Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.04.2013, Síða 8

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8 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • April 15 2013
In an attempt to give some sense of the person, his character, his values, and
his contributions – and why this
legendary man is honoured, a
series of glimpses is presented
of Sigtryggur’s long life and
his role as a pioneer founder
– not only of New Iceland,
but of the Interlake region, of
Manitoba, and of Canada...
The first scene is set in
Northern Iceland, at Skjaldarvík
near Akureyri, in July of 1872.
Sigtryggur is 20 years old, a
tall, strapping young man, fair-
haired and fresh faced. He has
decided to seek his fortune
abroad, so he is packing a few
belongings and preparing to say
farewell to family, friends, and
the Hafstein family, with whom
he has lived since he was 12.
For almost eight years, young
Sigtryggur has faithfully served
his employer, former Governor
Petur Hafstein, but he is in his
prime – young, healthy, and with
dreams of his own – and now
he must answer life’s call... The
wave of emigration sweeping
across Europe for decades has
now come to Iceland, and just
as the settlers of Iceland once
sought independence and new
horizons in the ninth century,
thousands of 19th century
Icelanders will now seek new
lives in North America.
Born at Bakki in Öxnadalur
on February 8, 1852, Sigtryggur
had grown up there with his
parents and siblings until enter-
ing the service of Governor
Hafstein, first as a groom and
later as the Governor’s clerk
and personal assistant. In the
Governor’s large Danish style
mansion at Möðruvellir, young
Sigtryggur had furthered his
education, among other things
learning English from the
Governor’s daughter Þórunn,
and there his boyhood contem-
poraries had included several
young notables who later dis-
tinguished themselves, among
them, Hannes Hafstein, who
would become one of Iceland’s
premier poets and statesmen.
The cultural and political
environment of Möðruvellir,
together with his own family’s
strong values and intellectual
roots, would remain with
Sigtryggur throughout his life.
The next vignette is of the
young adventurer on the windy
deck of a steamship bound for
Canada. He is engaged in a
lively conversation – in English
– with an elderly Scotsman
returning to Canada after a visit
to his homeland. Gregarious and
respectful, Sigtryggur enjoys
the old Scot’s jolly manner and
broad accent, and he listens
carefully to this pioneer’s
advice, “Go to Ontario...”
Sigtryggur had already formed a
preference for the parliamentary
system of government of Great
Britain, and though all of his
emigrating countrymen to that
time had gone to Wisconsin,
he demonstrated his bold
independence by choosing
Canada – thus becoming the
first Icelander to settle in Canada
when he stepped ashore at the
port of Quebec on September12,
1872... and so, through a twist of
Nelson Gerrard
Arborg, MB
PHotos courtesy of neLson gerrArd
Sigtryggur Jónasson statue facing north with the walking
bridge in the background
Peter Bjornson
642-4977
PeterBjornson.ca
MLA for Gimli
Left: Sigtryggur with his new bride Rannveig in Toronto en
route to New Island with the “Large Group” in 1876
Centre: Sigtryggur circa 1887-1890
A tribute to Sigtryggur Jónasson