Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.04.2014, Page 2

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 1. apríl 2014 • 3
Visit us on the web at http://www.lh-inc.ca
2 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • April 1 2014
Nordic Spirit 2014 will record and retell the home front experiences of Scandinavian people during and
just after World War II. The full recordings
will be preserved and shortened versions
displayed and/or presented in dramatic
readings during the Nordic Spirit show
April 12 and 13.
The memories from our Centre members
are surprisingly informative. Aage Karlsen
followed German soldiers in Norway to
collect cigarette butts for the tobacco he
could resell because money for food was so
scarce. Pia Kristiansen’s family in Denmark
made a desperate trip to get an infant to
medical care when travel was banned. Bjorn
Tokle, a Saskatchewan farmer, told how his
grandmother baked bread with messages
inside which she carried over the mountain
behind their Norwegian farm. Judith
Anderson reported how heroic farmers in
Iceland saved most of a group of British
soldiers bogged down during a training
expedition in local mountains. Books and
films have preserved large and dramatic
events around the war but the experiences
of ordinary people like us are equally
interesting. They should not be lost.
Help us preserve these stories while
they are still remembered. A tape recorder is
available at the Centre, and can be borrowed
to tell your stories or to interview others so
we can preserve out heritage experiences.
Or contact Carolyn Thauberger to arrange
for recording help (778-329-6964 or
cthauber12@gmail.com).
There were 145 people attending the Icelandic Canadian Club of B.C.
Þorrablót this year – the most
the club has had in quite some
time.
When guests arrived, they
were invited into the Iceland
Room to sample liver sausage,
blood sausage, spiced lamb
roll, headcheese – with a
sheep’s skull, rams’ testicles,
harðfiskur and shark (hákarl).
The shark and harðfiskur were
out on the porch because of
their delightful fragrance and
when the shark was sampled it
was followed immediately by
a shot of Brennivín (absolutely
necessary). Meanwhile, in the
lounge Peggy and Ola were
carrying trays of Icelandic
appetizers: smoked salmon
with mustard on rye bread,
liver pate on crackers,
flatbread with marinated
herring, ham/asparagus and
cheese tartlets, and spiced
lamb roll on rye bread.
Óðinn Helgason, M/C,
welcomed everyone. Heather
Alda Ireland, Honorary Consul
General of Iceland, led us in
the singing of the National
Anthems and Jana Helgason,
ICCBC president, thanked our
2013 princess, Annika Andrew
with a present, and introduced
our new princess, Kristina
Dyer.
After dinner, Heather Alda
Ireland, introduced the guest
speaker, Ambassador Þórður
Ægir Óskarsson, Ambassador
of Iceland to Canada who
spoke on the pleasure of being
amongst the Icelanders of
British Columbia.
There were door prizes, a
50/50 draw and an Icelandic
singalong. This was led by
Gunnar Hansson who called
up an impromptu choir. The
guests joined in the singing
whether they knew Icelandic
or not. Dancing followed.
From the ICCBC newsletter,
used with permission
Declan and Djuna Campbell, children of Kale Campbell and
Steinunn Benjaminsson, danced the night away to the music
of Pizzaz during the ICCBC Þorrablót
PHOTO: KALE CAMPBELL
Larger crowd than usual at the ICCBC Þorrablót
Robert Asgeirsson
Surrey, BC
NORDIC SPIRIT 2014
The Home Front will preserve stories
We rocked. We being the Icelanders of Victoria. We
expected 40, then 60, then 86,
and Fred Bjarnason had to
order more food because food
is the centre of þorrablót. We
rented Norway House, great
venue, hired a chef from the
University to work with Fred,
and got ready to party. We had
door prizes, we had dancing,
we had our fjallkona, Valla
Eiriksson, crowned by Trish
Baer who had been our previous
Fjallkona, we had the Anderson
sisters from Alberta join us for
the first time, we had serious
food. Hangikjöt, rúllupylsa, hot
and cold roast lamb, roast beef,
horse radish so hot it cleared
out my sinuses and lifted me
off the chair, mashed potatoes,
peas and carrots, white sauce,
Icelandic ravioli, local salmon,
salads and more salads, and
pickles and pickled beets.
And there were desserts and
as master of ceremonies I told
the story of how coffee came
to Iceland in 1703, how the big
shots at Skáholt were the only
ones who got to drink it at first.
Drinking coffee spread and
soon every farm had its own
pot for roasting coffee and its
own grinder for grinding coffee
and people became known for
their coffee. And there was
skyr, pönnukökur, strawberries,
chocolate cake, ástarbollur,
and flourless chocolate cake
for people like me who have
celiac disease. And after we
dined, we danced and drank
coffee and celebrated because
we’ve got lots to celebrate.
Congratulations to our
board and especially to Fred
Bjarnason, the miracle man in
the kitchen.
Bill Valgardson
Victoria, BC
VICTORIA HAD IT ALL
– þorrablót a success
From left: Valla Eiriksson, Victoria Fjallkona, Fred
Bjarnason and the Anderson sisters
PHOTO: TRISH BAER
Fred Bjarnason,
Trish Baer,
Fjallkona Valla
Eiriksson
PHOTO: W.D. VALGARDSON
The 2014-2015 board of the Friends of Iceland chapter in Ottawa has
elected its executive. The board
members were chosen at the
annual general meeting of the
group at the end of February.
Wendy Wynne-Jones is
the incoming president of the
organization, replacing Jack
Ives, who will serve as past
president. Roger Eyvindson is
returning as secretary-treasurer
as is membership chair Judith
Hoye. Special events coordinator
will continue to be Edith Pahlke.
The other members of the
board are Susan Bunge, Gerry
Einarsson, Dace Johanson,
Freida Kalbfleisch and Paul Park.
The group is planning a
movie night in April, the annual
Icelandic Day picnic on June
21, a concert in October and the
yearly Jólaglögg in December.
The Friends of Iceland chapter
is also planning events
involving members of the
Snorri West program who will
be visiting Canada this summer.
Friends of Iceland
chapter plans active year
Paul Park
Ottawa, ON
GIMLI
SELKIRK
Betel Home Foundation will continue to be a leader
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is an integral part of the community recognizing our
Icelandic roots and respecting others cultures.
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Tax receipts available
for donations of either
money or stock.
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486 River Road Arborg, MB
Tel: 204-376-5053
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or
Arborg Autobody
Quality Car & Truck Sales
What do rúllupylsa, rotten shark and The Next Star Supergroup have in common? This was not a question that was asked at the recent Trivia Night held by the Icelandic
Canadian Frón in Winnipeg, but if it had been asked, members of
the Frón would have guessed “þorrablót”...and they would be right.
During the -50C weather we were experiencing in Winnipeg,
þorrablót was held February 22nd to bring together the warmth and
camaraderie of the Icelandic community. Eighty people attended and
were treated to a wonderful meal with many Icelandic delicacies,
including rúllupylsa. Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson gave
a warm and witty talk about þorri, but noticed that the þorrablót
was lacking the smells he remembered back in Iceland. In order to
share this experience with the participants, he invited everyone to
the lobby for the smells and tastes of rotten shark and brennivín,
which he had recently brought back from Iceland. It may have been
cold outside, but this food and drink certainly warmed our cockles.
We were also warmed by the entertainment. The Sólskríkjan
Choir held a singalong with familiar Icelandic tunes and young Dane
Bjornson performed, playing the guitar and singing. This energetic
fourteen year old talent hinted that something special was going to
happen on March 11 on YTV and that we should all watch. I did
watch the show, entitled The Next Star Supergroup. It is much like
American Idol where musicians perform in front of a panel and are
eliminated until the best are left standing. Dane, because of his great
presence and voice was selected
to continue. Thus þorrablót was
blessed to have this new young
star shine a light on our cold,
dark winter.
Karen Botting
Winnipeg, MB
Rúllupylsa, rotten shark, and
The Next Star Supergroup
PHOTO: KENDRA JÓNASSON
Right: Dane Bjornson, young
entertainer for the evening,
was well received.
Below: Dane on YTV
Reflections on the Mið Eyja þorrablót
Jo and I took the ferry from Vesuvius to Crofton, then drove to Nanaimo to what turned out to be a wonderful afternoon Mið
Eyja þorrablót at the home of Karen Bjarnason.
We came in the door and Doug Einarson, whom
I hadn't seen since 1961, came dashing across
the room to say "You and I were in the young
Icelanders club at United College." We talked a
mile a minute. It is said that strangers are just
friends you haven't met yet. That was true here.
I met and talked to many people,
unfortunately not all. Jo and I met Olaf Bertram
and discovered that she was a student of her
father's, Agnar Magnusson, at the Jón Bjarnason
Academy. Olaf teaches Icelandic for the club.
Eric and Karen Olafson were there from
Saskatchewan. Elin Ross was like a gift from
heaven. She is descended from the Icelanders
who moved from the Hecla/Riverton area to
Steveston to build boats during the Depression.
Linda Bjarnason, my one time neighbour from
Gimli, was there.
And, and, and. What a great group.
Back row: Bill Valgardson, Doug Einarson, Karen Bjarnason Chamberlain, Eric Olafson
Middle row: Karen Olafson, Jan Magnusson, Sarah Thordarson, Lisa Stepp, Ann Eyolfson
Front row seated: Carol Lemcke, Elin Ross, Olof Bertram, Linda Bjarnason
W.D. Valgardson
Victoria, BC
PHOTO: KAREN OLAFSON
Some of
the guests
enjoying
the Frón
Þorrablót
at the
Scandinavian
Centre
Anna Birgis and Hjálmar preparing hákarl and brennivín for
those daring enough to try a sample
PHOTO: KENDRA
JÓNASSON
PHOTO: KAREN BOTTING
PHOTO: KENDRA JÓNASSON