Lögberg-Heimskringla - 07.04.1995, Blaðsíða 1

eimsknngla
The lcelandic Weekly
Logberg Stofnaö 14. janúar 1888
Heimskringla Stofnaö 9. september 1886
Inside this week:
Notes from our readers...............2
Obituaries ..........................3
Grímkell's Story, twenty-fourth installment.4
Bíðum Við / Time Out.................5
Children's Corner....................6
lceland studies swans.............-..6, 7
109. Árgangur
109th Year Publications Mail Registration No. 1667
Númer
Number
13
13 ‘
Föstudagur 7. apríl 1995
Friday, 7 April 1995
The Esjart chapter of the Icelandic National League
held a Þorrablót on Saturday, March 25, 1995 at the
Arborg Community Hall. At this event, Larry
Markusson, president of the Icelandic Festival Committee,
made the announcement that Guðrún Gislason of Geysir
would be the Fjallkona for the 106th íslendingadagurinn.
Followingis her introduction hy Ardith Sigurdson:
I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce you to
my Amma, Guðrún Gislason, who will be Fjallkona for this,
the year of the 106th íslendingadagurinn.
Guðrún was born in Skagafjörður,
Iceland, and came to Canada with her par-
ents in 1920. She married Jósep Gislason
and they farmed in the Geysir area, raising
four children: Josephine, David, Wayrie and
Lorne. Guðrún has eleven grandchildren
and twelve great-grandchildren. Fámily ties
are important to Amma. She is an integral
part of our family.
Dilla Narfason crowning Guðrún.
Inset: Ardith Sigurdson Photo courtesy Linda Collette
Guðrún has always had an
intense interest in her cultural
heritage and the preservation
of the Icelandic language. In the late
1960s, she began teaching Icelandic
classes in her home, for family and
neighbourhood children. Interest
grew, and, with the help of Aðalbjörg
Sigvaldason and other volunteers,
classes began at the Arborg
Elementary and Junior High schools in
the early 1970s. These culminated in
Icelandic being established as a credit
course at the Evergreen school divi-
sion in Gimli in 1973.
Guðrún’s high energy level was dis-
played when she helped to orchestrate
and chaperone a trip to Iceland in
1974, with a large group of her young
students. They were able to experi-
ence, first hand, the richness and color
of their Icelandic heritage.
Guðrún has been an active member
of the Esjan chapter of the Icelandic
National League, serving as its secre-
tary for a nunber of years. She was
invited by the Icelandic National
League to receive President Vigdís
Finnbogadóttir and her entourage,
when she visited the Arborg and
Geysir area on August 5, 1989. This
was a great honor for Amma.
The Ardal-Geysir Evangelical
Lutheran Church has held an impor-
tant place in Guðrún’s life. Through
the years, she has taught Sunday
School, been a member of the choir;
and is a life-time member of the
Ladies’ Aid - Freyja.
Guðrún has encouraged her chil-
dren and grandchildren to pursue
interests of all kinds, especially in the
areas of education and music. She has
been the kind of Amma who' always
demonstrated that you should concen-
trate on people’s strengths and inner
goodness, rather than their weakness-
es. She is excited as each new great-
grandchild takes his/her first steps.
Stories and memories of earlier times
are passed on to the present genera-
tions with patience and good humour.
Lastly, she can teach you how to
make a “mean” pönnukökur.
Icelandair seeks Halifax Landing
737-400 aircraft which carries 153
passengers. A direct service to Iceland
is also a welcome reason for
Canadian tourists to enjoy Iceland’s
many unique attractions. Connections
to the other Scandinavian countries
and continental Europe from Iceland
will also appeal to travellers.
Currently, North Americans must
travel to Iceland via New York or
Baltimore. Björnsson said, however,
unless there is a bilateral agreement
and a Canadian Airline shows a recip-
rocal interest in Iceland, his airline’s
flights may be limited to two a week.
Even a limited service would be a
welcome addition to Icelandair’s
North American service,
Icelandair sees Halifax and Nova
Scotia as a very marketable commodi-
ty, especially in Europe. The airline
spokesman said their research indi-
cates the potential to develop a tourist
market is very evident because the air
availability out of Europe is limited.
He said Icelandair expects to hear
within weeks if its application is
approved.
by Margaret Jonasson Holmes
Nova Scotla
Iceland Air has applied to
Transport Canada for permission
to inaugurate scheduled service
between Halifax, N.S. and Iceland
beginning in the summer of 1996.
Rumours of this expansion to
Icelandáir’s service have been surfac-
ing for some time. Currently the flight
from Iceland to New York passes
directly over Nova Scotia. The deci-
sion to apply for flight operations is
quite logical. The plan fits in well
with a Scandinavian route system
that extends into the heart of Europe
through Luxembourg. Icelandair has
assessed the marketing potential
across the North Atlantic and views
Halifax as an important link.
Steinn Logi Björnsson, Ice-
landair’s director for the Americas,
said in a telephone interview from
Maryland on March 15, 1995 that the
airline wants to operate three to Five
flights a week to Iceland. Flying time
is about three hours one way.
The airline plans to use a Boeing
Federal Elections:
■ Federal elections will take place
in lceland on April*8. This picture
was taken on February 15 when The
College at Sund got representa-
tives from each party to address
students and explain their party's
agenda.- The meeting gave a fore-
taste of things to come during the
election campaign, even though
this meeting had more emphasis on
educational matters than general
election meetings do. Jón Baldvin
Hannibalsson spoke first and he
challenged the students to become
familiar with issues, as they were
issues of the future and dealt with
the well-being of lcelandic society,
such as membership in EEC.
Gvendar-day:
■ March 16 is "Gvendar-day" in
lceland, set aside in commemoration of
Bishop Guðmundur Arason, commonly
known as "Guðmundur the goöd".
Guðmundur Arason was Bishop at Hólar
and died on March 16, 1237. Bishop
Guðmundur was considered a holy man
in lceland during the Catholic era, even
though he was never fórmally sainted by
the church. Bishop Guðmundur was sen-
sitive to the plight of the poor and suf-
fering, and they flocked to Hólar to seek
his help. He therefore frequently ran
into trouble with the political authorities
who disagreed with his squandering the
funds of the Bishop's Chair. He was dri-
ven from Hólar on several occasions. He
then roamed the country side with
flocks of vagrants following him. For this
he was given the nick-name "the good".
Bishop Guðmundur consecrated many
dangerous cliffs, mountain passes and
other treacherous areas, as well as
Gvendar-wells which are now the source
of drinking water for Reykjavík. The wells
are considered to be the best source of
drinking water that can be found eny-
where.
v GUNNUR ISFELD .
Guðrún Gislason
of Geysir
1995 Fjallkona for
íslendingadagurinn
lcelandie
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