The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1961, Side 63

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
61
now Teachers’ College, and taught in
Greater Winnipeg High Schools for
six years. As a member of ithe Y.M.C.A.
in Winnipeg Mr. Arnason became
interested in group relationships and
community service. He quit teaching,
went to Vancouver and there he ac-
cepted a position as Executive Director
of ithe Vancouver Civic Unity As-
sociation. In 1959 he moved to Sask-
atoon and took up his present duties
as Regional Liaison Officer.
★
ELECTED HEAD OF
EASTERN STAR
Mrs. A. V. Olson
Mrs. A. V. Olson of Lundar, Man.,
was elected worthy grand matron of
the grand chapter of Manitoba, Order
of the Eastern Star, at the close of the
recent annual meeting at the Marl-
borough Hotel in Winnipeg.
★
OBTAINS DR OF. PHILOSOPHY
DEGREE IN PLANT GENETICS
Sturla FriSriksson of Iceland obtain-
ed his degree of Doctor of Philosophy
in Plant Genetics from the University
of Saskatchewan on May 24 this year.
Elis thesis was on the crossing of gene
with in the Medicago Genus of clover-
like herbs of the pea family.
Dr. FriSriksson has been studying
in the Department of Botany in the
University of Saskatchewan under a
grant from the National Research
Council of Canada. He received his
Master’s degree from Cornell univer-
sity in 1946, and has been employed
at plant cross-breeding in the Depart-
ment of Industry in the University of
Iceland.
Dr. and Mrs. (Sigrun) FriSriksson
and their daughter, Sigrun, left for
Iceland June 10.
Manitoba Music Festival
Winners
The 43rd annual Manitoba Music
Festival has been brought to a succes-
ful conclusion. There were 263 classes
(100 more than last year) composed of
vocal, instrumental, choral groups,
orchestras and bands. There were 2,538
entries with over 20,000 persons par-
ticipating. Three school choirs had a
membership of over 200. It was report-
ed that there had been a general in-
crease in the vocal and senior and
intermediate piano classes.
With this overwhelming response
the Men’s Music Club found it neces-
sary to engage six adjudicators. In
previous years four have been engaged.
The adjudicators were very pleased
with the high calibre of the vocal
classes and made mention of it at the
various performances.
When scanning the program it was
interesting to note the number of
competitors of Icelandic extraction. As
space does not allow 'the inclusion of
all those who competed we must men-
tin only those who won trophies and
individual honors.