The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1956, Page 14

12
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Summer 1956
for the particular position in the
Department of Botany Dr. Love’s
qualifications were far above those
of any of the other applicants.
This superiority has received due
recognition. A short time ago Dr. Love
was appointed to the staff of the Uni-
versity of Montreal and will devote
his time almost exclusively to research
work. It is gratifying also to know that
Mrs. Love’s training and experience
have been equally recognized. Both of
them have been appointed Research
Professors in Biosystematics at the
University of Montreal.
The Icelandic Canadian extends
congratulations to Doctors Askell and
Doris Love and expresses the hope that
it will receive compensation for the
loss it has suffered in the form of
articles or even letters from either of
them.
Jon K. Laxdal
Jon K. Laxdal joined the staff of
The Icelandic Canadian in June, 1949,
and, after seven years of faithful and
constructive work on the Board, feels
compelled to withdraw—at least for the
time being. His decision to do so was
not, as in the case of Dr. Love, forced
because of a promotion but it was
brought about through the recognition
of his very valuable services as As-
sistant Principal of the Provincial
Normal School of Manitoba. At
present the school has an enrollment
of about six hundred students per
year of whom about four hundred are
in residence. This, it is understood, is
the only resident Normal School in
Canada.
The Provincial Normal School is
located in Tuxedo and is about seven
miles from the heart of the City of
Winnipeg. Since his appointment Jon
Laxdal has commuted between his
home at 39 Home St., Winnipeg, and
the Normal School—a very consider-
able burden added to his many respons-
ible duties at the School. The Depart-
ment of Education has for some time
been anxious to have Mr. Laxdal re-
side on the Normal School grounds
and the Province of Manitoba is build-
ing a residence for Mr. Laxdal this
summer and he will be moving out
before the opening of the Fall Term.
That of necessity will make it difficult
for him to carry on his many activities
in the city and he felt that he had to
relinquish his official connection with
the staff of The Icelandic Canadian.
He however, did add that he would be
willing to contribute to the magazine
as the occasion arises.
From his first editorial in the
Autumn Issue of 1949, “Sixtieth Ice-
landic Celebration”, to his timely
Christmas message in December, 1955,
Jon Laxdal’s writings in the magazine
have always been well thought out,
clear and to the point. His judgement
on policy and on material submitted
to the magazine has always been log-
ical and fair, even though his opinion,
no more than that of any other mem-
ber of the staff, has not always pre-
vailed. The writer does, however, re-
call a recent occasion when Jon Lax-
dal advised a course of action contrary
to the opinion of a majority on the
Editorial Board and on second con-
sideration his point of view was ac-
cepted. Subsequent events revealed
the soundness of his judgement.
The withdrawal of these two very
valuable members of the staff is
regretted but it is encouraging to
know that both men will continue to
be supporters of the magazine. Their
good will is the type of asset a publica-
tion such as this one needs. There has
been a farewell but it is not a parting
of the ways.
The Chairman of the Board