Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.07.2015, Page 3

Lögberg-Heimskringla • 1. júlí 2015 • 3
ONLINE MAGAZINE: WWW. HEIMSKRINGLOG.COM
Irene Helgason Innes Gibson receiving her 90th
birthday plaque from the president
For the first time since the early 1980s, a sitting President of Iceland paid a visit to Toronto –
and what a day it was.
It started out with a speech entitled
“The Arctic and the Himalayas: New
Models of Cooperation” at the Munk
School of Global Affairs, University of
Toronto, which was attended by a record
number of 136 people, who reported it
as “fascinating” and “very informative.”
Treats from the Viking Bakery added to
the flavour of the event.
Next came a luncheon in the
president’s honour hosted by the
Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto at
The National Club in the heart of the
business district. Ninety-five people
attended, resulting in the event having
to be moved to a bigger room than
originally intended. Again, he delivered
a moving speech, which included
references to the ties between our two
Icelandic communities. It was also an
opportunity for the club to honour four of
its Honorary Members, for their much-
appreciated work for the community, at
the time of their significant birthdays
– aged 90 and over. Included were
Stella Matthildur Kerff Hansen, Irene
Helgason Innes Gibson, Arngerður
(Gigi) Grímsdóttir Fridriksson, and Erla
Pálina Palmason Macaulay, who were
presented with plaques by the President,
before specially decorated vínartertas
from Vinarterta.ca were given to them, to
the accompaniment of “Happy Birthday”
in Icelandic and English. Quite an event
to remember.
For his third speech of the day, the
president addressed the issues of increas-
ing trade between Iceland and Canada
and the impact of the Canada-European
Free Trade Association agreement, as
well as the free trade agreement with
China. This was preceded by the annual
meeting of the Icelandic Canadian
Chamber of Commerce, at which Adam
Kalbfleisch (Bennett Jones LLP) became
chairman.
Following this, Þórður Hilmarsson,
director of Invest in Iceland, outlined
investment opportunities in Iceland.
Present also at all events were Iceland’s
ambassador to
Canada, Sturla
Sigurjónsson, and
Canada’s ambassador
to Iceland, Stewart
Wheeler, as well as
Hlynur Guðjónsson,
consul general in New
York and Iceland’s
trade commissioner
for North America.
It was quite a
day, and a proud
one for Icelanders
and Icelandic North
Americans alike.
Stella Matthildur Kerff Hansen sharing a moment with the president
after the presentation of her 90th birthday plaque
Gail Einarson-McCleery, O.F.
Honorary Consul of Iceland
in Toronto, ON
Arngerður (Gigi) Grímsdóttir Fridriksson getting
her 90th birthday plaque from the president
Doug Macaulay receiving a birthday plaque
on behalf of his mother Erla Pálina Palmasson
Macaulay, from the president
PHOTOS: MARC WHITEWAY
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President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson in Toronto for a triple header