Lögberg-Heimskringla - 18.02.1994, Blaðsíða 6

6 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 18. febrúar 1994
The Captain and Afe
by Blain Anderson
Growing up in
Arborg, Manitoba,
I had always
assumed that Icelanders,
and Icelandic traditions,
were a part of everybody’s
life. I have since found that
many other traditions and
cultures make up this vast
mosaic of Canada. I did not
realize, however, just how
widespread and far-flung
Icelanders and their tradi-
tions were in this country. I
also did not realize the
extent to which my relatives
had spread themselves
around.
Pam and I, along with
our first son, Schuyler,
moved to Ontario in 1988
to take advantage of the
greater opportunities for
teaching at the time. I got a
job at a public school in
Goderich, a pretty town on
the shore of Lake Huron.
In 1990, our regular
French teacher went on
maternity leave and was
replaced by Kathleen
McMilian. Since she was
with us for some months,
Kathy and her husband,
Gerry, came to our end-of-
the-year staff party. During
the course of the evening
Kathy commented on the
little seat I had brought to
sit on. I told her that my
parents had brought it out
with them from Arborg
when they were visiting us.
Kathy began to show an
uncommon interest in this
topic. She pressed me for
more details until it came
out that I was from a small
town near Gimli. At this
point she elbowed her hus-
band, Gerry, (rather cruelly,
I thought) who was in deep
conversation with someone
else, and said that I was
from near Riverton.
Gerry came flying over
and we started comparing
notes.
I had always taken some
pride in the fact that I was
somehow related to
Sigtryggur Jónasson, the
“Founder of New Iceland.”
I never really could get the
relationship straight, just
that he was some sort of
uncle or something. It
turned out that Gerry felt
the same way.
Gerry had grown up in
Kenora, Ontario and had,
as a boy, spent the summer
at Engimyri, his grand-
mother’s home. Engimyri
just also happened to be
where my Amma, Evelyn
Hokanson (McLennan),
had lived for a time. We
talked about Icelanders
and, naturally, to whom we
might be related. It turned
out that Kristín McMillan
(Jónasson) and my Amma
were first cousins, which
made Gerry and my moth-
er, Josephine
Anderson
(Hokanson),
second cous-
ins, which,
in turn,
made Gerry
and I sec-
ond cous-
ins, once
r e m o v e d .
Until then, I
had no idea
what that
meant.
Gerry and I
were thrilled to
find a relative
close by. We got to
know each other and
our families became
close friends. I taught Gerry
Tómas Jónasson & Gudrún Jóhannesdóttir (12 children)
(8th child) sister/brother (9th child)
Rannveig (Rænka) Tómasdóttir 'i-!: .-V Tómas (Tommi) Tómasson Jónasson
m. Joe McLennan, 1906 1 m. Magnúsína Borgfjörd, 1912
(2nd child) lst cousins (5th child)
Evelyn Rannveig McLennan -*—• "Adaheidur” Kristin Jónasson
m. Carl Hokanson m. "Truman” George McMíllan
Í5th child) 2nd cousins (lstchildl
Josephine Pauline Hokanson -► Rev. Gerald David McMíllan
m. Bjorgvin Anderson m. Kathleen
(2nd child) 2nd cousins
Blaine Derek Anderson (once removed)
m.Pam Snowdon
Gerry and 1 share a common ancestor, Tómas Jónasson, brother to Sygtryggur, the Founder of New lceland.
Sygtryggur
Jónasson
and Kathy’s eldest daugh-
ter, Rachel, in grade five at
Victoria School in
Goderich.
When Gerry was called
to another church in
Orillia, he and Kathy
offered to sell us their
house. Since we were look-
ing to move into town, the
opportunity was too good
to pass up, and we bought
their home. Now we are
comfortably settled in a
beautiful century-old home
thanks to the Captain,
Sigtryggur and his brother,
Tómas. Gerry’s great grand-
father and my great, great
grandfather.
Sat., Feb. 19 Þorrablót - at Club Mocombo, 200 St. Albert Trail, St. Albert, Alberta.
Edmonton Cocktails 6pm, Dinner 7pm and dance 9pm. Entertainment by
Icelandic Folk Dancers from Wynyard, SK, Music by Alberta Sound.
Icelandic Food - Door Prizes. $20 adult, $12 students & children.
RSVP by Feb. 15 to Herb Vigfusson 467-7556, Gloria Krenbrenk
458-5896, Solli & Shirley Sigurdson 437-2923, or Helga & Bob
Rennie 456-5227.
□ □ □
Wed., Feb. 23 Lögbert-Heímskringla Annual Meeting - 7 pm at 699 Carter Avenue
Winnipeg
□ □ □
Sat., Feb. 26 Frón Þorrablót - 6 pm Cocktails, 7 pm Dinner — at the Scandi-
Wínnipeg navian Cultural Centre, 764 Erin Street. The Scandinavian Canadian
Choir will headline the entertainment, with a síng-along and dancing
to follow. For reservations call Halthor Bjornson 955-9806 or Scand.
Centre 774-8047. $20 per person. All are welcome.
□ □ □
Sat., Mar. 5 Þorrablót - 6 pm Cocktails, 7 pm Dinner, at Bridgeview Community
B.C. Centre, 1475 -126A St., Surrey. Catered by Amma's Kitchen of
Arborg, featuring Icelandíc foods. Tíckets: $30 per person. Call Oli
Leifsson at (604) 937-0945. Transportation available from some
areas. Rides from Stott Rd. Skytrain Station..
□ □ □
Sat., Mar. 19 Fálkínn Þorrablót - Cocktails 6 pm Dinner 7 pm — at Brandon
Brandon University Dining Room. Tickets $20 per person. Dance to follow
and midnight Iunch featuring Icelandíc goodies.
□ □ □
Sat., Mar. 26 Þorrablót - at the Arborg Community Hall. Musíc by the 4 D’s
Arborg Evening theme - Guttormur Guttormsson. Doors open 6 pm, dínner
7pm. Admission $22 adult, chíldren 12 yrs & under $10. Frances
catering. Sponsored by the Esjan Chapter IODE.
□ □ □
Thurs., Mar. 31
Vancouver
Thurs., Mar. 31
Vancouver
Sat., Apr. 9
Saskatchewan
Sun., Apr. 17
Vancouver
Fri. to Sun.
Apríl 22, 23, 24
Thurs., Apr. 28
Wínnípeg
Sun., May 15
B.C.
Fri., June 17
B.C.
Sat., June 18
Saskatchewan
Frí. to Sun.
July 1, 2, 3
Sólskin Meeting - 11 am at the Icelandic Care Home Höfn
at 2020 Harríson Dríve.
□ □ □
Sólskin Easter Party - 2 pm at the Icelandic Care Home Höfn
at 2020 Harrison Drive.
□ □ □
Þorrablót - at the Wynyard Cívic Centre
- Vatnabyggð Icelandic Club
□ □ □
Sólskin Heritage Library Official Opening - 2 pm at Iceland
House, 939-6th St., New Westminster. Wine & Cheese, coffee & deli-
cacies, program & entertainment.
□ □ □
INL Annual Convention -
Selkirk, Manitoba
□ □ □
Sumardagurínn Fyrstí - Winnipeg Frón welcomes all to the Scandina-
vían Centre, 764 Erin St. Great variety program, door prizes galore!
□ □ □
ICC ofBC Aftemoon of Art & Musíc - Art work displayed by
Icelandic Canadian artists. Entertainment. Contact Naomi for further
info. 942-9594.
□ □ □
ICC of BC - Come celebrate Iceland’s 50th year of Independence
in a specíal way. Join us at Iceland House 8 pm. Watch for further
notices.
□ □ □
Icelandic Pícnic - at Fishing Lake
- Vatnabyggð Icelandic Club
□ □ □
Intemational Conference in Iceland -
for all people of Icelandic descent.
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