Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.05.2016, Side 7

Lögberg-Heimskringla • 15. maí 2016 • 7
VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.LH-INC.CA
Garry Oddleifson of Winnipeg received the Laurence S.G. Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual convention of the Icelandic
National League of North America in Vancouver,
British Columbia, on April 29, 2016. This award was
initiated in 2003 and is bestowed annually upon a
recipient for contributions not only to the Icelandic
Community but also in the community at large. Dr.
Lorelei Johnson, niece of Laurence Johnson, joined
Judy Bradley in presenting this year’s award to Garry
Oddleifson. These are Judy Bradley’s remarks in
making the presentation:
Garry is an excellent candidate for the Laurence
Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award. He has held
leadership roles with a number of Icelandic clubs:
Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto, Icelandic Canadian
Frón of Winnipeg, Brúin Chapter of Selkirk, and the
Icelandic National League of North America. Garry has
a reputation of being the one to help out in any capacity
for the club.
I did some checking on you with these clubs.
Although born and raised in Winnipeg, Garry went to
Toronto, where he worked in nonöresidential wood door
manufacturing and retired as a manager.
Soon after Garry arrived in Toronto he was “trolled”
by Don Gislason and Thomas Einarson, which meant
they found his name in the phone book and invited him
to join the Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto. Garry did
and he immediately became a very active member, and
continued the trolling process – eventually the club had
800 people on the list. He served in various capacities,
on their executive, including being treasurer and then
president in 1995-96. Later he took on the responsibility
of newsletter editor. He enjoyed greeting people at the
door at events, arranging food for Þorrablót, holding
meetings at his house, anything to assist. His favourite
expression seemed to be: “What can I do to help?”
Margaret Simmons (from the Briem family involved
in the settlement-era in Gimli and Riverton) remembers
Garry as a most likeable person and most willing one to
help out in any capacity of the club, He even offered to
play Santa at the Club’s Christmas party and proved to
be a cheery, believable Santa.
Garry’s ancestors were part of the late autumn
1874 group, which originally settled on the fringes of
the Canadian Shield at Kinmount, Ontario, and later
moved on the following year to found New Iceland
in the Manitoba Interlake District, which was in the
North-West Territories at the time. After Don Gislason
wrote the booklet Icelanders of Kinmount, Garry’s
relatives ordered the largest individual group number
of copies, thus helping to maintain the memorial statue
which the Club erected there in the year 2000.
Thomas Einarson remembers Garry’s involvement
in the ICCT and quotes Garry as saying “I’m happy
wherever there’s Icelanders.” In addition to his
commitment to ICCT, he became a director of the
Icelandic National League of North America in the
1990s. He promoted the INL of NA in any way he
could and never failed to attend the conventions.
Garry retired in 2003 and moved back to Winnipeg.
Upon his return, he was so vested in his Icelandic
communities that he not only joined the Icelandic
Canadian Frón, but he also joined the Brúin Chapter
in Selkirk and retained his membership in the Toronto
club.
In 2004, the sitting first vice president of the INL
of NA declined to continue and Garry was asked to
stand for first vice president without having served
as second vice president. He served the position well
and in 2006 he became president and served in that
capacity until 2008.
Garry had become very knowledgeable about the
affairs of the INL of NA. Garry was always eager to
learn and welcomed the knowledge and experience of
others. He was a take-charge kind of person. Business
was taken care of in a very timely manner. In 2007,
as president, he brought the INL of NA convention to
Winnipeg.
While still president of INL of NA, he was asked to
join the board of directors of Lögberg- Heimskringla.
One of his proudest achievements was serving with Dr.
Ken Thorlakson on the capital committee of the Future
Fund Campaign for L-H. They travelled extensively
throughout the province. He cherishes the lasting
friendship that they developed during the campaign.
Maria Bear’s paid tribute to him, saying, “Garry is
a wonderful addition to the Selkirk Brúin Chapter and
is always ready with suggestions and advice which is
greatly appreciated. He attends meetings as often as
possible and enjoys the social aspect of the club. He is
a great supporter of the Brúin’s Sumardagurinn Fyrsti,
strongly encouraging others to come to our concert.”
Upon Garry’s return to Winnipeg in 2003, he
joined the Icelandic Canadian Frón and has served in a
variety of ways since, always willing to take on a task
and help. Garry was elected president of the Icelandic
Canadian Frón in 2009 and served until 2011. He
is part of the fabric of our club. His knowledge and
experience over the years is a great resource. He is
truly dedicated to our heritage and continues to be
part of us, along with being a regular supporter of our
Icelandic classes.
Garry’s involvement in the Icelandic community
includes having served on the board of the Betel Home
Foundation. He continues to be the representative
for INL of NA on the VIP board (Valuing Icelandic
Presence) at the University of Manitoba, and continues
to sit on the board of the Canada Iceland Foundation.
He is also a founding member of the Sólskríkjan Choir.
Garry is such a loyal INL of NA member, he belongs
to the Icelandic Canadian Frón in Winnipeg, the Bruin
Chapter in Selkirk, and the Icelandic Canadian Society
in Gimli.
***
The Icelandic National League of North America’s
lifetime achievement award is named to honour the
memory of Laurence (Larry) Steingrimur Gudni
Johnson, who played many roles in both his volunteer
life and career. Larry played an instrumental role in
the Icelandic community as chairman of the board of
directors of the New Iceland Heritage Museum, president
of the Brúin Chapter of the Icelandic National League,
and president of the Icelandic National League of North
America. As a volunteer, Larry’s dedication extended
to the Selkirk and District Chamber of Commerce,
Selkirk and District Hospital Board, Manitoba Health
Organization, Interlake Health Network, Big Brothers/
Big Sisters, Selkirk Community Library Board, Selkirk
Arts Festival, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Past recipients of the award include: Neil Bardal
(2003), Dr. J. Kenneth Thorlakson (2004), Stella
Stephanson (2005), Lillian Gudmundson (2006), Stefan
Stefanson (2007), Dilla Narfason (2008), Walter Sopher
(2009), Haraldur Bessason, posthumously (2010),
Margaret Evelyn Hillman Johansson (2011), Gunnthora
Gisladottir (2012); Alene Thorunn Moris (2013); Dr.
Ron Goodman (2014); and Gunnvör Daníelsdóttir
Ásmundsson (2015).
... from 6
was from Winnipegosis in Manitoba.
Doreen’s parents were both Icelandic
from Grímsnes, Biskupstungur, and
Önundarfjörður. Gerri’s father, Roy, is
of Scottish extraction.
Gerri joined the Icelandic Canadian
Club of BC in 1991 and immediately
became a stalwart of the club. She
was president from 1993 to 1995
and again in 1999. She also became
involved with the Icelandic National
League of North America. She served
as a regional representative for British
Columbia, as second vice president, first
vice president, and then as INL of NA
president. This year Gerri celebrates 25
years of club membership. She serves
on the board of the Icelandic Canadian
Club of BC and on the Höfn board. She
is involved in most of the club activities
in some way.
She is a Midsummer Festival
volunteer, a member of the
Scandinavian Cultural Society, and
helps organize cultural displays. In
her spare time, she bakes vínartenta
for the Christmas Bake Sale. She is
our genealogy expert and is kept very
busy helping people trace their roots
both in Iceland and Canada. Gerri
is one of the hardest workers we
have in the Icelandic community in
Vancouver. She is the “go to” person
for information on history of the club,
Icelandic settlements in Canada, and
historical information about Iceland.
Lois Marilyn Janusson-Yasinko
Leif Eirikson Icelandic Club,
Calgary, AB
Lois Yasinko, 79, was born on a
farm near Foam Lake, Saskatchewan.
Both sets of grandparents emigrated
from Iceland. She graduated from
the University of Saskatchewan as a
registered nurse, followed by working
in an operating room for 25 years after
the birth of her three children.
Lois has been a member of the
Leif Eiriksson Icelandic Club of
Calgary for 16 years, taking part in
all areas. As phoning coordinator, she
greatly improved this committee to
become more efficient. She joined the
Calgary 2008 convention committee,
taking responsibility for all the food
services. She has served as a LEIC
convention delegate at many more
conventions.
Introducing the LEIC of Calgary or
the INLvof NA to new people gives her
great pleasure. She works to organize
events and took great pleasure in
helping plan Sunna Fustenau’s visit in
April 2015.
Within the LEIC, Lois is known
as “The Vínarterta Queen.” With
ingenuity and much thought, she has
revamped the whole process, so that
there was consistency for each cake,
with a beautiful presentation, especially
at our Scandinavian Centre bazaars.
She spent her own money to research
recipes and purchase equipment that
would make the process a lot easier.
She takes great joy in inviting LEIC
members and acquaintances to her
home to teach them all about the
process. Even during difficult times,
she still was on the phone making
calls and inviting guests, keeping the
program active.
Her grandsons are regular visitors
to Amma for vínarterta bees. She has
visited schools to make Icelandic
cultural presentations to classes. She
has kept her family informed at their
Icelandic culture. Always very busy,
but efficient, she volunteers in the
community for the betterment of all:
the Alberta Children’s Hospital for
nearly 10 years, Beta Sigma Phi for
50 years, PEGG Women, Cochrane
United Church, and the University of
Saskatchewan Alumni.
Garry Oddleifson receives Laurence
Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award
Judy Bradley
Winnipeg, MB
PHOTO: KARL TORFASON