Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.04.2014, Blaðsíða 7

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 1. apríl 2014 • 13
Visit us on the web at http://www.lh-inc.ca
12 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • April 1 2014
EVENTS
7 April to 30 May
Icelandic Online PLUS: an 8-week course
open to all those interested in Icelandic
language and culture. Icelandic Online PLUS is
a distance learning course with special focus
on oral and written comprehension, grammar
and written production. Students receive
individual feedback from tutor on written
exercises and instructions regarding grammar
and vocabulary.
Icelandic Online PLUS I: beginner level course
(A1) focusing on grammar, vocabulary,
listening comprehension and reading.
Icelandic Online PLUS II: An intermediate
course (A2) focusing on grammar, vocabulary,
listening comprehension and reading. Open
to all those who have completed Icelandic
Online PLUS I or have basic skills in Icelandic
language. Both courses will run again Sept. to
Oct. 2014. Registration is open until 2 April.
Price: 40.000 ISK. Registration on Icelandic
Online: www.icelandiconline.is
Until 10 April
Gimli, MB: Janet Shaw-Russell: Traces. On
display in the Stefan J. Stefanson Gallery at
the NIHM. The Manitoba Arts Network is proud
to present this new Manitoba artist and this
exemplary body of work. Following the passing
of her mother and the sale of the family home in
Winnipeg, Shaw-Russell undertook extensive
documentation of the large house where she
had grown up. The process culminated in 16
considered renderings of the floor plans with
each level of the home evolving to a single
emblematic element. For more details www.
nihm.ca or 204-642-4001.
Sunday 13 April
Edmonton, AB: The ICCE will provide the film
Living With Lava at the Dutch Canadian Club.
This film is part of the INL of NA series. 1 p.m.
Until 20 April
Winnipeg, MB: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 300
Memorial Blvd. Ragnar Kjartansson: The
End – Rocky Mountains. Organized by the
National Gallery of Canada Icelandic artist
and musician Ragnar Kjartansson produced
The End at the Banff Centre for the Arts in the
heart of the Canadian Rockies. Against this
sublime backdrop, Kjartansson and fellow
Icelandic musician Davíð Þór Jónsson took
a series of musical instruments out into the
winter cold to jam out a song that hobbles
along in fits and starts. Wearing typically
“frontier” attire, including fur hats and cowboy
boots, the duo parodies notions of the “Wild
West” and themes in Icelandic folklore. In his
first encounter with the Rockies, Kjartansson
whimsically embraces the rugged Canadian
landscape with a lighthearted yet sincere
search for creative originality.
27 and 28 April
Edmonton, AB: The ICCE Casino Days at the
Casino Edmonton on Argyle Road. Volunteers
still needed. Call Susan 780-471-0082 or
email susankhallett@gmail.com
Until 29 April
Winnipeg, MB: Inga Torfadóttir exhibit “point
IS”. Gas Station Arts Centre. A printmaker,
ceramic artist and educator, Inga Torfadóttir
has based her artistic practice in Winnipeg,
Manitoba, for over 25 years, after immigrating
with her family from Iceland in 1976. She
studied Fine Arts at the Icelandic College
of Arts and Design and Reykjavík College
of fine Art from 1968-72 before pursuing a
career as a ceramic artist and instructor at
the Stoneware Studio in Winnipeg. She has
conducted workshops and taught courses on
various methods of printmaking at the Martha
Street Studio in Winnipeg. Although her
preferred method is monoprinting, she also
uses a variety of other techniques such as
linocut and copper etching. Her inspiration is
derived from her lifelong observation and love
of nature as well as her deep-rooted interest
in Norse mythology. Her work can be found in
many private and public collections including
the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Governments
of Manitoba, North Korea and Iceland. She
has exhibited her artwork extensively both
nationally and internationally since 1987.
Saturday 12 April
Markerville, AB: The Stephan G. Stephansson
Icelandic Society is celebrating their 40th
Anniversary at a Gala Evening to be held at
Spruce View Hall. For information or tickets,
email admin@historicmarkerville.com or
phone 403-728-3006.
Saturday and Sunday 12 and 13 April
Burnaby, BC: Nordic Spirit 2014: The Home
Front. Photos, stories and presentation
around Nordic life during and after the War.
Scandinavian Community Centre. 6540
Thomas St. 10 a.m. – 4 pm. Opening reception
Saturday 11:30 a.m. Saturday 7:30 p.m.
dramatic readings. Watch for the full schedule
at scandinaviancentre.org.
Thursday 24 April
Selkirk, MB: Icelandic National League Bruin
Chapter’s 121st Annual Sumardargurinn
Fyrsti, First Day of Summer Concert. Doors 7
p.m. Concert begins 7:30. Selkirk Legion, 403
Eveline St. Entertainment, raffle, food, silent
auction, fun, fellowship. Collection at the door.
Everyone welcome.
Saturday 26 April
Winnipeg, MB: Jon Sigurdsson Chapter IODE
is holding its annual spring Bridge and Whist
at Betelstaður, 1061 Sargent Ave. Bake sale of
Icelandic treats at 11 a.m. Luncheon at 12p.m.
followed by Bridge and Whist at 1 p.m. Door
prizes, Bridge and Whist prizes. If you don’t
play Bridge or Whist, please consider joining
us for lunch.
Sunday 27 April
Gimli, MB: Íslendingadagurinn, Icelandic
Festival of Manitoba Fjallkona Announcement
Brunch. Lakeview Resort 11 to 1 p.m. Tickets
available at The Icelandic Festival Office, Gimli.
Home Hardware and Tergesen’s. Tickets $20
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. Rooms are
available at the Canad Inn Polo Park for $119
(double occupancy) including up to two 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.
Saturday 17 May
Markerville, AB: The Creamery Museum will
be opening for the 2014 season. We’ll kick off
the season with a Pancake Breakfast starting
at 9 a.m. Hours daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
and yes, we have the best ice cream and deli-
style menu, featuring Icelandic specialities, in
the coffee shop known as the Kaffistofa. Come
and check out our Manager Specials.
Saturday and Sunday 21 and 22 June
Burnaby, BC: Scandinavian Midsummer
Festival, Scandinavian Centre, 6540 Thomas St.
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.
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.
Thursdays
Burnaby, BC: ICC of BC Icelandic Language
Classes in progress to April 17. 7 – 9 p.m. for
eight weeks at the Scandinavian Community
Centre Icelandic Room, 6540 Thomas St.
Teachers will be: Gunnar Hansson and Edda
Langworth. People interested in taking
the classes should email Gunnar Hansson
(gunnarhans@gmail.com) and include some
information on whether they already have
some knowledge of Icelandic or whether
they think they’d be best off in the Beginners’
group. Information will go on the Scandinavian
Cultural Centre website as well. The cost will
be $50 per eight week session.
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.
Apr. 24: Stephan G. Stephansson. Wakeful
Nights by Viðar Hreinsson.
Wakeful Nights: Stephan G. Stephansson,
Canada’s Rocky Mountain poet, is one of
the finest poets of the Icelandic language
since the 13th century. This “free thinker”
wrote poems about nature, the immigrant
experience, WW I, history, contemporary
events and ancient stories. Driven by the
muse of poetry, his work numbers over
2000 published pages. Select a short
poem. Read it aloud and often. Listen to the
voices. Enjoy the music of their words. Only
then, think of the poem’s message. What
has the poem taught you? (LFSC) http://
stephangstephansson.com 7 p.m.
May 29: Names For The Sea: Strangers In
Iceland – Sarah Moss, auto bio, memoirs from
the collapse. 6:30 p.m.
Þorrablót
Saturday 12 April
Toronto, ON: Þorrablót 2014 – A Taste of
Vinland. 6 – 11 p.m. Cash bar at 6, dinner at
7. The Estonian Club of Toronto, 958 Broadview
Ave. Delicious food, music, children’s activities,
auctions and more. With special guest,
Inspirational Canadian Fashion Icon, Linda
Lundström and the Return of Viking Halfred all the
way from L’Anse Aux Meadows Newfoundland.
Adults $50 members / $55 nonmembers.
Youth $25 members / nonmembers $27.
Children $12 members / nonmembers
$15. Enjoy the traditional foods of Iceland:
hákar, harðfiskur, lifrapylsa, hangikjöt,
Icelandic brown bread, vínarterta, kleinur,
mysuostur, pönnukökur, skýr, sætsúpa and
much more. Visit www.icct.info for more details.
Wynyard, SK: Vatnabyggð þorrablót,
Wynyard Civic Centre. Cocktail hour, Canadian
and Icelandic buffet, program and guest
speakers, dancing to the Fiddling Farmers,
Icelandic treats for a late lunch, door prizes
and raffles. Advance tickets only, can be
reserved and picked up at the door. Contact
Christie Dalman, dalman@sasktel.net
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.
C ALENDAR OF EVENTS
PHOTO MYSTERY
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, MB R0C
0A0.
Check out the Silent Flashes
website and photo archive at www.
sagapublications.com.
Do you know these people?
This carte de visite (small
‘visiting card’ format)
portrait of a young Icelander
was taken about 1895 by
Jón Blöndal in his Baldwin
& Blondal Studio at 206-6th
Avenue North in Winnipeg.
Do you recognize him?
Iceland News Briefs
Fee charged at Geysir
State Radio News – An entry fee is now being charged
for visitors to the geyser area around the dormant spouting
spring Geysir in Haukadalur in southern Iceland. The
landowners intend to collect the fee even though they have
been threatened with prosecution for what the state regards
as an illegal act. On Saturday they began collecting ISK 600
from visitors to the area. The chairman of the landowners’
association said most people had paid without complaint.
The charge does not apply to under-16s and discounts
are arranged for groups. Entry charges to major tourist
attractions are being planned elsewhere.
Would never agree to overfishing
Fréttablaðið – Iceland will never sign an agreement
with the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands while it involves
catches above the levels recommended by ICES, Sigurður
Ingi Jóhannsson, Minister of Fisheries, told Fréttablaðið
after a meeting of the Government at which the mackerel
dispute was given special attention. “I can’t see it happening
this year,” he said, “while they are planning to over-exploit
the stock. As things are at the moment, during this first
year, I think it will be completely impossible due to this
overfishing.” The EU Fisheries Commissioner, Maria
Damanaki, has said that the door is still open for Iceland
to join the other parties in the agreement, as part of the
total permitted catch had been set aside for new adherents
to the agreement. Asked whether, as Minister of Fisheries,
he would ever give the green light for an agreement based
on premises other than recommendations by scientists at
the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea,
Jóhannsson replied firmly: “No, this is what we had been
stressing all along and the EU was with us right up until the
last few steps of the way.”

Largest-ever trade balance surplus
State TV News – Last year’s surplus on the balance
of trade was the largest since recording began in 1945.
Economic growth was the highest since 2007, while private
consumption rose by only 1.7 percent. These figures were
published by Statistics Iceland recently in Hagtiðindi,
containing a survey of Iceland’s production figures for
2013. These show that the country’s position is improving
rapidly. Economic growth last year reached 3.3 percent, the
highest since the sharp downturn following the economic
crash; in 2012 it had only recovered to 1.5 percent.
According to the statistics, production last year was at the
same level as in 2008, and most of it, almost 60 percent of
GDP, was for export; this proportion has not been higher
since recording started in 1945, Iceland’s first full year of
independence. This high level of exporting means a surplus
on the goods and service account. The foreign trade balance
last year was positive, for the first time since 2002, by USD
730 million, which was a record level. Wages also rose
last year, by 6 percent over the previous year, according to
the Wage Index. Nevertheless, people do not seem to have
been spending more than they did the previous year: private
consumption (covering expenditure on items such as food,
clothes, housing, entertainment, etc.), which dropped
sharply after the economic crash, has risen only slowly
since then and last year’s growth was only 1.2 percent.
Private consumption in 2013 was at much the same level
as in 2004, despite an increase of nearly 11 percent in the
population in the interval.
Half favour tariff-free agricultural imports
VB.is – Just one-half of the Icelandic public (49.8
percent) would be in favour of allowing tariff-free imports
of agricultural products, according to a survey conducted
by MMR for Viðskiptablaðið. According to the results,
55 percent of men favoured tariff-free imports, while 32
percent did not; among women, the corresponding figures
were 44 percent and 35 percent. There was a pronounced
difference in the distribution according to respondents’
place of residence. Fifty-nine percent of those living in
the metropolitan area are in favour of lifting tariffs on
agricultural imports, while only 14 percent are opposed; in
the rural areas, however, 35 percent would be in favour of
tariff-free imports while 45 percent are opposed to the idea.
Reprinted with permission from Icelandic News Briefs,
published by KOM PR
Literature
Events
Þorra lótIcelandic lasses
Icelandic National League of North America
Þjóðræknisfélag Íslendinga í Vesturheimi
95TH ANNUAL CONVENTION
Welcoming Icelanders since 1875
CANAD INNS POLO PARK, WINNIPEG, MB, CANADA
May 15, to 18, 2014
FOOTPRINTS - CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
PROGRAM OUTLINE
Thursday, May 15, 2014
3:00 p.m. Hotel Check-in
3 – 6:00 p.m. Welcome Delegates and Registration
3:30 – 3:45 p.m ONLINE Genealogy Database presentation by Sunna Pam Furstenau: Meeting Room H
3:45 – 5:00 p.m Open Forum and Help Session – Bring your personal computer for hands on assistance or just to learn
more **this is not a Convention Presentation** Please contact Sunna for more details
7– 10:00 p.m Reception / Meet and Greet – Hospitality Room: Meeting Room K
Sponsor Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Consul General of Iceland
Friday, May 16, 2014
8:00 a.m. Setting up Icelandic-Canadian Displays Vendor tables: Meeting Room K
8:00 a.m. Welcome Delegates and Registration
9 – 4:00 p.m. Sales and Art Displays: Meeting Room K
9:00 a.m. Official Welcome: Banquet Room 3/4
Lögberg-Heimskringla
Icelandic camp – Christine Schimnowski, Camp Director w/ Cody Whall,camper
Snorri/SnorriPlus/Snorri West – Ástrós Signýjardóttir / Halldór Árnason / Gail Einarson McCleery
Council of Honour – Svavar Gestsson
Lunch: Banquet Room 3/4
Presentation, The Immigrant Experience – Gunnvör Asmundsson
New INL website launch – Holly Ralph
Brainstorming Session ▪ Youth
▪ Communication
▪ Fundraising
6 – 10:00 p.m. OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONIES
6 – 6:50 p.m. Cash bar
7:00 p.m. Ceremonies begin and cash bar closes
Keynote Speaker: Þórður Ægir Óskarsson, Iceland Ambassador to Canada
Anthems: Sólskríkjan, Accompanied and Directed by Kerrine Wilson
Interlude: PJ Buchan, Accompanied by Kerrine Wilson

8 – 10:00 p.m. RECEPTION
Coffee and hors d’oeuvres will be served
(compliments of Donald K. Johnson) and cash bar
Saturday, May 17, 2014
9 – 4:00 p.m. Sales and Art Displays continue: Meeting Room K
8:45 a.m. Welcome: Banquet Room 3/4
Icelandic Canadian Frón
Celebrating Our Achievements
The Interview Series ▪ Donald K. Johnson
▪ John K. Samson
The Vignettes ▪ William Stephenson, Canadian Soldier, spymaster
▪ Charles Thorson, animator
▪ Baldur R. Stefansson, D.Sc., scientist, developer of Canola
Guðmundur Andri Thorsson, Author
Lunch: Banquet Room 3/4
Presentation: Sigurjón Jónsson, Modern Immigrant Experience
1:30 p.m. Annual General Meeting Registration
2 – 4:30 p.m. Annual General Meeting
2 – 4:00 p.m. Silent Flashes Project by Nelson Gerrard – Meeting Room H. Opportunity to have old photographs viewed
and scanned for the Project, this is not a Convention Presentation. **contact Nelson Gerrard for more
information
4:00 p.m. Break
GALA DINNER
6 – 7:00 p.m. Cocktails – Cash Bar
7:00 p.m. Banquet – Ballroom
Keynote speaker – Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Consul General of Iceland
Master of Ceremonies – Heather Witherden
Entertainment – Björn Thoroddsen and Richard Gillis
Sunday, May 18, 2014
10 – 2 p.m. Bus Tour – Tour of Icelandic Winnipeg
A Sawyer – every town, nook, village and hamlet had one of these
enterprising individuals. Most
started off with a one cylinder
engine bolted on a wagon. The
sawing machine outfit was a 24-
inch blade that had been used to
cut rough lumber. The saw blade
was mounted on a shaft that sat
on a skid. This would be pulled
by an old truck. The engine
would be started and a belt
would be hooked over the power
takeoff then to the skid. The belt
would make a figure-8 so as
not to slip off. With the blade
whirring at top speed, a table
of steel was set up alongside,
for the cord wood to be fed
and cut. A simple process, but
a lot of labour was eliminated
in an efficient manner. Later,
the operation was simplified
by mounting the sawing outfit
directly on a small rubber tired
tractor. This made it easier to
move from one job to the next.
I remember well going with
the men on “blow days” when
we lived on Humbug Bay on
Lake Winnipeg. Our portion of
the bay was a cul de sac for all
types of wondrous surprises. A
bonus, my family would say.
Much of the timber that washed
ashore had broken free from
logging booms. Other perfectly
good timbers had simply been
in the wrong place when the
big lake decided to shift some
ice around. We would pile the
wood to dry with the idea of
later hauling it to our camps
for cutting. After all, wood was
our only source for comfort
and cooking. And it took a lot
to keep the monster in the cook
house well-fed.
Even though we lived in the
forest, the trees still had to be cut
and cured before they could be
burned. Remember, our primary
function was fishing, not cutting
cord wood. Needless to say, the
days were taken up quickly. We
were lucky to have our own
sawing outfit. “Dusty Gusty”,
the Gimli blacksmith, had
welded a table on to the front
of our small Cleveland crawler
tractor. The power takeoff kept
the blade whirring and we
always had wood for the camps.
When we moved to Gimli
so my brother and I could go to
school, Father would contract
with the local farmers to deliver
12 cords of wood to our home
by Easter each year. Then
someone like Siggi “Sawed It”
would come and cut the wood.
This was always done on the
beginning of Easter holidays,
which did not make my brother
and I very happy. We think
Father planned it that way to try
and keep us out of trouble. We
would split and pile wood for
hours. Robert found a splitting
maul in the shallow water near
the big dock. He fashioned a
handle out of a broken hockey
stick and one swing was all
that was needed to dispatch the
toughest log.
It was the happiest day of
our young lives when Father
bought Mother an electric stove
and an oil space heater. This
would free my brother and I to
do more important things with
the Easter holiday – like earning
some pocket change by setting
some nets and selling fresh fish
to the Winnipeg campers who
came to check on their cottage.
PASSING PARADE
The prairie sawyer
Ken Kristjanson
Winnipeg, MB