Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.12.1995, Side 3

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 15. desember 1995 • 3
VIK meets at Nordic House in Reykjavík
On Wednesday 15
November 1995, 70
people attended a
meeting of Vináttufélag íslands
og ICanada (VÍK) at the Nordic
House in Reykjavík.
The Nordic chorus opened
the evening with a few
Scandinavian folk songs to
commemorate Canadians of
Scandinavian descent. The
Mormon missionaries, led by a
As
Chrístmas
Bells Ring
Out
by Kristiana Magnusson Ciark
Surrey, B.C.
As Christmas bells ring out
their joyous songs of old
thoughts return to sights and
sounds
oi' another time and place.
the purple gauze of night
spreading across the
vastness of the prairie
the sky above studded with
shimmering beams of light,
the misty breath of
horses, snorting as they
slap cloven hoofs
against the crusty plain,
sleigh runners slicing
through crunching snow
swiftly carving
couple from Alberta, next sang
O Canada. The Mormon
church in Reykjavík often pro-
vides a convenient stopping
point for Canadian visitors; the
church also serves as a centre
for Icelandic genealogy stud-
ies.
Páll Bergþórsson, a meteo-
rologist, lectured on the tenth
century navigation of Bjarni
Herjólfsson to Vínland.
ribbons of lonely trails ;
sleigh bells tinkle as
rosy-cheeked children
bundled up, wind-blown,
ready to explode
into action,
stretch out mittened hands
to touch a star
and catch the magic
of that Christmas night.
On this crystal clear night
the Christmas bells peal forth
their wondrous songs of
peace,
goodwill to all mankind.
A Question
by Albert L. Haiidorsson
There in stellar space Orion
lies;
Far from human lusts profane!
Somewhere is the earthly par-
adise
Sought by man — perfection
once again!
Behold a manger and a child
so fair;
under the rays of a distant
star!
Who is this babe in
Bethlehem’s lair?
Was he not born ’neath
Heaven’s light afar!
Another meteorologist, Þór
Jakobsson, who spent many
years in Canada, then spoke
about the vicissitudes of
Canadian weather.
A lively panel and audience
discussion followed, and in the
range of topics, a recent book
about Vilhjálmur Stefánsson
and the new polar research
station founded in Iceland in
his name were discussed.
Conversation also centred
around comparative medical
research on Icelanders and
Icelandic Canadians with sea-
sonal affective disorder.
Recently, VÍK board mem-
ber, Dr. Christopher Evans
spoke on the national evening
news, in thoughtful and mod-
est Icelandic, about the
Quebec referendum.
VÍK president Tryggvi Líndal
By Kevin
Johnson
Formal U.S.-lcelandic
defence pact talks
to begin
Formal discussions to
review the Agreed
Minute, last year’s
adjustments to the 1951 US-
Icelandic Defence Treaty, are
set to be launched before
year’s end, according to
Iceland’s Foreign Minister
Halldór Ásgrímsson.
The defence treaty, which
calls for a US military pres-
ence in Iceland was adapted
last year to changing global
and local conditions.
Commenting in daily
Morgunbladid on the forth-
coming talks, Ásgrímsson said
it was premature to forecast
developments, but added,
“there is no reason to suggest
anything other than a satisfac-
tory outcome in the matter.”
Following his recent meet-
ing with the US Secretary of
State Warren Christopher,
Ásgrímsson said he had rea-
son to believe that agreement
could be reached on main-
taing the US presence at lev-
els unchanged from the past
two years.
According to Ásgrímsson
there have been suggestions
of making “minor alter-
ations” in the agreement.
published an
essay in the
afternoon
daily, Dag-
blaðið Vísir,
which pro-
posed that in
the approach-
ing presiden-
tial elections they seek a candi-
date connected to Canada, for
historical and diplomatic rea-
sons. Two small dailies, Tíminn
and Alþyðublaðið, reviewed
this essay. He has also written
about Canadian snowslides and
avalanches for Morgunblaðið,
to give an added perspective to
such recent tragedies in
Iceland.
Any Icelandic Canadians
wishing to communicate with
this exciting new organization
may contact Mr. Líndal at
Skeggjagata 3, 105 Reykjavík,
Iceland.
f - —.... Bestu óskir um gleöilega jóJahátíö
f. \ Wishing you & yours all the best for the
holiday season
Ed Helwer
M.L.A. GIMLI
íHoCiday Qreztings
This season is a very special time of year, when we share
the spirit of the holidays with those we love. We also have
the opportunity to reflect on the many blessings we enjoy as
Manitobans.
In the festivals and activities centered around this time of
year, there is often a common emphasis on the renewal of
friendships, reaffirmation of family bonds and expressions of
goodwill to neighbours near and far.
In 1995, as we celebrate Manitoba’s 125th anniversary as a
Canadian province, we wish peace, goodwill and under-
standing to all the people of Manitoba. May the coming year
bring success and happiness to you, your family and friends.

Gary Filmon
Premier
^ iw
Harold Gilleshammer
Minister ot Culture,
Heritage & Citizenship
Minister responsible for
Multiculturalism
Manitoba
CONSTITUENCY OFFICE
832-2943
Eric Stefanson,
M.L.A.
KIRKFIELD PARK
Gleöileg Jól og
Farsælt Komandi Ár
Merry Christmas and
a Prosperous New Year
LEGISLATIVE OFFICE
945-3721
John Harvard, M.P.
Winnipeg St. James
Gleöileg Jól og ^
Farsælt Komandi Ár
Merry Christmas
and
Happy New Year