Lögberg-Heimskringla - 04.02.2000, Blaðsíða 9

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Millennium Edition • 4 February 2000 • 9
Last sutnmer, on the occasion ofthe visit ofthe President oflceland, Olafur Ragnar Grímsson, and his daughter Dalla to Canada and the USA, the following group assembled at the
Winnipeg home of Consul General Svavar Gestsson. From left to right: Dr. Kenneth Tliorlakson, Chairman, V.I.P. Campaign; Sigurður Helgason, CEO Icelandair; Guðrún Ágústs-
dóttir, wife ofConsitl General Gestsson; Neil Bardal, Honourary Consul General for Iceland; John Harvard, MP; Ray Johnson, President, Icelandic National League; Dalla Ólafurs-
dóttir; President Ólafur Ragnar Grtmsson; Eric Stefanson, MLA; Timothy Samson, President, Canada Iceland Foundation; David Tomasson, President, United Icelandic Appeal; David
Gislason, Chairman, Millennium-125 Commission; Svavar Gestsson, Consul General for lceland & Special Envoyfor Millennium Affairs. piwto: Jón Einars. Gustafsson
Dignitaries to visit Canada
Anumber of Icelandic dignitaries
will visit Canada in the millennium
year.
The Minister of Culture, Björn
Bjamason, will present the one-million-
dollar gift from Iceland to the University
of Manitoba in the early months of the
year.
The President of Iceland will be the
guest of honour at the Icelandic Festival
in Gimli in August.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Oddsson,
will spearhead the opening ceremony in
Ottawa on April 12th and he is also
expected to visit Winnipeg in October to
celebrate 125 years since the first settlers
arrived in New Iceland.
Halldór Asgrímsson, Minister of
Foreign Aífairs, will greet the Viking
ship, Icelander, when it arrives in
Newfoundland on July 28th. He will also
unveil a monument, commemorating the
Icelandic settlement in Kinmount,
Ontario.
The Minister of Transport, Sturla
Böðvarsson, will unveil two memorial
caims in Nova Scotia.
The Bishop of Iceland, Karl
Sigurbjömsson, will visit Manitoba and
British Columbia in September.
Culture at a crossroads
Neil Bardal
Consul General for lceland in Gimli
Gimli, MB
Ifelt honored to be named the
Consul General for Iceland in Gimli
early in 1999 by the Foreign Ministry
of Iceland. Gimli is the acknowledged
capitol of the Icelandic presence in North
America. It was the dream come true for
those first Icelandic immigrants seeking a
new home where they could speak their
own language and practice their own cus-
toms.
Today we are at a crossroads as peo-
ple descended from the Icelandic pio-
neers. We are proudly Canadian, but
know that our ancestors played a large
role in the early European civilization of
this part of Canada. The impact is felt on
many fronts.
It is my belief that if we continue to
nourish this Icelandic contribution to
Canadian life, our children will respond
positively to new initiatives being
promoted between Canada and Icfeland in
matters of trade, tourlsm and the sharing
of ideas. The recent agreements signed
between the University of Iceland and the
University of Manitoba are a beginning in
the process of sharing ideas. The place-
ment of a career Consul General, in the
person of Svavar Gestsson accompanied
Neil Bardal (left) and Svavar Gestsson in Gimli.
Photo.’Guðrún Agústsdóttir
by his wife Guðrún Ágústsdóttir, has
already opened many windows of oppor-
tunity between Canada and Iceland and
has paved the way for establishing an
Icelandic Embassy in Ottawa in the very
near future. The Millennium-125
Coinmission, chaired by David Gislason,
which works directly with Consul General
Svavar Gestsson, has a number of signifi-
cant events planned for the year 2000. It is
our hope that these events will lift
Iceland’s profile and the follow through
will net increased activity between our
two great countries.
I look forward to being part of the
great happenings in the New Year and par-
ticipating in a greater cooperation
between Canada and Iceland. I know that
the building of the Betel Waterfront proj-
ect in Giriili will greatly enhance our abil-
ity to focus and give a place to negotiate,
exhibit and explore opportunities for
Iceland and Canada in the next millenni-
um.
Let us go forward with confidence
knowing that we stand firmly on a heritage
built for us by our ancestors, here and in
Iceland.
For more information, visit our website: www.iceiand2000.org