Lögberg-Heimskringla - 28.07.2000, Page 24

ICELANDIC - CANADIAN
MILLENNIUM
CELEBRATIONS
Sh&Ring chc P^sr; ShARmg che fucuRe
In this, thc ycar 2000, k ís a grcat honour to offcr congraruladons to
the Icclandic-Canadian connrutnity of Manitoba who gathcr thts
coming August long weekend irt Ginili for íslendingadagurtnn, the
lcdandic Fcstival. I know I spcak for a great many citizens of my
natíon who admire and respect this communky for its continued fond
rememhrance of Iceland, tn some cases over several generatíons, and
thc efforts taken hcre to prcscrve kelandic cukure. In the cyes of
Icelanders, Manitoba ts unique in the worfd.
icelands fascination wirh Canada’s lcelandcrs can be seen in the inttiatives of tny natíons
most estcemed ieaders, many of whom will visit Canada this year as part of Icelands mti-
lennium program of celebrations gifted to Canada. It: is also scen in the works of our com-
posers, singers, artists and writers wiio artcmpt to express their feelings for liome, nation and
family, whích now extcnd to ínclude thc people of Canada with whorn wc share so much.
tn this spirit, Iceland gtves the kelandtc Sagas - the record ofottr xhared hístory - to Cattada
this year. in the sarae spírit, fceland agaín reaches across the ocean to you with the voyagc
of thc vtking shíp íslendmgur.
I
Celebrare with us!
Svavar Gestsson
Consul Gencral for Iceland and
Special Envoy for Millennium Afíáirs
CDccr rhe PRcsidenr op lccÍAnd
Presjdent of Iccland Ólafur Ragnar Grimsson arrives Augusc 4th on a
state visit to Canada at the invítatíon of Her Excellency, The Right
Hononrablc Adricnnc Clarkson, Govcrnor Gcncraf of Canada. Thotigh
the prorocol of a state visit normaiiy calls fot a guest to arrive in the
natíons capital, President Grimsson arrives ftrst in Winnipeg, Mankoba
out of respect for thc province’s large and vital Icelandic-Canadkn com-
munícy, wfsieh celebrates íts I25th anmversary this year. ln.thls totpect,
the visit ts a fírst in Canadian history.
In Winnipeg, the Prestdent will receive an officiai welcoming by the Governor Genetal of
Canada at 10 a.m., August 4th tn a public cereinony on the grouitds of the Manitoba
Legislanire. Thcreafter, togerher with Premier Gary Doer, the President will lay a wreath at the
foot of the Jón Sígurdsson Monument in honour of this leadcr of lceland’s indcpendence
movement. The Presidem will travel from Winnipeg to Vanœuver, B.C, for the weekend and
rcturn to Mankoba for Monday, August 7th to take part in a foli day program at Gimlis
Icelandic Festíval, induding a waik about at 1:30 p,m. in Gimli Park. President Grimsson will
also have an opportunity to visit Willow Point, where Icelandic setders fitst
came ashore in 1875. The President will conciude his visit ín Haltfax,
Nova Scotia.
Uhc lcc(AndcRS ARe 5<xcHl
Today, July 28th, the Viking ship fslenciingur arrives on
Canada's eastern shores, just as'another Vikíng ship cap-
tained by Lcífur Etriksson arrived 1000 years ago.
Öslendingur set sail from Iccland on June 17th ,
Icelandís independence Day, and arrives today ín LfAnse
aux Meadows, Newfoundland to much fanfare.
Icclandís Minister for Foreign Affairs Halldór
Asgrimsson wíll welcomc thc ship, Captain Gunnar
Marcl Eggertúon, atid his ctew of nine.
Thc journey of fslcndingur is not only a commera-
orative journey, symlxvlizing the great accomplish-
ment of thosc early Icclandic seafárcrs who crossed
the Atlantic canturtes before others succceded, it is
also an overture of frícndship cxtended by the
Iceiandic nation to the Canadían pcoplc at thc
threshliold of a new inillfcnníum of exploratkm.
F0R M0RE INF0RMATI0N C0NTACT:
The Consulate General
OF ICELAND & MlLLENNIUM
Office OF Iceland
650- 5 Donald Street, Winnipeg,
MB R3L2T4
Phone: (204) 284 1535
E-rnail; iceland@iceiand2000.org
www.iceiand2000.org
Gbe Voice op lceCönd
The Male Voice Choir of Reykjavik’s Millennium Concert Tour
The Male Vbice Choir of Reykjavik is the
premiere male voíce dhoir in a country that
prides icself in ks many excellent choirs. The
choir has establishcd a reputation for a high
standard of performance at home and abroad.
This ycar, the Chotr is especially honourcd to
havc thc opportunity to visít both Canada and
the USA and to take an aetive part in celebrat-
ing the lOOOth anniversary of Leif Eirtkxscm’s
voyage to North America.
The choir will present a foH conccrt in Winnipeg on August 3rd and perform agatn in Riverton
thc following cvening. Known as ‘Karlakór’ ro che Icelandcrs, thc choir will then visit the
lcelandk Festival on Monday, August 7th for a hriéfappearance. Don’t miss this special oppor-
tunity to share with u$ the sounds and soul of the Icelandic nation,
Ghe SAgös - lce(And’s Qpr op hcRiGAge
History has left as wíth a bíased story of the Vikings - rnostly taks
j&f foot taken ~ bux the August lst Víkíngs in Canada Gaia prorn-
iscs á brilliant showcase of treasurcs ieft behind, a rích lcgacy of cukural
traditions and ideals carried forward by contemporary Icelandic-
Canadian artists and Íeaders.
Among many honoured guests that evening will be Halldór Asgrimsson,
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Extcrnal Trade of Iccland, Ásgrímsson
will also have attcnded dhe july 31st Kinmount memorial dcdication to
the short-fived 1874 Icelandtc settlement. In advance of the Gala
event, Ásgrímsson wiii present a gift of 500 sets of the Iceiandic Sagas to Canada. As a
record of Leifur Eiriksson’s journey to the New World, the Sagas represent our natíons’
shared history and the literary backbone of a aikure, vvhtdi thrives here in Canada.
~UPCOMING EVETJTS IN MANIlÖÍA
■ Mnie Voíct Choir - aug. 3/00
Icelander l’addlewheel Cruise - sept. 15/m
IcelandSynwhony Orchestra - octgoo
For information on any event
contact lcelandic Consulate at
204-284-1 535
ri'™™.._____________
tt*Wítn**r*u
s naturatty
ICELANDERAIR “GOING TO EUROPE”... SO AREWE
HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO BRING A ERIEND
Wtn a second öcket wlth a 3 days 2 night síay in lceland, See store for details.
ICELANDAIR
Please flll out entry form & ratum in person or maít to;
The Great Canadian Travei Company Ltd.
273 Donald St Wpg.MB. R3C1M9 pte 949-0199
Name:.
Acfdress: __
City/Town:
Phone No.:
rlv^Snytd. lómYOU OF ICELANDIC ORIGIN? [jYes [ | nV
Trwia Ouestion #1: Where does lcelandair Fty?
(hint - wwwJcefandmr.com)
Trtifla Qtxstion #2: Who isthe first lceiander to be born in Canada?
(hint - www.iCBlandnatumlly.com)
SP