeral Counsellors
984 Portage Ave. 786-4716