Lögberg-Heimskringla - 27.05.1994, Blaðsíða 3

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 27. maí 1994 • 3
Update on
July
Conference
Y-\reparations are now
L/ well under way for the
JL staging oí the second
conference of the Iceiandic
International League (INL),
to be held in ReykjavCk and
Laugarvatn from July 2-3.
Included in the pro-
gramme is a short stop at the
village of HelJa and the 1994
National Horee Show, while
on the day preceding the
conference, a special
Canada Day will be heid,
hosted by the Icelandic gov-
ernment, the loeation of
which has yet to be
announced.
Entitled Iceland ‘94, the
conference is staged and
arranged by the INL, in co-
operation with the National
League of North America,
sponsored by the govem-
ment of Iceland and City of
Reykjavík and supported by
News From Iceland, Travel
City, Reykjavík, Viking
Travel, Gimli and Lögberg-
Heimskríngla.
For further information
and bookings, contact The
Icelandic Internationai
League, Geysir House,
Aðalstræti 2,101 Reykjavík.
Tel 354-1-628911, fax 354-
125285. CourtettyNem &vm tceUuid
Sumardagurinn Fyrsti Celebration
by Gunnur Isfeld
The Frón Chapter of the
INL sponsored a
Sumardagurinn Fyrsti
Celebration at the Scand-
inavian Centre in Winnipeg
on April 28th, and officially
ushered in the Summer. It
was a family-like gathering
on the upper floor. Judging
from pictures, somewhat
comparable to gatherings in
the “Baðstofa Loft” in former
days, only with more people.
Neil Bardal acted as mas-
ter of ceremonies. The pro-
gram began with a talk on
the “Sumardagurinn Fyrsti”
given by Eleanor Nordal,
who stood in for Shirley
McCreedy.
Five children gave musical
renditions, starting with the
younger and ending with the
more accomplished students.
Jeremy Rusu played the
accordion and sang with his
teacher, Eleanor Nordal.
Dale Gledhil, played the
piano and sang a song with
his amma, Iola Nicklas,
“Hallo Everybody”. Katie
Bakker, Freyja Sigfusson,
Chelsea (Myrdal) Carter,
played the piano. The chil-
dren were well received by
family and friends.
Following the childrens’
program, there was a sing-
song with Neil Bardal at the
piano and three memebers
from the Scandinavian
Choir leading: Lloyd
Christianson, Bill Helgason
and Eleanor Nordal. Neil
Bardal displayed great tal-
ent at the piano and breezed
through the Icelandic songs
as well as the English. He
was assisted by young
Jeremy on his electronic
piano, though Jeremy was
not always happy with
Neil’s timing!
Summer gifts were distrib-
uted to everyone in atten-
dance. Magnús Elíasson
addressed the gathering and
informed us that this was the
last time that tired or elderly
legs would have to maneuver
the stairs, as enough money
has been raised to start work
on the elevator, which cer-
tainly would be in place by
next “Sumarmál”. Magnús’s
words were well received.
The celebration wound
down with coffee and good-
ies served by the Frón ladies.
The chatting over coffee had
a joyful tone to it about
plans for summer.
Supper in the library.
to
Brandon? What’s there?”
I was a bit taken aback. “Because,” I
said, “I was asked.”
But during and after the trip I’ve had
to think about why I made that joumey
— from Victoria to Vancouver, to
Winnipeg, to Brandon. What was there
that made getting up at five a.m., waiting
in airports, sitting in airplanes, worth-
while? Part of it was loyalty to friends.
But there was more to it than that.
I think now that it was because I
needed to be reminded of things, the
kind of things it is too easy to forget in
the hurly burly of daily life.
It was a reminder, first of all, of how
deep and lasting are relationships made
in the Icelandic-Canadian community.
Second, of how important are the values
bequeathed to us by our community.
Third, of how important to our lives is
our cultural heritage.
And maybe, even though an
Icelander’s eleventh commandment is
not brag, we need, I realized, in the face
of a society where violence is an every-
day occurrence, where magazines do not
publish articles on truth and honesty
and honour but on how greed is good,
where the past is often dismissed with
contempt, to celebrate our values, our
history and the accomplishments of the
individuals who share our heritage. If we
do that, perhaps we’ll survive these per-
ilous times.
ta.. t*. t*..
T TJ.D. Valgardson teaches creative writ-
W ing at the University of Victoria. He is
the author of several works of fiction,
including God is Not a Fish Inspector, and
The Girl With The Botticelli Face.
Bill Valgardson seated, with Dennis Anderson and Nina Colwell-Anderson facing him.
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jjuœCUtd,, 1994
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