Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.07.2013, Side 6

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6 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • July 15 2013
June 15 was a dark, cloudy, windy day for the Markerville Icelandic
Independence Day Celebration.
Forty-six members of the
Leif Eiriksson Icelandic Club
boarded a chartered bus to take
part in the festivities.
Tomas Jonasson very ably
called the races. Markerville
then treated everyone to ice
cream cones. Young and old
enjoyed the old-fashioned
games and by three p.m. the
program was ready to begin in
Fensala Hall.
Barry Paulson, president
of the Calgary Club was
Master of Ceremonies. The
national anthems of Canada
and Iceland were led by Dr.
Hallgrímur Benediktsson and
Dr. Victor Laxdal. Greetings
were brought from the three
clubs, Barry Paulson from
Calgary, Meredith Hillman,
VP of Markerville and Joedy
Englesby, VP of Edmonton.
Gwen Mann, the incoming
Alberta Fjallkona was escorted
by her son, Douglas Mann and
accompanied by her princesses,
daughter Sheralyn Mann and
granddaughter Audrey Brovald.
Red roses were presented to
Gwen. Before the crowning,
Glenda Bond gave moving
tribute to her mother, Pat Bond,
the outgoing Fjallkona, who
passed away earlier this year.
A brief review of the past
40 years was given by Margret
Grisdale as the Leif Eiriksson
Icelandic Club celebrates their
40th Anniversary.
Natalie Wirth addressed
the crowd about the upcoming
visit of the Snorri West group
from Iceland. Four young
adults will visit the prairie
provinces this year.
Bernice Andersen and
Shirley Dye displayed the
Jólasveinar that were made
by a local woman. They are
looking for sponsors for these
Jólasveinar, which would be
available for the use of other
clubs during the Yuletide
season. Laurel Anderson,
winner of a 50/50 draw,
returned the money to the
club.
INL president Dr. Ron
Goodman brought greetings
from the INL. Southern
Alberta Icelandic Consul Dr.
Hallgrímur Benediktsson also
brought greetings on behalf of
Iceland. In his talk, he spoke
about the weather in 1944
when Iceland received its
independence from Denmark
and it was much like this day,
only with rain. Perhaps that is
why June 17th is often cursed
with rain and bad weather.
A slide show of the past
40 years of the Leif Eiriksson
Icelandic Club was shown
while a pot luck supper was
served to the large crowd.
Members of the Icelandic
Association of Chicago
celebrated the 17th of June
on Saturday, June 22 at Vasa
Park in South Elgin, Illinois,
gathering along the Fox River
with many other Scandinavians,
primarily Swedes, who were
celebrating Midsommar at the
park. It threatened heavy rain
in the morning, but turned out
to be a beautiful day.
Midsommar festivities began
at two p.m. with a parade and
dance around the Maypole. The
Icelanders came at three o’clock
with Icelandic hotdogs and all
the fixin’s plus everyone brought
a dish to pass. The area was
decorated with many balloons
imprinted with the Icelandic flag.
The Swedes were impressed
with our display and numbers
– about 30. IAC had a beverage
booth and sold Icelandic Glacial
water and pop to all in the park,
to benefit our Scholarship Fund.
The best part of the day
occurred when two women
faced each other with mouths
agape – “Gudrun?” “Agnes?”
and they stared at each other
for a full minute. They were
friends in Spain 35 years ago
and reconnected that day at the
picnic.
Activities included wagon
rides drawn by fjord horses,
face painting, visiting with
Vikings and constructing flower
head pieces. The Icelanders
concluded the picnic about seven
p.m. Midsommar ended with a
bonfire and Aquavit about 8:30.
People did celebrating, but
it was the Icelandic horses that
stole the show at the Icelandic
National Day picnic in Ottawa
on June 15.
The Friends of Iceland an-
nual get-together was hosted this
year by Susan and Steve Bunge
on their farm in the outskirts of
the capital. Susan wrote about
breeding Icelandic horses in
April 15 issue of L-H. While the
picnic featured the usual food
and drink, it was the chance to
see the distinctive horses which
delighted attendees. Children
had an especially good time
feeding hay to the animals.
Susan and Steve also raise
standard horses on their farm.
Getting so close to nature add-
ed to the delight of the picnic
guests.
As is usual at Friends
of Iceland events in Ottawa,
Ambassador Þórður Óskarsson
and his wife Systa were in
attendance. In his remarks,
the ambassador said that the
new government in Iceland
is interested in strengthening
relations with Western
countries. He suggested the new
foreign minister, Gunnar Bragi
Sveinsson, may travel to Canada
within the next few months.
He thanked the Friends of
Iceland for its help in getting the
Óskarsson family acquainted
with Canada. The ambassador
was delighted that so many
Canadians of Icelandic descent,
and so many Canadians simply
interested in the island nation,
have gathered together to form
the Ottawa chapter of Friends
of Iceland.
The Hekla Club and the
Icelandic American Association
of Minnesota held their Iceland
Independence Day Picnic
Saturday, June 15. Family, fun,
food and fellowship were the
order of the day.
Everyone added to the
festivities by remembering the
travail Iceland went through to
obtain their independence. Dr.
Örn Arnar, Honorary Consul
General, brought greetings
from Iceland and reviewed the
history of Iceland obtaining
independence.
Howard Hobbs entertained
with his autoharp and guitar;
his interpretation of Icelandic
folk songs was superb.
Many ways to celebrate June 17 in North America
Ottawa
Paul Park
Ottawa, ON
Markerville
Margret Grisdale
Calgary, AB
PHoto: KarL torfason
Joni Shaw
Chicago, IL
Chicago
Pure. Natural. Unspoiled.
This is Iceland.
For tr avel inFormation: visiticel and.org
Minnesota
Steingrimur Steinolfson
Bloomington, MN
The Markerville wheelbarrow race was hotly contested
Year round service from Toronto, seasonal service from
Halifax and convenient connections on WestJet.
+ For further information, please visit
www.icelandair.ca or call (877) I-FLY-ICE
VELKOMIN HEIM