The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1946, Side 15

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
13
a permanent cultural link with the saga
land of our forefathers. In fact it is the
only way in which we can hope to per-
petuate Icelandic culture and a knowl-
edge of its history and literature among
people of Icelandic descent and others
who may become interested. It is, furth-
ermore, the conviction of men and
women who have given the matter ser-
ious consideration that immediate
action is necessary to ensure success of
this project. We are now in a position
to seriously undertake the collection of
adequate funds to assure the perman-
ency of a Department of Icelandic in the
University of Manitoba.
It has been estimated that a minim:
um of $150,000.00 is necessary for our
purpose of which approximately fifty
percent has been promised or donated.
This amount would in all probability
be sufficient to inaugurate the new de-
partment. The interest from this fund
plus a small annual subsidy would meet
the salary of a professor and other ex-
penses connected with the library and
incidental expenses of the department.
Ultimately, we should strive to provide
the University with an endowment fund
of $200,000.00 to guarantee all the de-
mands upon the department.
In 1944, Dr. Sidney E. Smith, then
President of the University of Manitoba,
stated: “For some years the Board of
Governors has been considering the
possibility of offering within the Uni-
versity instruction in this field,” and
then added: “The University of Manitoba
has the best collection of Icelandic books
of any Canadian University. Winnipeg
has the largest Icelandic population of
any city with the single exception of
Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. The
University of Manitoba, so strategically
situated, could readily become the lead-
ing institution of higher learning in Can-
ada for the study of Icelandic. There is
in Icelandic literature unusually rich
material in poetry and prose. Moreover,
the study of Icelandic literature would
open a field of investigation in compar-
ative philology, particularly in old Eng-
lish and old German.”
The establishment of a Chair of Ice-
landic in our University is, therefore,
not a sentimental whim of the descend-
ants of a pioneer people who wish to
preserve their identity in a new land.
No group has adopted the customs and
language of this land more readily than
the sons and daughters of Iceland. No
other group is merging more rapidly by
marriage and by social, business and
professional association into our Can-
adian way of life.
For the reasons which I have men-
tioned, we have the satisfaction of know-
ing that this Chair in the University of
Manitoba is one which will make a last-
ing contribution to the intellectual ac-
tivities of the institution and give sup-
port to its Department of English.
On this basis, I make an appeal for a
project which is worthy of the unani-
mous approval and support of the people
of Icelandic origin in this country. Let
us work together and achieve our pur-
pose. The time to do this is now.
P. H. T. Thorlakson, M.D.
f
To Our Readers
! T> EADERS are invited to send in news of people of Icelandic ex-
's traction, especially our soldiers overseas. Original articles
! and poems as well as translations from the Icelandic would be ap-
I preciated. Letters to the Editors may be published. You are invited
: to let us know what you think of our publication.
] THE EDITORS