Lögberg-Heimskringla - 26.03.1999, Blaðsíða 3

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 26. mars 1999 • 3
Exciting Developments
Svavar Gestsson and wife Guðrún Agústsdóttir (centre) meet with the University of
Manitoba’a President Dr. Emöke J.E. Szathmáry (left) and the Consul General for
Iceland in Manitoba, Neil Bardal (right).
Ken Howard
University of Manitoba
Exceptional and exciting devel-
opments are in store for the
Canadian Icelandic community.
Signaling changes to come, the
Icelandic Government has appointed
Svavar Gestsson Special Envoy of the
Icelandic Government in Canada,
eífective March 1. No newcomer to top
level decision making, Mr. Gestsson is
a ranking Icelandic 20 year parliamen-
tarian, former Minister of three depart-
ments: Culture and Education, Social
Affairs and Health, Trade and
Commerce. His office, located in
Winnipeg , will open in April.
In a comer table in a Winnipeg
restaurant the day before assuming his
new responsibilities, we discussed his
new role.
The Icelandic Government has
assigned him the mandate to open an
embassy in Canada in Ottawa when it
might be convenient to Canadian
authorities. Until then, he will reside in
Winnipeg.
Objectives
Mr. Gesston outlined four objec-
tives:
1. To help develop millennium cel-
ebrations, focusing on relations
between Iceland and Canada. He noted
that Iceland and Canada have common
history, as Leifur Eiriksson came here
1,000 years ago. The millennium cele-
brations will commemorate this event
and extend to all regions of Canada.
The program will start April 12,
2000 in the Museum of Civilization in
f /co-op\
Ottawa, with the unveiling of a statue of
Gudridur Thorbjarnardóttir, the first
European mother to give birth to a child
in America.. Then, ongoing events will
occur throughout Canada in all major
cities, including concerts by the
Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, choirs,
soloists, jazz groups etc; Icelandic Film
Festivals in selected cities; promotion
of Icelandic sagas and contemporary lit-
erature; student and youth exchange
programs.
2. Take part in the Millennium 125
events - commemorating 125 years
since Icelandic settlers came to Gimli
and landed on Willow Point on October
21, 1875. David Gislason is chair,
preparing events. Svavar Gestsson will
help. In August, Islendingadagurinn
will feature special events.
——— — ______________ \
\
3. Strengthen cultural ties between
Iceland and Canada, the University of
Iceland and University of Manitoba,
with special emphasis on the University
of Manitoba’s Icelandic Collection, and
support for the Chair in Icelandic at the
University of Manitoba. The University
of Manitoba has one of the three
Icelandic libraries with full collections
to 1978 - two are in Iceland, one in
Manitoba.
The Icelandic govemment has been
very supportive of the Icelandic
Collection .
The Special Envoy noted that
Manitoba is the second largest Icelandic
community in the world - second only
to Iceland.
4. Develop trade between Iceland
and Canada, starting in Manitoba. The
initial meeting will be held in May 99.
To foster increased trade, preparations
will be made to form a special
Canadian-Icelandic Chamber of
Commerce.
Mr. Gestsson has met with The
Honourable Eric Stefanson, the
Minister of Health; The Honourable
Merv Tweed, Minister of Trade,
Tourism and Industry; Mr Paul Westdal,
Canadian Grain Board; and President
Emoke Szathmary and other University
of Manitoba representatives.
Mr. Gestsson will visit all Icelandic
National League chapters this year.
Further details on these initiatives
will be announced shortly.
Ken ’s maternal grandparents,
Ragnheidur Jónsdóttir and Gudmundur
Ásmundsson emigrated from the East
Fjords of Iceland to Canada in. 1888,
residing initially in the Geysir
Settlement ofNew Iceland and moved to
Selkirk, Manitoba in 1895.
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