Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.11.2012, Page 9

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 15. nóvember 2012 • 9
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CLOSER TO HOME
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Now available on the Icelandair website:
book from 10 additional cities throughout Canada,
making your flight home that much easier.
Seasonal service from Toronto and Halifax now ongoing.
+ For further information, please visit
www.icelandair.ca or call (877) I-FLY-ICE.
CLOSER TO HO E
conditions in Iceland, delivered
them eventually as proud and
productive citizens of their
new homeland, Canada, albeit
far west of Kinmount.
“After a short stay here in
Canada I strongly believe that
this strong spirit and strength
continues to be present among
the many descendants of the
first settlers from Iceland.
Many of these brave settlers, in
particular young children, have
their final resting place here
in Kinmount. To honour their
memory and the history, this
tragic experience of Icelanders
here must be preserved and
committed to present memory.
“That is exactly what you
are doing here today with this
particular dedication. For that
you deserve heartfelt thanks.”
The Ambassador’s words
brought to mind the sorrow
the Icelanders endured as they
watched their children die.
After they moved away, they
rarely mentioned their stay in
Kinmount nor all the children
left behind in cold unmarked
graves. Every summer Rev.
Desmond Howard dedicates
an outdoor sermon in the
Kinmount Heritage Park,
remembering the Icelandic
children who died. Leading
the congregation in a special
prayer he anoints the memorial
with holy water and when I
am present, I recite the Lord’s
Prayer in Icelandic.
The groundwork and
fundraising for the Memorial
project was orchestrated by
Fran Moscall and resulted in
grants from both the federal
and provincial governments,
the Millenium Fund and
The Ontario Heritage Trust.
Further funding initiatives
such as the sale of Donald E.
Gislason’s publication as well
as donations from descendants
and Icelandic companies
helped complete the project.
The two large poles flying the
Icelandic and Canadian flags
were donated by Saeplast and
Eimskip.
The ICCT’s work in
Kinmount would not have
taken place were it not for the
great efforts and dedication to
history by Donald E. Gislason
who first heard about Kinmount
while a child in Vancouver. His
father told of stories about his
great aunt and her family who
had arrived here in October,
1874. Their arrival was part
of an experiment in immigrant
frontier settlement on a river
terrace along the Burnt River
two miles downstream from
Kinmount. They were brought
to work on a segment of rail
bed construction between
Lindsay and Kinmount.
Don spoke of his curiosity
leading to his meeting with
Guy Scott and his Dad, whose
relative, Dudman, had brought
352 newly arrived Icelandic
men, women and children
from the Coboconk railhead
to Kinmount. Don recognized
the enduring contribution of
the volunteers who graciously
gave of their time and talents to
a largely forgotten moment in
Kinmount’s history. This was
truly a chapter in our Canadian
settlement history.
Gail Einarson-McCleery,
Honorary Consul of Iceland in
Toronto and past president of
the ICCT and the INL of NA,
spoke of the eight members of
her family who were among the
original settlers at Kinmount.
“My great great-grand-
father, Jon Johannesson,
his wife, Bergthora
Sigurdardottir, their eldest
son, his wife, and their four
young children were these
pioneers. Their surnames are
commemorated on the plaque
on our memorial statue, In
the Presence of a Soul, here
in Kinmount, One of those
children, Maria, who was 16,
was among those who did not
survive to leave Kinmount
and move on to found New
Iceland in Gimli. So, I feel it
is appropriate that I am able
to close the circle and make
this presentation of funds to
purchase a large glass window
for the refurbished Austin
Sawmill at the Kinmount
Heritage Park and call upon
Diane Austin, Chairperson
for the Kinmount Committee
for Planning and Economic
Development to receive the
donation on behalf of the
Community of Kinmount,”
she said.
The unveiling of the
history and monument has
fostered interest in local
history by teachers and
students alike. Members of
historical associations, tourists
and family members from
Iceland and across North
America make pilgrimages to
Kinmount, creating a legacy
that is being perpetuated for
future generations.
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The Kinmount Icelandic disaster monument called In the
Presence of a Soul. The Guðrún Girgis statue commemorates
the arrival of the first Icelandic colony in Canada. It is
located at Kinmount Railway Station.
pHoto courtesy of www.kiNmouNt.ca
pHoto: Guy scott
The Austin Sawmill at the Kinmount Heritage Park