Lögberg-Heimskringla - 10.03.2006, Side 7

Visit us on the web at http://www.lh-inc.ca
David Jón Fuller
The Evergreen Regional Library, Arborg Branch is housed in a historic building — Arborg’s original train station, built in 1910. Librarian Linda Hegg also works part time at Arborg Col-legiate. Linda is the daughter of Ted and Martha Arnold and is of Icelandic descent on her
father’s side, who came from the Palsson family.
Upstairs in the library’s multicultural centre is an Icelandic room stocked with many rare books,
magazines and newspapers. Upstairs there is also a room where Svava Simundsson has taught Ice-
landic classes.
The fi rst library in Arborg was was an Icelandic lending library known as “Mímir,” established
in the Framnes district in 1905 by a group of Icelandic settlers. As second library for Arborg and the
area was organized in 1908 with $14 donated by the Ladies Aid “Eining.” This library was called
“Fróðleikshvöt,” which continued to function until 1941.
The current branch was organized in 1965, and was housed in a single room in the building next
to the Village Offi ce on Main Street. Due to lack of space, the library moved to larger premises in the
former train station in 1975.
David Jón Fuller
Randy Sigurdson was a school teacher for 31 years before getting in-
volved in municipal politics,
but he says he fi nds his new oc-
cupation rewarding.
He currently serves as
Mayor of the Town of Arborg,
a position he has held since
2002. He is the fourth mayor of
Arborg. He fi rst came on board
as a town councillor in 1995:
“I thought it would be a way I
could give something back to
the community,” he says.
His roots in the commu-
nity go back several geneart-
ions. His father Arthur Sigurd-
son was born in 1906 by the
Hnausa dock. Arthur’s father
Sigurjon Sigurdson opened the
fi rst store in Arborg. Partnered
with Sigtryggur Jónasson (the
“Father of New Iceland”) they
called it Jónasson-Sigurdson’s.
Arthur later managed the store,
and did very well as an Esso
dealer, when farmers in the
area began to use tractors.
Randy Sigurdson’s mother
was Jóna Vopni. Her family, the
Johnsons, had originally set-
tled in North Dakota, and had
walked north with their cattle
to settle in Arborg. Signifi cant-
ly for the town’s development,
she owned land that she later
sold to make way for the CPR
railway line, which reached the
town in 1910.
Regarding Icelandic infl u-
ence in his upbringing, he says,
“In my generation, we mostly
heard English. We always
heard the old-timers talking
in Icelandic.” He adds that his
older brother spoke Icelandic
as his fi rst language.
It’s clear that he has a real
connection to the community.
He credits the previous mayor
Bert Kindzierski for his ongo-
ing help as he took on the posi-
tion. There are four councillors
in addition to the mayor. “What
gets done around here is certain-
ly a joint effort by many, many
people,” he says, including the
work of councillors, the mayor,
and many volunteers. Working
with the Rural Municipaltiy of
Bifröst, the town and the R.M.
partner on many projects such
as the recreation commission
and the fi re department.
He also points to recent
projects such as a large assisted
living community which will
fi ll a need for people moving
out of the local lodge but who
do not need the services of
the personal care home. The
builidng was a partnership be-
tween the town, the Govern-
ment of Canda, the Province
of Manitoba, and private inves-
tors.
Situated between Lake
Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg
with one of few paved roads be-
tween Highways 6 and 7, “Ar-
borg is a very, very big trading
centre,” says Randy Sigurdson.
He mentions two huge feed
mills, three farm implement
dealers and one of the larger
car dealerships in the area, Vi-
king Motors. The town serves
the large surronding areas and
many farmers depend on it.
Does he see himself con-
tinuing on as mayor? “It’s a
funny thing, when you ask a
politician — if you can call us
politicians — ‘Are you run-
ning next time?’ they always
say, ‘Oh, I don’t know’,” he
says. “But I intend to run. I
haven’t lost my desire for this
by any means.” He pauses and
chuckles. “Mind you, I might
get thrown out too, you never
know.”
Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 10. mars 2006 • 7
Giving back to the community
Former teacher happy to serve as mayor
PHOTO: DAVID JÓN FULLER
Staff at the town offi ce (from left): Cindy Stensell, Lorraine
Bardarson, Mayor Randy Sigurdson and Jan Larkin.
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Arborg’s historic library branch
Norstar
The evergreen Regional Library, Arborg Branch, has occupied the former CPR train station
since 1975. Left: Librarian Linda Hegg with a copy of A Century Unfolds, a history of Arborg.
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