Lögberg-Heimskringla - 08.10.1999, Blaðsíða 5

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 8. október 1999 • 5
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Honoured guests from Iceland
Judge Chris Stefanson (far left) and Consul Svavar Gestsson (far riglit) with tlie visitors at the Consulate in Wiwtipeg.
Photo: G. tsfehi
ICELANDIC DIGNITARIES AND THEIR
entourage visited Manitoba between
August 21-24. These most recent vis-
itors included Halldór Blöndal, President
of Alþingi and his wife Kristrún
Eynrundsdóttir; Benedikt Sveinsson,
Chairman of the Board of Eimskipafélag
Islands and his wife Guðríður Jónsdóttir;
and Helgi Bernódusson, Deputy
Secretary General of Parliament and his
wife Gerður Guðmundsdóttir. They had a
short stop at the Lögberg-Heimskringla
office where they talked with Gunnur
Isfeld about their trip.
Mr. Blöndal said they had come to
familiarize themselves with circum-
stances at the Icelandic Collection of the
Elizabeth Dafoe Library and the Icelandic
Department, both at the University of
Manitoba. He said they felt the Icelandic
Collection was unique and of great
importance for Canadians of Icelandic
descent, and it was a matter of pride for
Icelanders to do what they can that the
work there may continue. Regarding the
Icelandic Department he said, “Icelanders
also take interest in the Icelandic Chair
and its continuation. It is unique and has
great cultural importance which helps us
keep the ties between Icelanders and
Canadians of Icelandic descent.”
During the visit to Manitoba, Halldór
Blöndal and his entourage visited Gimli,
Arborg, and Hecla. In Gimli they were
impressed with the great enterprise and
initiative shown in the building of the
Betel Waterfront Centre. Benedikt
Sveinsson said that the group had been
touched at the Betel Home when
Kristrún, Halldór Blöndal’s wife, played
a few well known Icelandic melodies on
the piano and the residents joined them in
singing the songs.
Halldór Blöndal felt that during this
visit he had come to understand why the
term “Vestur-íslendingur” had so much
warmth to it. “We have felt this great
warmth, hospitality and devotion. I feel
that every Icelander should come here to
experience this.”
Halldór Blöndal and Benedikt
Sveinsson agreed that they had not real-
ized how close Iceland was to many peo-
ple here who have strong emotional ties,
through their parents, or amma and afi,
with whom they had grown up. “We
could feel that Iceland is alive in the
hearts and minds of many people here, as
Western-Icelanders are in the minds of
Icelanders,” Mr. Blöndal said.
Halldór Blöndal was of the opinion
that it was urgent for Iceland to establish
regular air communication
with Winnipeg in the near
future. He felt it was an
important move to make
access more available
between the countries.
Another pleasant surprise
to the visitors was the flour-
ishing publication today of
literary works by Canadians
President
Continued from page 1
An exchange agreement is already in place to facili-
tate study by two Manitoba students and two from
Iceland. The Faculty of Management at the University of
Manitoba will send its students to Samvinnuháskólinn á
Bifröst (The University College of Business
Administration at Bifröst, Iceland), which will send two
of its own to the U of M.
The invitation to visit Manitoba was extended by then
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Eric Stefanson.
The visiting party included Halldór Blöndal and his wife
Kristrún Eymundsdóttir; Benedikt Sveinsson, Chairman
of the Board of Directors of Eimskip, and his wife
Guðríður Jónsdóttir; Helgi Bernódusson, Deputy
Secretary General of Parliament, and his wife Gerður
Gudmundsdóttir.
During their stay, the party toured the Icelandic
Collection in the Elizabeth Dafoe Library, and met with
representatives of the Faculty of Management, the School
of Art and the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
at the University of Manitoba. They also visited the stat-
ue of Jón Sigurdsson (1811-79), Icelandic patriot, scholar
and statesman, on the grounds of the Manitoba
Legislature; took in the Interlake communities of Arborg,
Hecla and Gimli, including the Betel Waterfront Project
and the New Iceland Heritage Museum. The Althing pres-
ident expressed warm appreciation for the hospitality
extended to the party during their sojourn in Manitoba.
Ken’s maternal grandparents, Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir
and Guðmundur Ásmundsson, emigrated from the East
Fjords oflceland to Canada in 1888, residing initially in
the Geysir Settlement of New Iceland and moving to
Selkirk, Manitoba in 1895. Ken received his
B.A.(Honours) and M.A. degrees from the University of
Manitoba.
of Icelandic descent. A visit to the
Tergesen Book Store in Gimli revealed
many shelves of books written by
Canadians of Icelandic descent. Mr.
Blöndal said it was clear to him that
Western-Icelanders are literary people
like their forefathers. They were also
pleased to receive confirmation of the
presence of the Huldufólk who have fol-
lowed the Icelanders here; and that judg-
ing from pictures in the Huldufólk book
they resembled their kin in Iceland. an
indication of their keeping together.
Benedict Sveinsson mentioned their
pleasant surprise in finding many place
names from Iceland and the devotion
shown to the old country, as well as the
fact that the descendants of the Icelanders
are proud of their ancestry. They also got
a good impression of the people they had
met during the visit.
Halldór Blöndal quoted Stephan G.
Stephansson when he said: “of course
Western-Icelanders want to be true to
Canada and they are Canadians, but they
alsó want to remember the old country.
We feel that this goes well together, to be
good Canadians who show devotion to
Iceland at the same time.”
In closing Halldór Blöndal congratu-
lated the publishers of Lögberg-
Heimskringla that the paper is still pub-
lished and said he hoped it will continue
to edify Icelanders on both sides of the
ocean for a long time to come.
^^THE CITY OF WINNIPEG
^IÍ^APPOINTMENT OF CITIZENS
TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WINNIPEG IS
SEEKING CITIZENS TO FILL POSITIONS ON ITS
VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
Vacancies for citizen member positions exist on the
following Boards and Commissions:
Access Advisory Committee
Board af Adjustment
Board of Revision
Concordia Hospital Board ofDirectors
St. Boniface Museum Board
Winnipeg Arts Advisory Council
Winnipeg Public Library Board
An information package, which inciudes application forms,
may be obtained fromthe City Clerks Department, Council
Building, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg, R3B 1B9, between
the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m„ Monday to Friday.
Applicatíons must be received in the City Clerk’s
Department no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday,
November 19, 1999, or postmarked no later than
November 19,1999.
All applications will be reviewed by the Selection
Committee of the Executive Policy Committee
Generai inquiries should be directed to the Information
Systems Coordinator at 986-5971.
Dorothy Browton
City Clerk
“ABORIGINAL PEOPLES, WOMEN, VISiBLE
MINORITIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY"
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