Lögberg-Heimskringla - 25.04.2003, Page 1

Friday, 25 April, 2003 • Number 15 / Númer 15 • Föstudagur, 25 Apríl, 2003
Lögberg
Lögberg stofnað 14. janúar 1888
Heimskringla stofnað 9. september 1886
Sameinuð 20. ágúst 1959
Heimskringla
The Icelandic Weekly
www.logberg.com
PAP Registration no. 08000
Agreement no. 1402161 117th year /117. Árgangur ISSN 0047-4967
Sumardagurinn fyrsti, the
First Day of Summer, is
on April 25th, 2003
Sumardagurinn fyrsti is
an old Icelandic holiday,
which predates Christianity.
On the old calendar, it is on
the first day of the month
Harpa, which is the Thursday
between April 19th and 25th.
The Icelandic calendar
used to recognize only two
seasons, winter and summer.
So, although April 25th may
seem like spring time, it used
to be summer time. On this
day, if the weather was
favourable, the sheep were
let out to romp about, and the
cattle were given a breath of
fresh air.
It was also a day given
over to children. They got
the day oíf from their obliga-
tions, and there were gather-
ings and games. They also
received gifts on this day.
It’s still a school holiday
in Iceland. And although the
children now receive gifts at
Christmas rather than on the
First Day of Summer, there
are activities planned for
them all over Iceland, as a
visit to the Internet indicates.
A very special event
occurs this year on
Sumardagurinn fyrsti. Islen-
sk NýOrka, lcelandic New
Energy, will ofiicially open
its first hydrogen fuel cell
station. This is a huge gift,
not only to Icelandic children
and the Icelandic people in
general, but also to the
world.
Gleðilegt
sumar!
I Will Do My Very Best to Live Up to This Honour
Manitoba Minister of Energy Visits Iceland
Tim Sale, Manitoba’s
Minister of Energy, Science
and Technology
Manitoba has taken a leader-
ship role in examining hydro-
gen options for the future of
the province. The report lays
out directions of the hydrogen
development pathway and pro-
vides insights regarding likely
niche opportunities along the
way ...”
Please see Manitoba
Minister on Page 13
Alberta’s New Fjallkona, Connie Steinunn Clark, recently
spoke with L-H Correspondent Erla Anderson
Tim Sale, Manitoba’s
Minister of Energy,
Science and Technology is
attending the Hydrogen
Conference in Iceland, and will
be present for the opening of
the new hydrogen cell station
there.
The Manitoba govemment
recently released The
Preliminary Hydrogen
Opportunities Report, which
examines the future use of
hydrogen and provides a broad
outline of possible opportuni-
ties in the area of hydrogen
development for Manitoba.
Of the five main priority
actions for the province, one is
to “pursue a memorandum of
understanding with the
Government of Iceland on
hydrogen development.”
While Minister Sale is in
Iceland, he will sign this
agreement.
He will also attend the con-
ference Making Hydrogen
Available to the Public, which
will be held April 24-25th in
Reykjavík. It is sponsored by
íslensk NýOrka, Icelandic
New Energy. At the confer-
ence, the leaders of the
Icelandic project, which
include Shell, DaimlerChrysler
and Norsk Hydro will present
information on various aspects
of the project. On April 25th,
Sumardagurinn fyrsti, those
attending the conference will
go to the new hydrogen cell
“filling station” at lunch time.
Then the first commercial
hydrogen fuel station in
Europe will be inaugurated. In
addition to technical issues, the
conference will feature discus-
sions of the economic, business
and social aspects of the intro-
duction of a new fuel economy.
The Preliminary Report
was compiled by the Manitoba
Hydrogen Steering Committee.
It based its findings on the
work of five working groups.
Minister Sale said, “With the
establishment of a multi-stake-
holder steering committee,
Ford Fuel Cell Focus at The Forks, Winnipeg, June 2002
Erla
Anderson
Edmonton,
AB
Iinterviewed Connie Clark
about her recent appoint-
ment as Alberta’s fjallkona.
1) Can you tell about your-
self?
My full name is Connie
Steinunn Clark, nee
Sigvaldason. Steinunn is after
my grandmother, and I have
since named my daughter the
same (as a middle name).
I was born in Arborg, MB and
grew up on a farm in Geysir. I
have two sisters, Ardis
Sigvaldason and Beverly
Haven, who both live in the
Edmonton area. My parents
are Adalstein and Margaret
Sigvaldason (they now reside
in Winnipeg).
My grandparents and
great-grandparents on both
sides are Icelandic, so you can
see I am 100% Icelandic,
something I have been very
proud of all of my life. I grew
up in an Icelandic community,
so to me, I thought it was
the greatest — everyone so
proud of their heritage. Then
I came to Edmonton, and to
my surprise, not everyone
knew what an Icelander even
meant. I quickly joined the
Edmonton Icelandic Club so
that I could reacquaint myself
with those values, culture, and
Marie Sveinson, Alexandra
Steinunn Clark
traditions that I grew up with.
I rnoved to Edmonton in
1987, married Perry Leslie
Clark in 1989, and have one
daughter, Ashley
Steinunn Clark who is two and
a half years old. I graduated
from Red River College with a
business diploma in 1987.
Since then I have taken a mul-
titude of business and self-
Nieuwenhuyse and Connie
improvement courses. Since
1991, I have been running my
own business, Mission
Computers. We do computer
consulting and training. I have
been involved in the teaching
aspect as well as the manage-
ment and marketing of the
business.
Please see I Will Do My Very
Best on Page 14
Creating Community • Sköpum Samfélag