Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.11.2018, Page 11

VISIT OUR WEBSITE LH-INC.CA
Lögberg-Heimskringla • 1. nóvember 2018 • 11
Ernest Stefanson
Ernest served on the Lögberg-
Heimskringla board of directors for a
number of years and has been a continual
supporter of the paper.
He was born to Stefan J. Stefanson
and his wife, Olof (Olla) Einarson, in
Gimli, Manitoba. Ernest graduated from
the University of Manitoba’s pharmacy
program in 1968 and opened the
Viking Pharmacy in his hometown the
following year, which is still thriving as a
Pharmasave affiliate.
Ernest is married to Claire Gillis, and
they are heavily involved in community
organizations in Gimli. They sponsor
Music on the Rooftop each year during
Íslendingadagurinn and both are
members of the Gimli Heritage Advisory
Committee. Ernest has one daughter,
Sigrid, from his first marriage.
Ernest serves on the campaign
committee for Viking Park, is a past
president of the Manitoba Society
of Pharmacists and the Canadian
Pharmacists Association, and he is an
honourary life member of the Icelandic
Festival and of the Kinsmen Club. Ernest
and Claire love to travel and have seen
many corners of the earth.
Margaret Kernested
Margaret served on the board of
directors for many years, stepping down
in 2018. During that time, she served
on committees and volunteered on the
annual Icelandic Open golf tournament,
held every year on the August long
weekend, both on their committee and at
the event.
Margaret was born to Kari Oskar
Thorlakson and his wife, Johanna
Sigurdur, whose families were long-
time residents in the Gimli area. She
was married to the late Emil Kernested
and together they raised two children,
Kristjan and Candace. She is the proud
amma of three grandchildren: Emily,
Julia, and Alexander Jóhann.
Margaret has been a long-time
member and volunteer with the Gimli
Icelandic Canadian Society, organizing
the annual Kvennahlaup and producing
the newsletter. She has also served as
its secretary. Living in Arnes, Margaret
loves outdoor activities like hiking
and cross-country skiing and enjoys
travelling as well.
Skuli Sigfusson
Skuli served on the board of directors
of our paper for the years 2004 to 2011.
Skuli was born in Winnipeg to Sveinn
Olafur Sigfusson and his wife, Thelma
Goodman, and his family is famous for
a variety of reasons. Sveinn Olafur was
a remarkably talented athlete, competing
in Canadian and British Empire
competitions and winning many medals.
He also published the book Sigfusson’s
Roads about the ice road system he
constructed and the company he started
in the north. Skuli’s afi, for whom he was
named, was elected to the Legislative
Assembly of Manitoba three times.
Skuli is a director of Sigfusson
Northern. He is married to Heida (née
Kristjansson) and they raised three
children: Freya, Noni, and Kristjan.
Guðrún Viola Bjarnason Hilton
Even after leaving an 11-year stint
on the board of directors in 2014, Vi
continues to volunteer at many festivals,
parades, and events to promote Lögberg-
Heimskringla.
Born in Churchbridge, Saskatchewan,
to Bjarni and Gudrun (nee Kristjanson)
Bjarnason, Vi grew up in Minnedosa,
Manitoba.
Vi has volunteered in so many
organizations that she won the 2010
Community Voluntarism Award from the
YWCA Women of Distinction program.
She was the Fjallkona for the Icelandic
Festival in 2011, is a member of the Jón
Sigurdsson Chapter IODE, Icelandic
Canadian Frón, and the Sólskrikjan
Choir. She has given tours of Winnipeg
to visiting Icelanders and has guided
tours to Iceland.
She volunteered for many years at
CJNU, hosting her own jazz show on that
station. She was a Goldwing Ambassador
at the Winnipeg Airport. Vi lives in St.
James, is a mom and amma, and gardens
in her spare time.
Arni Thorsteinson
Arni Thorsteinson is one of
the generous donors who sustain
Lögberg-Heimskringla’s Seniors’ Gift
Subscription program. This program was
started by Gordon Reykdal in 2008 and
he was joined in this initiative by Arni
and Donald K. Johnson the following
year. This year, 194 of our seniors are
receiving Lögberg-Heimskringla through
this program.
Over the years, Arni has been a
member of many boards of community
organizations, serving as chair of the
Candadian Museum for Human Rights
board of trustees, as a member of the
national council of the Royal Winnipeg
Ballet, a governor of the Banff Centre,
and a governor of the Winnipeg Art
Gallery. Arni was born in Rosetown,
Saskatchewan, to Johann Torfi
Thorsteinson and Mayme Jane Griffiths,
and he grew up in Winnipeg’s West End.
He is married to Susan Glass. In 2009,
Arni was granted a honourary doctorate
by the University of Manitoba. We are
pleased to recognize his contribution to
the Icelandic community.
Former editors
W. D. Valgardson
For a little less than two brief and
shining years, Lögberg-Heimskringla
could boast of having one of Canada’s
major literary voices as our editor.
Bill was born to Gimli fisherman and
barber Albert (Dempsey) Valgardson
and his wife, Rachel Iris Smith. He
attended United College (BA), the
University of Manitoba (BEd), and the
University of Iowa (MFA).
While penning short stories, novels,
and poetry, Bill taught in public schools
and then in the field of creative writing,
retiring after his 30-year professorship at
the University of Victoria, where he was
also department chair for a combined
total of 11 years.
Bill has written for adults, teens, and
children. His short stories have been
anthologized and he has won many
major awards for his work. His work
has been translated into many languages
and he has been the guest of several
governments for his writing, including
Iceland and Cuba.
His work has been adapted for short
film and radio broadcast, often by Bill
himself.
Bill has two daughters, Valerie and
Nancy-Rae. He lives between Victoria
and Salt Spring Island and is still a
frequent contributor to L-H.
Caelum Vatsndal
Caelum edited Lögberg-
Heimskringla for about one and a half
years, from early 2008 to the fall of
2009.
He was born in Winnipeg to Gary
and Jean Vatnsdal. Gary was descended
from Icelandic immigrants and was the
third generation born in “the west.”
Caelum’s ancestors came from the
United States – Mountain, ND, and
Roseau, MN, with most eventually
settling in the Icelandic settlements of
Saskatchewan.
Caelum is a writer, actor, director,
and cinematographer, with film perhaps
being his first love. He has several films
to his credit, including Black as Hell,
Strong as Death, Sweet as Love, and We're
the Weakerthans, We're From Winnipeg.
He has made commercials, dramas, and
documentaries. He even made a film
about our paper called The Icelandic
Paper. He has a particular interest in
horror films, and wrote a book about the
history of the Canadian horror film genre
entitled They Came from Within.
David Fuller
Known as David Jón Fuller during
his tenure at our paper, David began
as an assistant editor, primarily doing
layout. He took over as editor in
September 2005, a position he held until
January 2008.
Icelandic on his mother’s side,
David was born to Lindsey Fuller and
Paula Johnson. Paula’s parents were
“Selkirk Icelanders” Eyjolfur Johnson
and his wife, Thorey Henrikson.
David is a writer, editor, blogger, and
film buff. He studied at the University of
Iceland and currently works as a copy
editor at the Winnipeg Free Press. In his
blog, David writes about books, writing,
and films. He even writes about word
usage in the English language. He also
provides a roundup of links to topics he
enjoys – music, history, and sometimes
the very unusual.
Steinþór Guðbjartsson
Steinþór was the editor of Lögberg-
Heimskringla between March 2004
and August 2005, when he returned to
Iceland. Despite that, he filled in between
the departure of his successor and the
arrival of a new editor in 2008. During
his time with our paper, he received the
highest award for ethnic writing given by
the Canadian Ethnic Media Association.
He was born in Reykjavík, Iceland,
to Guðbjartur Gunnarsson and Guðrún
Þórðardóttir.
Steinþór is currently a reporter at
Morgunblaðið in Reykjavík and also
writes in English for the Icelandic
Monitor, which is Morgunblaðið’s
English-language publication. He often
translates from Icelandic to English and
vice versa.
Steinþór has travelled to North
America many times, often covering
visits by prime ministers and other
dignitaries. He is often called upon
by Western Icelanders in translating
or publishing news articles and has
graciously given L-H permission on
more than one occasion to use his work
from Morgunblaðið.
Gunnur Isfeld
Gunnur was editor of the paper from
1994 to 2000. She actually considered
her herself as part of a team of four
who put job descriptions aside and
tackled whatever work needed to be
done. Gunnur and her husband, Pastor
Ingthor, first came to Canada from
Iceland in 1959 when they moved to
Langruth, Manitoba, where they stayed
until 1964. They returned to Canada in
1970, this time to Winnipeg. Gunnur
and Ingthor have four children: Thora,
Stefan, Heiða, and Harpa.
Gunnur recalls her time at the paper
as a time of change. The paper acquired
its first two computers, one of which was
used by the layout editor. The year 2000
was especially exciting since the whole
year was packed with events relating
to that year’s millennium celebrations,
as well as the 125th anniversary of
Icelandic settlement in Manitoba, which
drew many visitors from Iceland and
saw the establishment of the Icelandic
Consulate General in Winnipeg under
the leadership of Svavar Gestsson.
W. D. Valgardson Caelum Vatsndal David Fuller Steinþór Guðbjartsson Gunnur Isfeld