Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.01.2014, Blaðsíða 5

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 1. janúar 2014 • 9
Visit us on the web at http://www.lh-inc.ca
8 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • January 1 2014
My father, Karl Johnson, knew that a relative from Iceland had
come to Canada around 1899,
stayed a short few years, and
then returned to Iceland. During
his stay in Canada he had kept a
diary of his travels, experiences
and adventure. The name of this
relative was not really known,
nor if this diary was ever
published.
In June 2000, my sister,
Verla Avison, my brother, Garry
Johnson, and his wife Ruby and
I made a trip to Iceland.
We made contact with
members of my amma’s
relatives in Reykjavík who
directed us to the address of
the embarkation point, “Björg
Farm” in the Barðardalur
Valley - north east of Akureyri
where Kristján Jónsson and his
family left for Canada in 1878.
This was my afi’s (Sigurgeir)
family and he was born in June
1877 so was only one year
old when they left Iceland.
Afi’s father Kristján was the
youngest in a family of about
10 children, all born on Öxará
farm in the same general area.
Friðgeir was the son of one of
Kristján’s older brothers.
We visited Björg Farm and
the family who now own it
invited us in to visit and share
coffee and kleinur and good
conversation. They were able
to show us pictures of by-gone
days of the farm and a picture of
the mounds where the original
sod house that was home to
my afi’s family before they left
were still visible in their yard.
They had no knowledge of any
books however.
We then travelled on to
Húsavík and stopped at a
Library/Information Center
there and spoke in general
terms of our family connections
with Guðni Halldórson and
mentioned the quest to find
this diary. A while later he sent
me an e-mail with the name
and author of this book. He
also gave me the name of a
relative of Friðgeir who lived in
Akureyri and I wrote to her but
never did receive a reply.
I then enquired of a relative
of my amma’s family, who had
given us information regarding
Björg Farm. About a year later,
a parcel arrived containing
the book. The next dilemma
was that the book was written
in Icelandic and among my
acquaintances there was no
one who could translate it into
English.
The precious contents
remained a mystery for a few
more years until, in the summer
of 2010, I was reading The
Icelandic Canadian journal
from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Nina
Campbell, of whom it was said,
loved to translate “old Icelandic
stories”, translated a short story
in the magazine.
I contacted the editor of
the journal, Lorna Tergesen.
After a few weeks wait she
did get back to me with a
phone number for Nina. In
September of 2010, I contacted
Nina by telephone where she
lives in Edmonton, Alberta.
We had a brief but delightful
conversation about my request
to have this book translated.
Nina agreed for me to send her
the book and she would see
what she could do.
Approximately one year
and 600 handwritten, double-
spaced pages later, the chapters
and episodes arrived, one by
one, and by October 2011 it
was completely finished. Nina
also sent short comments about
the chapters as she sent them.
The connections to several of
her acquaintances of bygone
years are most interesting
and I know that kept her
intrigued with this project. Her
wonderful translation does
justice, I think, to the quality
of writing and wit produced in
the original Icelandic rendition
by Friðgeir, and I am sure that
there were many challenges
with language. Much of it
was quite old and some of the
episodes cover topics that were
not at all familiar to Nina. I
can only say, “Well done.”
On April 23, 2012 we had
the great pleasure of hosting
Nina Campbell and several of
my siblings and cousins and
my father Karl, at our home
in Harrison Hot Springs, B.C.
to share her effort regarding
this translation of a part of our
family’s history. We were able
to enjoy a beautiful day (the
weather this spring was dismal).
We started with visiting
over coffee, pönnukökur and
ástarbollur and lots of chatter.
Then more visiting and
talking until about 5 p.m. when
we shared a supper of Icelandic
favorites, including roast leg of
lamb, potatoes, carrots, salads,
many desserts brought by my
family and also the Icelandic
favorites of vínarterta, skyr and
fruit soup. Everyone pitched
in and enjoyed the food and
offered help and the pleasure of
a shared meal was wonderful.
More talk, trying to
figure out the genealogical
connections of this family
story reaching far back into the
1800s. A genealogical chart will
be included with this book.
The evening ended with
the feeling of satisfaction of
completing a puzzle in which
we are all a piece.
Ad Heiman og Heim -
Away from home and home again
Karol Henrotte (Johnson)
Harrison Hot Springs, BC
Friðgeir Berg, copied from the back cover of his book,
Að Heiman Og Heim,
with a translation of the Icelandic by Nina Campbell.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KAROL HENROTTE (JOHNSON)
Thor Sigurdson
Peacefully with his family by
his side, it is with profound sadness
that we announce the passing of
Thor, our loving Husband, Father
and Afi on Friday, December 6, 2013
at St. Boniface Hospital ... Palliative
Care Unit.
Thor will be forever loved and
cherished by Sylvia, his loving wife of
53 years; his daughter Thora (Kim);
grandchildren Garrett and Brayden
(Emily) Anderson, his daughters
Carol and Cindy Sigurdson. .
Thor was predeceased by his
parents August and Valdheither
Sigurdson, sister Elizabeth (Norman)
Jonasson. He is survived by sister
Inga (Ralph) Stucky, sister Marilyn
(Emil) Schnedar, brother Stefan
(Elin) Sigurdson, sister Rosanne
(John) Borgfjord and sister Laurel
(Randy) Rodgers and numerous
nieces, nephews and cousins.
Thor was born in Gimli on
October 8, 1932 and lived in
Arnes, MB where he grew up. As
the first born child to Icelandic
immigrant parents, the Icelandic
language was his first tongue. He
was strongly proud of his heritage
and reflected this onto his children
and grandchildren. He and Mom
made many trips to Iceland, always
remaining so close to our many
relatives over there.
Thor was only in his early teens
when he began helping his father
build jiggers for ice fishing and then
continued to learn the many facets
of carpentry which turned out to be
his passion. His very successful 27
year career with PCL Construction
is a testament to his talent, as well
as the many, many jobs that he
did as a hobby or to help others in
need! He was there for everyone ...
whether it be a home renovation,
design or solution to a construction
dilemma, or to simply just to lend a
soft shoulder for anyone in need! He
of course also showered his family
extensively by building many things
for our Winnipeg home as well as a
gorgeous cottage on his homestead
in Arnes. We will cherish this always!
Above all, these talents are
minimal compared to his true
passion ... his incredible love for
family! That was his core. He was
such a leader and true example
to his siblings, children and
grandchildren of so many of life’s
lessons! His gentle and loving nature
provided compassion, kindness and
unconditional love which will remain
with us always!
We would like to thank Drs.
Coates, Hobson, Chikovsky and
most importantly the incredible staff
at St. Boniface Palliative Unit.
A celebration of life was held
at Sherwood Park Lutheran Church,
7 Tudor Crescent on Tuesday,
December 10, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, friends so
wishing may make a donation in
Thor’s memory to the Parkinson
Society of Manitoba, 7-414
Westmount Dr., Winnipeg, MB,
R2J 1P2 or to the Sherwood Park
Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 7
Tudor Cres., Winnipeg, MB, R2K 2A5.
“He lived his life for those he
loved and those he loved will love
and cherish him forever!”
We little knew that morning
God was going to call your name,
In Life we loved you dearly
In death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you
You did not go alone,
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.
You left us beautiful memories
Your love is still our guide,
And although we cannot see you
You are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken
And nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one
The chain will link again.
NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE,
204-949-2200, neilbardalinc.com
FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Obituary
The mission of the Enoch Turner School Foundation is to foster the
memory of the oldest free school
in Toronto and the man who was
responsible for its existence,
Enoch Turner and to help
the Ontario Heritage Trust to
preserve the Schoolhouse in its
original condition. Established
and funded in 1848 by local
brewer Enoch Turner, Toronto’s
first free school educated the
children of the area’s many poor
immigrants from 1849-1859.
Designated a heritage building,
important for its history and
architecture under the Ontario
Heritage Act in 2000, the Enoch
Turner Schoolhouse is the city’s
oldest surviving such building.
A not-for-profit charitable
foundation operates it and runs
several school children’s and
citizens’ programs here.
At the recent annual
Founder’s Dinner, Joseph E.
Martin was the recipient of
one of the two annual Heritage
awards from Enoch Turner
Foundation.
This was his response:
The invitation to accept the
award described “the critical
importance of free schooling in
giving … children a chance in
life.” Those words, “the critical
importance of free schooling in
giving … children a chance in
life” really struck home.
They reminded me of
the many contributions my
afi – afi is the Icelandic word
for grandfather – Johannes
Einarsson made to his
community. Johannes left
Iceland in 1889 with his wife,
their infant daughter and his
mother and came to the new
world – first to the Dakota
Territory and a year later to
the Parkland area of what was
then the Canadian North West
Territories and is now the
province of Saskatchewan.
They established a new
settlement for other Icelandic
immigrants called Lögberg, the
Icelandic word for Law Rock.
The Law Rock was where the
speaker read the laws annually
to the people who assembled
for the annual meeting of
the Parliament on the Plains
of Parliament or Þingvellir,
centuries before England had a
Parliament.
My grandparents were
pioneers and builders, beginning
with their family. In December
of 1890 their first Canadian
child was born, a son, the first of
many. My amma or grandmother
would have 11 more children,
nine of whom who lived, most of
them boys, and they all needed
to be educated.
So in addition to making
a livelihood from farming in a
new land, establishing the first
cooperative – a creamery – in
present day Saskatchewan, be-
ginning the process of municipal
organization – he was the first
Reeve of his RM, building an
Evangelical Lutheran Church on
his property as well as establish-
ing a store and a post office he
helped build a school.
This was natural for an
Icelander because in Iceland
illiteracy had virtually been
eliminated in the 11th century.
In the 1870s Lord Dufferin, our
Governor General at the time,
visited some recent arrivals from
Iceland and noted, “I have not
entered a single hut or cottage
in the settlement which did not
contain, no matter how bare the
walls or scanty its furniture, a
library.”
So it was only natural for
my afi, in addition to everything
else, to build a school house
in his first full year in Canada.
Originally the children had
to walk four miles before the
school was relocated to bring it
within three miles of the farm.
I have often thought of my
mother, the second youngest in
the family, walking to school
with three or four brothers and
how many times they must have
pushed her into a snow bank on
that long walk.
Amongst all his other duties
Johannes became a school
trustee and served in that
capacity for 12 years. I would
add, parenthetically, that when
he presented the treasurer’s
report he was congratulated
“upon the exceptionally good
financial showing.”
Johannes became concerned
about the quality of education
at the local school – in spite of
the fact that it turned out one
Rhodes Scholar, so the children
were sent to Winnipeg, nearly
300 miles to the southeast
to complete their education,
beginning with my aunt. She was
followed by her nine brothers
and my mother. When the
Icelandic Canadian community
established Jon Bjarnason
Academy in Winnipeg, the five
youngest children, including my
mother, studied there.
The love of learning, the
importance of education, is part
of the genetic make up of the
Icelandic people, a trait they
brought to Canada. I remember
the shock I received when I
learned that one of my English
great grandfathers was illiterate.
Just think, this school house was
founded seven years before the
Government of Great Britain,
the Government of the greatest
Empire in the world, had a
Department of Education, and
21 years before Britain passed
the Compulsory Education Act.
While I never attended a one
room school, my first seven years
of schooling were in multi-grade
rooms in a small Saskatchewan
village. I received an excellent
education. In my Grade 7 class
there were 10 students – four of
whom went right through for a
University degree. In my Grade
8 Winnipeg class I was the only
one of 80 students to go right
through for a degree. Indeed
my 20- year-old male teacher in
Grade 7 was probably the best
teacher I ever had.
Because of this love of
learning my widowed mother
begged me to go to University in
spite of the financial hardship in
our household. When I returned
from what I think was the last
threshing gang in Canadian
history to register for College,
she collapsed in relief. How
right she was to insist. Education
changes lives.
In conclusion, to Lynne
and the Directors of the Enoch
Turner Schoolhouse Foundation
I accept with gratitude your
Heritage Champion Award.
Thank you from the bottom of
my heart – I know that my afi
would be very proud.
My afi would be proud
Joe Martin
Toronto, ON
EVENTS
Sunday 26 January
Winnipeg, MB: Come and join the
Icelandic Canadian Frón at our Heritage
Day and Brunch at the Scandinavian
Cultural Centre, 764 Erin St. 11-1:30 p.m.
Your ‘One Stop Shop’ to get your Icelandic
River Roast coffee, your ICF membership,
L-H and Icelandic Connection subscrip-
tions, information on Icelandic camp,
Lestrarfélagið Gleym-mér-ei, IODE,
Icelandic Department at U of M and much
more $13.50 adults, $6 for children 8-12,
ages 7 and under free. Everyone welcome.
Saturday 8 February
Moorhead, NN: 111th Annual Nordic Gala
- Hjemkomst Center, Tickets $20.00 in
advance, $25.00 at the door. Silent Auction
- Wine Tasting and Entertainment. For
tickets call 218.299.5452 or visit www.
NordicCultureClubs.org
Saturday 15 February
Gimli, MB: The Icelandic Festival of
Manitoba – 125 Gala. Honoree: The
Honourable Mr. Justice Kristjan Stefanson.
Lakeview Resort, 10 Centre St. Cocktails
5:30, Dinner 6 p.m. Prepared by Chef
Friðrik Sigurðsson. Program and dance.
$75. Tickets: contact Icelandic Festival of
MB office, 204-642-7417, email: icefst@
mts.net or in person at Festival gift shop
or New Iceland Heritage Museum.
Thursday to Sunday 15-18 May
Winnipeg, MB: The Icelandic National
League of North America Convention The
theme for the Convention is Footprints:
Celebrating Our Achievements. Early
registration discounts are available before
March 15, 2014. Rooms are available
at the Canad Inn Polo Park for $119
(double occupancy) including up to 2 free
breakfasts. For more information visit the
INL of NA website at www.inlofna.org or
contact Linda at linda@lh-inc.ca, 204-
284-5686 or TF 1-866-564-2374.
ICELANDIC CLASSES
Tuesdays
Winnipeg, MB: The Icelandic Canadian
Frón is offering Icelandic classes at the
Scandinavian Cultural Centre, 764 Erin St.
Fee for 10 week session $40 for members,
$45 for non-members. Winter session
classes to start January 21, 2014. For more
info: email Gunnvör at gunnvor@mymts.net
or phone Linda at 204-257-0870.
Burnaby, BC: Icelandic language classes,
Scandinavian Centre, 6540 Thomas St.
session. 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.
LITERATURE
Winnipeg, MB: Lestrarfélagið Gleym-
mér-ei, English-language reading society
for Icelandic Canadians and friends,
meets monthly at the Icelandic Collection,
Elizabeth Dafoe Library, U of M. All welcome
to attend. 7 p.m.
Jan. 30: The Blue Fox – Sjón, translator
Victoria Cribb
Feb. 27: Jar City – Arnaldur Indriðason
Mar. 27: Baba’s Red Talking Chair – Dr.
Eric Sigurdson (Guest); 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
Music
25-31 January
WInnipg, MB: WSO New Music Festival.
Visit newmusicfestival.ca for details.
Jóhann Jóhannsson
takes Miners´ Hymns on the Road
Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson.
For more dates and details: http://
spectrevision.com/music_management/
johann/newsletters/miners-hymns-tour-2014/
Tour Schedule:
8 Feb: Blackburg, VA at Virginia Tech
Center for the Arts w/Virginia Tech Brass
Ensemble and the American Contemporary
Music Ensemble
11 Feb: Denver, CO at Gates Concert Hall
w/The Denver Brass and the American
Contemporary Music Ensemble
14 Feb: Los Angeles, CA at Royce Hall
w/The UCLA Brass Ensemble and the
American Contemporary Music Ensemble
Þorrablót
Saturday 22 February
Edmonton, AB: ICCE Þorrablót at the
Dutch Canadian Club,13312 142 Street.
MOUNTAIN, ND: The Icelandic
Communities Association Þorrablót,
Mountain Community Center. Lots of door
prizes, silent and live auction items, raffle
awards, Community Variety Show, and
much more! $25 adults, $10 under 12.
For tickets and more info: sunnapam@
me.com or call 701-993-8116.
Winnipeg, MB: Icelandic Canadian Frón
Þorrablót, Scandinavian Cultural Centre,
764 Erin St.
Saturday 1 March
Burnaby, BC: ICC of BC holds its Þorrablót
at the Scandinavian Centre.
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.
Events
Þor lót
Icelandic lasses
Literature
Mu ic
L-H features this series of photographic mysteries in
conjunction with Nelson Gerrard’s Silent Flashes project,
which explores early photography among Icelandic
immigrants and their descendants in North America.
Any successful solutions will be published.
To obtain further information on the Silent Flashes project
or to provide input, contact Nelson Gerrard at (204) 378-2758
or eyrarbakki@hotmail.com, or by mail at Box 925, Arborg,
Manitoba R0C 0A0. Check out the Silent Flashes website
and photo archive at www.sagapublications.com.
PHOTO MYSTERY
Do you know these people?
Photographed at the Baldwin & Blöndal studio in
Winnipeg about 1897, this Icelandic immigrant likely
had Akureyri/Eyjafjörður connections, as he sent this
portrait home to relatives or friends there.
Do you know who he is?
GIMLI
SELKIRK
Betel Home Foundation will continue to be a leader
and innovator in providing the highest quality of life for
each individual in our care. Betel Home Foundation
is an integral part of the community recognizing our
Icelandic roots and respecting others cultures.
Betel Home Foundation
G I M L I 96-1ST AVENUE • 204-642-5556 S E L K I R K 212 MANCHESTER AVENUE • 204-482-4651
Tax receipts available
for donations of either
money or stock.