The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1955, Side 33

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
31
sweeping hands and the belligerent
chin of a determined speaker won
admiration and applause but not votes.
Outside the House, however, Thor-
valdson won recognition. Here was a
fighter for the basic principles of
democracy. He was invited to contest
South Winnipeg in the federal elec-
tion and he resigned his seat in the
Legislature to stand as Conservative
candidate.
In the Liberal sweep of 1949, Thor-
valdson was defeated and retired, at
least temporarily from politics.
In public life a fighter, Thorvaldson
in private life is a gentle soul. His wife,
the former Edna Schwitzer, is as active
as her husband. In 1953 she was vice-
president of the Women’s Canadian
Club in Winnipeg and she takes a
been interest in community affairs.
Her father, the late J. E. Schwitzer,
was also an individualist with a record
of accomplishment. As chief engineer
of the Canadian Pacific Railway, he
conceived.and built the spiral tunnel
at Trail, B. C., one of the most amaz-
ing engineering feats of all time. |
A non-championship golfer, “Solly”
rejoices today in the success of his
daughter, Ruth, who is one of Mani-
toba’s best women players. Nineteen
years old, she has been a member of
the Manitoba team in inter-provincial
competitions for the past three years.
She and two other daughters are all
graduates of the University of Mani-
toba.
For real relaxation, “Solly”, like
many other Manitobans, goes to the
marshes. His favorite sport is hunt-
ing ducks and grouse and as the owner
of a hunting lodge, he claims close
acquaintance with all the duck
marshes within 100 miles of Winnipeg.
He is an expert shot and has unlimited
patience.
Lawyer, businessman, sportsman
and enthusiast for freedom, “Solly”
Thorvaldson is a colorful successor to
those who over the years have been
“spokesmen for business”.
Edward Vopni
Edward Vopni of Winnipeg was
named Air Cadet League “Man of the
Year” in a scroll recently presented
to him by the R.C.A.F. The honor was
in recognition of Mr. Vopni’s seven
years’ service as chairman of the prov-
incial committee.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jon J.
Vopni, 597 Bannatyne Ave., Winnipeg.
■k
Lorna Stefanson, who was the Col-
legiate candidate for Carnival queen
at the Gimli Ice carnival won the title
after defeating two other candidates
Miss Stefanson is in grade 11 in Gimli.
The defeated candidates were Kristine
Magnusson and L.A.W. Ketty Ed-
wards. The carnival featured skaters
from Winnipeg Winter Club and the
Gimli Figure Skating Club. The show
was sponsored jointly by the R.C.A.F.
and the town.