The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1961, Side 38

36
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Winter 1961
Appointed to Manitoba Cabinet
John Christianson, member of the
Manitoba Legislature for Portage la
Prairie, was named Minister of Welfare
by Premier Duff Roblin early in Nov-
ember.
Mr. Christianson is the first minister
for the separate public welfare port-
folio, which was formerly administered
by Hon. George Johnson as Minister
of Health and Public Welfare. Dr.
Johnson retains the health portfolio.
A mechanical engineer by profession
John Christianson is the president of
Christianson Limited in Portage la
Prairie, an automotive and farm im-
plement agency. He was elected to the
Legislature for the first time in the
1959 general election.
Mr. Christianson is the son of Bjorn
and Ingibjorg (nee Eyvindson) of Lang-
ruth, Man. He received his early school-
ing there, attended high school in Por
tage la Prairie and in 1940 received
his Bachelor of Science degree in Mech-
anical Engineering from the Univer-
sity of Manitoba.
His first public office was as an
alderman for the City of Portage la
Prairie in 1958. He served in the R.C
A.F. as a pilot during the Second World
War, both in Canada and overseas.
j jju Cnrisiianson
Mr. Christianson married Beverley
Fairborn of Lethbridge, Alta. They
have two sons, Jon William and David
Bjorn.
Hon. John Christianson is one of
four members of the Manitoba Legis-
lature of Icelandic descent. The others
are Hon. George Johnson, Elman Gut-
tormson and Oscar Bjornson.
PASTOR SWIMS ACROSS
CLEAR LAKE
Rev. Johann Frederickson, pastor of
Erickson, Manitoba, Lutheran Church,
swam across Clear Lake last summer—a
distance of nine miles — in seven
hours. Rev. Frederickson was the first
man to swim the nine-mile distance
across the lake, from east to west. He
had two pilot boats with him during
the swim, and one of the interested
observers was his wife. He received
nourishmnt during his swim from
honey and chocolate syrup. He finish-
ed the swim in good condition. He has
previously made several distance swims.
He is in his first year as local resident
pastor.