Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.11.2013, Qupperneq 7

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 1 nóvember 2013 • 13
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12 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • November 1 2013
EVENTS
October 26 to November 8
Living with Lava, one of the 70 finalists
in the Banff Mountain Film and Book
Festival, will be shown during the Festival.
This is the DVD that is now circulating
through the INL of NA clubs. For the dates
for the showing in Banff.
check http://www.banffcentre.ca/
mountainfestival/
1, 2 and 3 November
Markerville, AB: Christmas in
Markerville.
Saturday 2 November
Burnaby, BC: Think Tank, financial
issues at The Scandinavian Centre, 6540
Thomas Street.
Sunday 3 November
Calgary, AB: Christmas Bazaar at the
Scandinavian Centre, 739 – 20th Ave. NW.
Edmonton, AB: The Saga of Grettir The
Strong. Join storytellers Karen Gummo
and Mary Hays as they take you on a
journey into the exploits of one of Iceland’s
most beloved heroes. Travel with Grettir
Ásmundsson from his mother’s arms
into battle with the Troll Woman through
trickery and into sorcery. 2 p.m. Dutch
Canadian Club of Edmonton, 13312 – 142
St. For more info contact Susan 1- 780-
471- 0082.Sponsored by Norðuljós, The
Icelandic Club of Edmonton.
Saturday 9 November
Winnipeg, MB: Lutefisk and Meatball
dinner at the Scandinavian Centre, 764
Erin Street. 5:30 p.m. (cocktails), 6 p.m.,
dinner.
Sunday 10 November
Edmonton, AB: The annual Scandinavian
Christmas Market at the Dutch Canadian
Centre from 11-4 p.m. 13312 – 142
Street. Free Parking. Ethnic baking,
Christmas and other crafts. Delicious
lunches for sale.
Saturday 30 November
Calgary, AB: Leif Eiriksson Icelandic Club
of Calgary LEIC Celebrates Yuletide in
Iceland, Scandinavian Centre, 739 – 20th
Avenue NW. 5 p.m.
Saturday 7 December
Burnaby, BC: Children’s Christmas Party
Sunday 8 December
Burnaby, BC: Bake sale at the
Scandinavian Centre, 6540 Thomas
Street.
Edmonton, AB: The Icelandic Canadian
Club of Edmonton will hold their annual
Christmas Party at the Dutch Canadian
Centre. 1-4 p.m. Santa arrives at 3 p.m.
Crafts for the children, Suzy Snowflake,
the Balloon Artist, good food and fun.
Saturday 14 December
Winnipeg, MB: The Icelandic Canadian
Frón will be holding its Annual
Intergenerational Christmas Party from
2 to 4 p.m. All ages welcome! Crafts,
cookie decorating, visiting the jólasveinar,
entertainment, coffee and vínarterta.
Scandinavian Cultural Centre, 764 Erin
St. Admission: donations (proceeds will
go to the cabinet to house the jólasveinar).
ICELANDIC CLASSES
Tuesdays
Winnipeg, MB: The Icelandic Canadian
Frón is offering Icelandic language classes
at the Scandinavian Cultural Centre, 764
Erin St. Registration at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
September 17. Fee for 10 week session
will be $40 for members, $45 for non-
members. Classes start September 24.
For more information, email Gunnvör at
gunnvor@mymts.net or phone Linda at
204-257-0870.
Burnaby, BC: Icelandic language classes
available at the Scandinavian Centre,
6540 Thomas Street, 7 – 9 p.m. The cost
is $50 for the 8 week session. We have
two teachers: Gunnar Hansson and Edda
Langworth and the classes will be divided
between beginners and those who know
a little more. There will be another 8 week
set offered in the New Year, February
– March. Contact Gunnar Hanssen,
gunnarhans@gmail.com.
Wednesdays
Arborg, MB: Meet to speak Icelandic, 3
p.m. Molasopi at Eldhús restaurant at the
Arborg Hotel. No pressure.
Third Thursday
Arborg, MB: Arborg Hotel lounge, 8 p.m.,
Kaffitími for those who want to learn
words or phrases. No pressure.
Gimli, MB: Kaffitími (coffee time)
in Gimli takes place at 3 p.m. each
Wednesday, meeting at Amma’s Tea
Room, Waterfront Centre. No signup and
no teacher. Drop ins welcome; the only
fee is the price of your cup of coffee.
There is only one rule: you need to
speak Icelandic in order to participate
in the chat around the table. If you just
want to listen at first that’s fine, too.
Until 13 December
Icelandic Online PLUS: Icelandic Online
PLUS is an 8-week course open to all
those interested in Icelandic language and
culture. Until December 13th (8 weeks).
Both courses will run again January -
February 2014. Visit www.icelandiconline.
is. For further information: ems@hi.is
FILM
Film Series Showdates
Confirmed Living with Lava
Showdates:
Canada:
Thursday 14 November
Gimli, MB: Gimli Icelandic Canadian Society
Lady of the Lake Theatre in the Waterfront
Centre.
Thursday 12 December
Ottawa, ON: Ottawa Friends of Iceland.
LITERATURE
Winnipeg, MB: Lestrarfélagið Gleym-
mér-ei, an English-language reading
society for Icelandic Canadians and their
friends, meets monthly at the Icelandic
Collection in the Elizabeth Dafoe Library
of the U of M. Anyone who loves reading
and conversation is welcome to attend.
7 p.m.
Nov. 28: Film, TBA
Jan. 30: The Blue Fox – Sjón – reads
like a folktale / 1883 Iceland, translator
Victoria Cribb
Feb. 27: Jar City – Arnaldur Indriðason
Mar. 27: Baba’s Red Talking Chair
– Dr. Eric Sigurdson (Guest);
relationship between grandparents and
grandchildren, illustrations by Luther
Pokrant
Apr. 16 tentative: Stephan G. –
selections from the online site, details
TBA
May 29: Names For The Sea: Strangers
In Iceland – Sarah Moss, auto-bio,
memoirs from the collapse
The Lögberg-Heimskringla
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Send information to appear in the Calendar of Events to catherine@lh-inc.ca.
Please include date, place, time and other particulars.
For more listings, visit our website at www.lh-inc.ca.
Thorvaldson, Gunnar Carl
May 8, 1928 – October 6, 2013
Gunnar was born and raised in
Oak Point MB and was the eldest of
eight children. He led a fascinating life
full of deep friendships and loyalty to
the Icelandic community in Edmonton
and abroad. Gunnar married Shirley
Edgar in 1956. He was the father of
Gary Thorvaldson, Cindy Thorvaldson,
Carla Thorvaldson and loving mentor
to nephew Helgi Gunnar Thorvaldson;
father-in-law of Blake Mawhinney
and Bill Burtnik and afi to Breanna,
Megan and Alana Mawhinney and
Arden, Mason and Evan Burtnik. He
was part of a wonderful group of
individuals who were brothers, sisters
and parents. Much-loved sisters Gladys
Wirth of Winnipeg and Gloria Tilleman
of Havre MT also survive him. He was
predeceased by parents Margrét Kristin,
née Tómasson (1901–1978) and Helgi
Borgford (1898-1957) and sisters
Joyce, Bernice, Rose and brothers
Gordon and August.
As a young man he worked on
the family farm as well as commercial
fishing, until 1949 when he began his
career with CN Telegraphs. He quickly
rose to foreman and advanced further
by taking and teaching courses. This
led to a promotion to the Edmonton
office in 1960. He was in charge of
estimating and planning, and was
instrumental in establishing telephone
service to remote communities in what
was then the Northwest Territories.
In 1978 there was another transfer,
this time to Whitehorse. There, while
still working for CN, he taught the
Linemen’s course. This was a highpoint
in his career and he truly enjoyed
teaching to enthusiastic students in
Whitehorse, at the Yukon Vocational
College. He retired from NorthwesTel
(and the teaching position) at age 55
in 1983. However, he did not slow
down as he ended up volunteering his
time to CESO. His expertise in mapping
and planning phone lines was used to
rebuild systems in countries as diverse
as Antigua and Zambia.
He was involved with the
community league, the Scandinavian
Centre and the Icelandic Society, all
in Edmonton. Gunnar was very much
a part of the ICCE (Norðurljós). He
became president of the club in 1961
when told all other members were too
busy. He remained a proud member of
the club for the rest of his life. Among
numerous awards and presentations
he was especially proud of receiving
a life membership to the Icelandic
National League in 1972.
In 1988 Gunnar celebrated his
60th birthday in Iceland and lived
there for a year soaking up the culture.
He greatly enjoyed spending time
on his relative’s farm and working
various jobs. During his one-year stay
he became proficient at speaking,
reading and writing Icelandic. Once
leaving Iceland he travelled and was
often off to see a friend, or make new
ones. His journeys took him to places
near and far in Canada; to Scotland,
France, Mexico, the Faroe Islands to
name a few.
His cooking and baking did
not hurt his popularity. Pönnukökur
were usually nearby when there
was a Norðurljós gathering, or when
entertaining. Family was dear to him,
especially his six grandchildren.
Gunnar was a member of the
Masonic Lodge commencing in
Winnipeg in 1955. At the time of his
death he was a member of the Royal
Arch Masons Yukon Chapter No. 38
GCBC & Yukon and a life member of
Whitehorse Lodge No. 46 BCR.
The family cannot thank enough
the staff of Jubilee Lodge for their
conscientious care throughout his
stay. We would also like to thank
Doctor Ross Lindskoog for his
unflagging care and compassion.
Cremation has taken place and the
memorial service was held Friday,
October 11th at the Unitarian Church
in Edmonton. Interment will be in
Brookside Cemetery in Winnipeg at
a later date. Donations may be made
in Gunnar’s memory to The Memorial
Society of Edmonton or the charity of
one’s choice.
Recently my wife and I had the pleasure of meeting Ed (Vic)
Victorsen, 92, at the historic
River of Life Lutheran
Church in Minneapolis MN.
His mastery of the Swedish
language led him to an early
connection with Iceland. Of
course, it helped that he had
Swedish roots and worked in
a Swedish general store in his
hometown of Minneapolis in
his youth.
As the years of World
War II progressed, Ed found
himself chosen as the Air
Force liaison officer between
the Icelandic and the U.S.
government from 1943 to 1945.
His knowledge of Swedish
helped in the dialogue between
the Icelandic community and
the Allied Forces. The Allies’
main goal was to identify
potential German submarine
docking and holding positions,
especially within the numerous
deep fjords around Iceland.
Ed reminisced that the
Icelandic children were eager
to engage with the military
personnel, but unfortunately
picked up too many “colorful”
words from the English
language. He talked about the
wide implementation of the
hot water distribution network
and the amazing ability to
stabilize the water temperature
within a few degrees in the
homes in Reykjavík. He also
recalled the “hot spot” in
Reykjavík, where one went
for entertainment and to meet
people. This was popularly
called the “Battle of the Borg”,
of course referencing Hotel
Borg and the Battle of the
Bulge on continental Europe.
Ed enjoyed his piper cub flights
to the more remote parts of the
island which were extremely
inaccessible by motor vehicle
at the time.
Although Mr. Victorsen
enjoyed his stay in Iceland, he
was eager to return to Minnesota
in the spring of 1945. He was to
be married at the River of Life
Lutheran Church on May 2,
1945 – 10 days after his return.
Through his wife he became a
steward and rock of support for
the foundation that continues
in service of the church to this
day.
Ed’s career entered an
interesting direction in the
post-war years as he became
an employee of Northwestern
Bell (later AT&T). To this day,
Ed proudly carries his Bell ID
card in his wallet. Ed is full of
interesting stories from his days
with the telephone company.
Of particular note was the
presence of a telephone in his
car in the early 1950s.
Ed continued his service in
the military by being in the Air
Force Reserve, and through his
connection with the telephone
company helped to initiate
and install the AUTOVON
military phone system for the
government. An important
troposcatter relay link for this
system is located in Iceland.
Through his musical
talents, Ed reconnected with
the Icelandic community in the
1960s. Attending a Shriner’s
Convention in 1966, he
helped form a Shriner Concert
Band which performed in
the Minneapolis – Winnipeg
corridor until 2001. This led to
numerous friends in the town
of Gimli, Manitoba, the home
of many Western Icelanders.
Proceeds from the concerts
went to the Shriners Hospitals
for Children.
Ed is able to boast over 80
years of trumpet playing. As he
continues to play at the River of
Life Church, it will most likely
become 90 years of playing.
Our broader Icelandic
community includes many
Friends of Iceland like Ed
Victorsen. You never know
when you meet someone.
There might be an Icelander or
a Friend of Iceland right behind
that first handshake.
The Meeting Place Ed Victorsen: Icelandic Reflections
Ed Victorsen connects with the Icelandic community
Gernot S. Pomrenke
Mannasas, VA
PHOTO: GERNOT S. POMRENKE
Finnafjörður harbour interests
Chinese
State Radio News & mbl.
is – General Director Dmitry
Purim of the Russian transport
company Sovfracht Managing
Company LLC recently pre-
dicted that the mid-route through
the North Pole will open up in
a few years, and then Iceland
will be on a well-travelled sea
route. The Chinese, who have
expressed interest in a harbour
in Finnafjörður (NE-Iceland),
anticipate that, in 2020, 15% of
goods transported from China to
other countries on the Atlantic
Ocean will be shipped via the
Arctic route. This sailing route
between Asia and Europe is
opening more and more because
of climate change. People
have long talked of the north-
west route lying to the west of
Greenland and the north-east
route which lies along Russia
and Norway. The mid-route is a
third route that will lie just east
of Iceland. Purim thinks that it
will not take long for this route to
open up. Then opportunities will
develop for Iceland. Icelandic
shipping companies have also
expressed much interest in
shipping via north polar routes.
Eimskip’s President/CEO Gylfi
Sigfússon was one of the many
attending the Arctic Circle
Conference this past weekend
in Reykjavík. He talked about
Iceland’s possibilities as a
transfer harbour and presented
the advantages of locating such a
harbour in Iceland. “The opening
of shipping routes via the North
Pole is an enormous opportunity
for Iceland,” said Sigfússon.
Icelandic passports eighth
best in the world
visir.is – The Icelandic
passport is regarded as the eighth
best in the world, according to
recent research done by Henley
& Partners. This involved a
survey asking which country it
was best to have a passport from.
Britain, Finland and Sweden
were tied for first place. They all
received a score in the survey of
173. Iceland’s score was 165.
Participation could cause
dispute in Norway
visir.is – The National
Energy Authority has accepted
to grant to the Chinese oil
company CNOOC and Eykon
Energy a license for oil
exploration in the Dreki Area
(North East of Iceland). At
the same time the Norwegian
government was offered a 25%
involvement in the licence. The
Norwegians have one month to
make up their mind. The first
licenses were granted ten months
ago. Ole Borten Moe, then
Norwegian minister of energy
affairs, was present on that
occasion and Norway became
... continued on page 13
Iceland News Briefs
Cecil Thorstein Isliefson

It is with great sorrow that our
family announces the passing of our
dear husband, father and grandfather
on Friday September 27, 2013 at
Concordia Hospital at the age of 84.
Cecil was predeceased by his parents
Thorstein and Osk (Sarah), brother
Barney, sisters Lorraine, Julia, Emily,
Anne, half-sister Ethel Peters (Sveinson)
and infant grandson Daniel.
Cecil is survived by his loving wife
Deanna, sons Mitchell (Diane), Ronald
(Toni), Gary (Carmela), Lyndon (Vicky),
daughter Diana Emerson (Curtis),
grandchildren Joe, Sarah, Courtney,
Erik, Matthew and Jett, his brothers
John (Pat), Murray, Allen (Laura), half-
sister Ellen (Jonina) Wood, brothers-in-
law Bryon Isfeld (Linda), Charles Isfeld
(Marilyn), sisters-in-law Margaret Hillis,
Jeanne Fortney and Shelley Isfeld. Also
several cousins and many nieces and
nephews.
Cecil was born in Cypress River,
Manitoba September 22, 1929. He
spent his childhood on the family farm
and moved to Winnipeg as a young
man. He worked for the Canadian
National Railways in the CN Express
and later at CN Transcona Stores. He
retired in 1989 after 34 years of service.
Cecil and Deanna were married
March 17, 1956 at First Lutheran
Church in Winnipeg. They resided in
Winnipeg where they raised their family.
Cecil spent his retirement years
pursuing his love of music, building
violins and other string instruments,
95 in total, repairing various musical
instruments, and especially loved
playing old time music on his fiddle. He
played with several bands over the years
and was a long time member of the
South Glen Fiddlers. He enjoyed playing
on Friday evenings in summer months
at Gimli Betel Personal Care Home for
their “Happy Hour” and jamming on
Wednesday afternoons at Gimli New
Horizons and any time he could get
together with other musicians. Cecil
played at many fiddle contests, placing
highly on many occasions, including a
first place at the Festival du Voyageur
fiddle contest.
Cecil¹s greatest joy was his
children and grandchildren. He was so
very proud of all of them.
Cecil could always be counted
on to help with any mechanical
problems, whether it was cars, trucks,
lawnmowers, tractors, steam engines,
any form of implements, especially
old ones the older the better. His
willingness to give advice or jump in
and get his hands dirty, whatever the
problem was, will greatly be missed.
The family would like to thank all
of the nurses, health care aides and
other staff on 3W Concordia Hospital for
the exceptional care and compassion
they gave to Cecil during his stay there.
They are truly a wonderful and caring
group of professionals. We are forever
grateful. Thank you also to Pastor
Michael Kurtz for being there for Cecil
and the family in Cecil¹s final days.
Funeral service took place on
Tuesday, October 1 at 2:00 p.m. at
First Lutheran Church, 580 Victor
Street, Winnipeg with Pastor Michael
officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be
made in memory of Cecil to Alzheimer¹s
Society of Manitoba, Unit 10 120
Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 4G2.
Cecil, your music will forever play in
our hearts and we know that you
have already
found some fiddlers to jam with up
in heaven.
Neil Bardal Funeral Centre
204-949-2200, neilbardalinc.com
Gudlaug (Lauga) Adalheidur
Magnusson (Nee Olafson)
1914 - 2013
Peacefully, Lauga passed away
at the Selkirk Betel Home September
7, 2013. She was born on a grain
and cattle farm October 15, 1914,
in a small Icelandic community near
Sinclair, MB, the daughter of Þorgrímur
Ólafsson from Borganes, Iceland and
Guðrún Rósa Þorsteinsdóttir from
Leira, Iceland.
In 1929, Lauga came to Winnipeg
to attend the Jon Bjarnason Academy
(JBA). She stayed in her beloved West
End for 83 years. In the Depression,
she lived and worked as a caregiver
with wonderful families of the
Icelandic West End. In 1940, she
married her former JBA teacher Agnar
Rae Magnusson. They shared their
love and support for one another until
Agnar passed away in 1996.
Lauga learned to read Icelandic
when she was three. Reading fueled
her passion for telling stories: about
Icelandic litlifólk that shared their
farm; how a prairie blizzard would be
presaged by dreams of a white stallion,
galloping in from the northwest; what
it was like in a boarding house full of
Winnipeg Icelanders in the Depression.
Lauga enjoyed the people who
came into her life: family, friends,
relatives visiting from faraway
places like Iceland and California.
She celebrated with conversation,
infectious laughter, chocolate,
vínarterta, and good coffee in her house
on Garfield. Lauga was a longstanding
member of a women’s club known as
“The Bridge Club That Never Played
Bridge”. Members of the club, all good
bridge players, would rather tell stories
and enjoy good dinners.
Lauga was an artful seamstress
with a flair for fashion. When she was
a girl, she lost her shoes fighting a
prairie fire and wrapped rags around
her feet until she had enough gopher-
tail bounty to buy a new pair. Ever after,
Lauga had a fondness for nice shoes,
and lots of them.
She emphasized the value of
education, the arts, having a career
and being financially independent.
Lauga gave much love and support
to family and friends and was much
loved in return. She and Agnar warmly
welcomed their daughters’ friends into
the family home.
Lauga is survived by daughters
Maria June Jones in Selkirk (Gerald),
Anna Rae Magnusson in Winnipeg,
Augusta Lynne Magnusson in
Toronto (Paul Stevens), and Janis
Olof Magnusson on the West Coast,
grandsons Brian Thor Jones and Eric
Christopher Jones, and many nephews
and nieces. She was predeceased by
her husband Agnar Rae, her sisters
Sigga Wium, Stina Burke, and Arros
Metheringham, brother Olafur Olafson,
and son-in-law Jack Dobb (Janis).
The family would like to express their
gratitude to the wonderful staff at the
Betel Home in Selkirk for their loving
care of our mother. A celebration of
Lauga’s life was held September 13,
2013 at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre.
Briefs ... from page 12
a partner in oil exploration in another state’s
jurisdiction for the first time, and nominated
the state oil company Petoro to have a 25%
involvement in the first two licenses that were
granted, in accordance with the so called Jan
Mayen agreement made between the two countries
in 1981. Now the NEA has granted the third licence
to the Chinese oil company CNOOC International
Ltd., with 80% stake, and the Icelandic company
Eykon, with 20% stake. The Norwegians are
entitled to be involved. Should they accept the
offer of a 25% stake, that of CNOOC and Eykon
would be reduced to 60% and 15% respectively.
But the newly elected government in Norway
is committed to the demands of two supporting
parties, not to permit oil explorations in the
Norwegian part of the Jan-Mayen area or in other
areas within Norwegian jurisdiction. It is the
new Minister of Energy Affairs who will have to
respond to the Icelanders’ offer, which has been
made formally. He has 30 days to decide whether
to decline or agree, and by so doing, provoking
government allies and risk political confrontation.
Reprinted with permission from Icelandic News
Briefs, published by KOM PR
Events
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Icelandic Classes
Literature
FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Obituaries